Mineral County RC&D

Meeting Minutes

7-7-03

The monthly meeting of the Mineral County RC&D convened at 10:00 a.m. on July 7, 03 with Chairperson Kevin Chamberlain Presiding. Roger Hearst made a motion to approve the minutes as printed. Pat Hayes seconded. Approved.

REPORTS

Roger Hearst: Mineral County Fire Warden gave the following report:

• Roger attended the State Fire Wardens Meeting held in Lewistown. This was the first time Roger attended the state meeting. The meeting was very interesting and informative
• Roger reported that the basic survival training is going very good.

Pat Hayes: Mineral County Community Foundation gave the following report:

• The legal issues stemming from the appeal – the FORESTS task force were denied an emergency stay on the Landowner Timber Sale; the Sierra Club has submitted an appeal on the road less issue pertaining to the Post Burn Timber Sale. The FORESTS task force will keep on pursuing this legal action in the 9^th District Court. The FORESTS task force will need to win on all three counts in order to begin logging on the Post Burn Timber Sale.
• July 20, 2003 there will be a bar-b-que at John Q Murray residence at Huson. This bar-b-que will bring together the environmentalist, the forest service, woods products representative and recreationist. The focus of this bar-b-que will be to discuss the issues that each group feels important to them and maybe there will be some common ground that everyone can work together on.
• MCCF is in the process of developing in county capacity to do restoration on stewardship sales within the Superior Ranger District.
• MCCF is in the process developing a list of people who can work on the economic development of Mineral County today, tomorrow and the future.
• The Growth Plan is currently under construction. Comments need to be sent to Pay Hayes, PO Box 93, Superior, MT 59872
• Pat spoke with Bruce Hall, of Bonner Economic Development regarding the removal of Milltown Dam and the effects on the downstream communities. There has been some question as to how this dam can be removed before the TMDL is complete for the lower Clark Fork Drainage. The consensus is the “Milltown Dam” will be removed. The management of the removal is between ARCO and EPA. If EPA manages the removal 2.5 million yards of contaminated sediment will be removed, leaving 6.6 million yards. The sediment may be placed in a lined depository at Bad Man Flats or at Opportunity. Both Opportunity and Bonner are fighting the placement of the contaminants in their respective communities.

Gary Edson-Ninemile Ranger District gave the following report

• AT this time the Categorical Exclusion bill is hand tied in the legislative branch.
• The 3 major drainages in the Ninemile Ranger District are TMDL driven.
• Currently looking at beetle infestation as projects for the Categorical Exclusion Timber Sales
• Pack String are currently on tour
• Spending a lot of time on Frenchtown Face project
• Met with FORESTS task force regarding the Categorical Exclusion

Rob Harper-Superior Ranger District gave the following report:

• Blading is complete on the Superior Ranger District
• Have had five fires on the district – we are starting to ship out our people
• 3 Active timber sales
• Currently not working on any new NEPA reports
• Farm Bill Grants have been awarded to: MCCF $5,000;Tricon Timber $20,000.00; Baileys $20,000.00; Big Sky Forest Products $25,000.00

Kit Sutherland-Bitterroot RC&D gave the following report:

• Outsourcing will include Park Service Employee as and Forest Service
• The Fireworks Wagon is available for fairs, public gatherings. It would be nice to have local staffing
• Would like to see a three county Forester
• State Association meeting Sept 21, 2003

There will be no meeting in August. The next meeting will be September 8, 2003. Bruce Hall of the Bonner Economic Development will be invited to attend the September meeting.