Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
6105 Airport Road
Redding, Ca   96002 

Re:  Timber Harvest Plan   2-07-124-NEV(3)

Dear CDF Staff, 

Thank you for considering negative effects on local neighborhoods, Empire Mine State Park and the community should this proposed Timber Harvest Plan be approved.

Please delay any acceptance of a THP until all impact and mitigation reports are complete and approved. This includes the Remedial Action Workplan as required by the Department of Toxic Substance Control and the Environmental Impact report required by Nevada County. We are concerned that:

  1. The Timber Harvest Plan does not adequately protect or mitigate damage to existing trails on this property resulting from the harvest. These trails have been used for decades by the area residents and represent a considerable asset to the community.
  2. This Timber Harvest Plan calls for the destruction of many larger, older grow trees that are important to both to wildlife and views of the property enjoyed by neighbors and State Park visitors.
  3. This Timber Harvest Plan is being done for a potential subdivision, yet this subdivision may never even be approved by our County. We ask that any logging plan be delayed until after an EIR and building map approval. Only this process will define the scope of the timber conversion needed for a building envelope.
  4. We understand from DTSC that the RAW on this property has yet to be completed or approved. We are very concerned about heavy machinery with logging over areas that could potentially produce airborne or water borne contamination. We ask that the mining contamination be identified and properly addressed prior to any logging on the property.
  5. We regret any more loss of wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors from this area. Empire Mine State Park serves as a reservoir for bobcats, bear, coyotes, and mountain lion, as well as the wild turkey, deer and many small mammals. This 200+ acre parcel, immediately adjacent to the State Park, serves as a much needed extension of that habitat and the corridor by which those animals travel into Woodpecker Ravine. We are curious if these species can continue in this area with continued degradation of habitat.

We appreciate your concern and hope your department will closely investigate and help protect local neighborhoods.