October 23, 2003

Judy York

USFS, Rising Cougar Project

1500 Hwy 2, Suite 110

Sandpoint ID 83864

Dear Judy,

Rising Cougar EIS covers a huge, important physical area.

There are several specific topics we hope to see addressed in depth in the DEIS:

1)      sensitive and rare plant protection

2)      riparian and wetland protection

3)      invasive and noxious weed prevention, control, and eradication

4)      roadless areas and the preservation of large intact ecosystems

5)      impact on native plants and their environment from subsequent recreational and other use

If you are contemplating reopening Lightening Creek Road we would like to see in the DEIS a careful analysis of the impact public use would have, especially for weed prevention and existing sensitive plant communities.

We feel that logging planned for roadless areas deserves extra scrutiny.  Questions we assume you will be addressing in the DEIS include: Are any of these currently eligible for Wilderness designation? What previous "management" has occurred on these sites? Is fire an alternative to logging? What policy implications does logging in roadless areas have for their future status? Have complete botanical surveys been done on these sites?

Please keep us, and Fields Cobb on your mailing list, and let us know when and where you will have an open house on this project.

Thank you,

Molly O'Reilly