United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service

Andrew Pickens Ranger District USDA Forest Service 112 Andrew Pickens Circle Mountain Rest, SC 29696

Dear Interested Citizen:

Andrew Pickens Ranger District

112 Andrew Pickens Circle Mountain Rest, SC 29664 864-638-9568

File Code: 1950 Date: February 24th, 2010

I am sending you this letter because you have either asked to be notified of proposals on the Andrew Pickens Ranger District or your property is adjacent to national forest where potential activities may occur.

As you may be aware, for many years, managers of the Andrew Pickens Ranger District, and the Sumter National Forest as a whole, have been focusing on native ecosystem restoration. More specifically, the Andrew Pickens has been removing non-native loblolly pine stands and replacing them with native vegetation.

To help meet demands for forest products in the early 1970s, the Forest Service began planting areas with loblolly pine because they typically grow faster than the native pines found in Oconee County. More recently, to restore these areas to more resilient, native pine and hardwood ecosystems, loblolly removal efforts began in 2004 and have continued throughout the years on small parcels, mostly in the 600-700 acre range. Specific areas where these activities have occurred include the upper Chauga River drainage, Cedar Creek, Village Creek and the Ross Mountain area.

Because these removal and restoration efforts have been successful, the district now is proposing to continue these activities district wide to approximately 6,000 acres (40 compartments) over the next five-ten years. This proposal includes removing non-native loblolly pine stands and restoring native hardwoods, pines and understory plants in their place. In addition, a blight­resistant strain of American chestnut would also be planted in selected areas should viable seedlings become available within the timeframes of this project. The proposal also includes creating habitat more typical to the Chattooga River and Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills (Management Areas 2 and 3, respectively) that will support existing native and other desired non-native plants (including the federally endangered smooth coneflower) and bird species such as northern bobwhite, ruffed grouse, field sparrow and golden-winged warbler which have been declining on the Sumter National Forest because of unavailable suitable habitat.

Removal and restoration efforts would take place using two processes: "cut and remove" and "cut and leave." Using "cut and remove," timber harvesting would require the establishment of approximately 122 log landings and loading areas, and road access in the form of temporary (approximately 4.9 miles), reconstructed (approximately 59.2 miles), newly-constructed (approximately 8.2 miles) or skid (less than 1.5 miles) roads. Many of these log landings and/or temporary/skid roads would be closed after use with adequate stormwater and erosion control.

Caring for the Land and Serving People ~

Printed on Recycled Paper ",

Additional treatments would include the use of herbicides to prepare the site for planting trees and/or to reduce competing vegetation so the planted trees would dominate the stands. Some areas would also be burned on a periodic basis. In other areas, manual and mechanical methods would be used to control sprouts and seedlings of less-desirable tree species.

To advance this proposal, the Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement in accordance with provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The responsible official for this decision, the Andrew Pickens district ranger, will make a decision whether to implement the proposed action or an alternative way to achieve the desired outcome on the district. Also, a Notice of Intent (NOI) will be placed in the Federal Register.

The Forest Service is requesting public comments on the specific proposal (attached). Submitted comments will become part of the public record. Please make your comments as specific to the proposal as possible. Be sure to include your name, address and telephone number, title of the project (AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project), and specific facts or comments with supporting reasons the district ranger should consider when evaluating the proposal.

Comments can be sent in one of several ways:

1) By mail, or hand-delivered to: USDA Forest Service, 112 Andrew Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, SC 29664

2) By facsimile: (864) 638-2659 3) By computer, electronically to (please include the project title in the subject line):

comments-southem-francismarion-sumter-andrewpickens@fs.fed.us 4) By telephone to: Nelson E. Gonzalez-Sullow (864) 638-9568

Comments must be sent within 30 days following the publication of the NOI in the Federal Register. For additional information, or to find out when the deadline is for getting your comments in, please contact Nelson E. Gonzalez-Sullow at (864) 638-9568.

Sincerely,

MICHAEL B. CRANE District Ranger

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Purpose and Need

The district has approximately 5,600 acres of planted loblolly pine stands. All of this acreage consists of relatively pure pine stands with little to no native hardwood and pines growing in the upper canopy. A number of stands in the compartments were converted to pine plantations 30 to 40 years ago by clear cutting more diverse stands and planting them to loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) after intensive site preparation treatments.

Few hardwood trees exist in the overstory of most of these stands and hardwood sprouts and saplings abound in the understory. Some of the stands proposed for treatment have been heavily impacted by southern pine beetle (SPB) with the most recent epidemics occurring in 2002 and 2003. Mortality was widespread across the district in pine plantations. Other stands are sparse due to poor planting success or to past logging that did not remove all of the loblolly pine. The density of trees in these stands range from sparse to a dense stocking basal area of 160 square feet per acre and greater.

With a lack of disturbance, these plantations are dominated by shade tolerant tree species such as red maple, black gum, dogwood, and sourwood. Early successional habitat is limiting on the district for many plant and wildlife species that are dependent on it. The Sumter National Forest proposed, endangered, threatened, and sensitive species (PETS) list includes several species that require open stand conditions to thrive. Specifically, the endangered plant, smooth coneflower has been limited in its distribution as a result of lack of disturbance and growth of shade tolerant species. Plant surveys have identified current locations of the plant and potential habitat areas have been identified. It currently is found primarily along roadsides, utility rights-of-way (ROWs), and adjacent to several loblolly stands. There is an opportunity to promote the expansion and establishment of this species in identified areas.

Woodlands provide habitat for a variety of disturbance-dependent, early successional game and nongame wildlife species in all stages of their lifecycles. Populations of early successional bird species, such as northern bobwhite, ruffed grouse, field sparrow, and golden-winged warbler, have been declining on the Sumter National Forest because of a lack of suitable habitat. Woodlands also provide open stand conditions with ample sunlight and disturbance conditions conducive to certain plants including the federally endangered smooth coneflower.

The AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project is located on four management prescription areas:

Management Area 4F Scenic Areas

7.E.2 Dispersed Recreation Areas with Vegetation Management 8.A.1 Mix of Successional Forest Habitats

11 Riparian Corridors

The purpose and need for this project is to restore the current landscape condition within the area to more native forest vegetation. Native vegetation would improve ecosystem health, increase habitat diversity and viability of a variety of plant and animal species in the long term.

The off-site loblolly pine stands would be replaced with native tree species appropriate for the habitat such as shortleaf pine, pitch pine, and table mountain pine. A blight resistant

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American chestnut (once native to this area) would also be planted depending on suitable habitats and site conditions as well as species availability for planting.

Prescribed burning, manual, mechanical, and herbicide treatments would be used to reduce woody competition and help establish desired native plant communities including smooth coneflower. Woodlands would also be maintained to provide desirable habitat for native plants and animal species as well as add to habitat diversity.

Woodlands are forests with relatively low tree densities of2S-60 % forest cover with understories that are dominated by native grasses and forbs. Management that promotes this native forest vegetation would serve a multitude of resources, such as to enhance hard mast production favorable to wildlife or to improve forest and watershed health with a variety of resilient native species that would be typically found on these sites. Additionally, moving from a plantation-type stand to one of more natural composition would serve to increase both structural and spatial vegetative diversity, create maintain early successional habitat, reduce the potential for further impacts from southern pine beetles and reduce fire risk and safety hazards from dead loblolly pine trees. Smooth cone flower would expand into these areas by managing some of these stands as permanent early successional habitat.

It should be noted that some areas that have already been entered to remove loblolly are included in this proposal in order to authorize continued silvicultural treatments needed to accomplish the desired conditions.

Proposed Action

The following treatments would be prescribed:

Regeneration Harvest, with reserves (Cut-and-Remove - 3,679 acres)

Timber harvesting would occur in stands where operable volumes now exist. This would include establishing log landings and loading areas, skid trails, and would include road access in the form of temporary roads, reconstructed roads, or newly constructed forest system roads. Unmerchantable loblolly and other undesirable species would be cut down by manual (saws, hand tools) or mechanized felling equipment methods after commercial timber harvest concludes. In addition, to cutting loblolly pine, harvest would also include Virginia pine, white pine, red maple, yellow-poplar and other less desirable hardwoods. Desirable oaks, hickories, shortleaf pine, table mountain pine, and pitch pine would be retained where possible unless removal is necessary for safety or for equipment operability reasons.

Regeneration Harvest, with reserves (Cut-and-Leave - 1,926 acres)

Loblolly pine stands would be cut down and not removed where log volumes are sparse or too small for a viable commercial sale, or occur in areas inaccessible to logging equipment. Cut and leave treatments would also be used in stands where loblolly pine saplings have come in after previous removal harvests. Cutting methods would include manual methods that use hand tools and chainsaws. Virginia pine and other less desirable species such as but not limited to white pine, red maple and yellow poplar may be cut for safety reasons, and to favor desirable residual oaks, hickories, shortleaf pine, table mountain pine and pitch pine.

Additional Treatments

Site preparation and release (3,264 acres) for Reforestation

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Site preparation and release treatments for reforestation include stem injection and foliar spray using the herbicide imazapyr and triclopyr that would be used in identified regeneration units.

Stem injections would be applied with hatchets and squirt bottles, or similar application devices, using a mixture of 64 oz water, 64 oz Garlon 3A or equivalent (triclopyr amine) and 6 oz Arsenal AC or equivalent (imazapyr). Stem injection would be applied to target vegetation too large to treat with a foliar spray. This application is made between the first of July and the end of September.

Directed foliar spray would be applied using backpack sprayers. The application is a low volume direct spray where foliage is sprayed to speckle. This application is made between the first of July and the end of September. Per gallon of mix water, the herbicide mixture for this application is: 0.5 ounce Arsenal AC or equivalent (imazapyr), 2 ounces of Garlon 4 or equivalent (triclopyr ester), ~ ounce surfactant, and spray pattern indicator.

Herbicide would be used for site preparation to prepare the site for planting trees. Shortleaf pine would be planted on a majority of the sites. Other native species would be planted including, table mountain pine, pitch pine, and a blight resistant strain of American chestnut. Plantings would take advantage of gaps created during timber harvest and from site preparation since desirable overstory trees would be left as reserves in most units. This would result in a two-aged structure to most treated stands.

An herbicide crop tree release treatment would be done about 3 to 5 years after trees are planted. The treatment would reduce competition to the desired understory trees so that they could become dominant in the stands.

Broadleaf vegetation would be treated to control competition with planted or naturally growing desirable native shortleafpine, pitch pine, oak, American chestnut and hickory. Exceptions include protecting selected soft mast and flowering trees.

Reforestation (3,264 acres)

Native shortleafpine seedlings would be the major species planted (12 ft. by 12 ft. spacing) but would also include pitch pine, Table Mountain pine and American chestnut where suitable habitat exists and if seed and/or seedlings are available.

Woodland Treatments (202 acres)

The woodland treatment would remove all loblolly pine and less desirable tree species including but not limited to Virginia pine, white pine, maples, and yellow poplar. Three stands contain enough volume for a commercial timber harvest and two do not. The treatment would include thinning oaks, hickories, and shortleafpine to a basal area (BA) of30-40 ft2/acre. All oak, hickory, and shortleafpine would be left where (BA) is currently less than 30-40 ft2/acre.

After initial treatments are completed, the areas would be prescribed burn on periodic basis (estimated within 1-5 years). Prescribe burn is covered under a separate NEPA decision.

Herbicide, manual and mechanical methods would be applied to all non-desirable tree species (sprouts and seedlings) within 1-2 years after the initial post-harvest prescribed burn. These methods may be applied up to two more times after the initial treatment.

Manual and mechanical methods including but not limited to hand tools (chainsaws, brush saws), and/or heavy equipment (tractor with mower, gyro-track) would be used to control sprouts and

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seedlings of non-desirable tree species to maintain the woodland condition. Mechanical treatments would grind up or masticate undesirable understory vegetation. Three of these stands would also be managed to benefit smooth coneflower.

Directed foliar spray would be applied using backpack sprayers. The application is a low volume direct spray where foliage is sprayed to speckle. This application is made between the first of July and the end of September. Per gallon of mix water, the herbicide mixture for this application is: 0.5 ounce Arsenal AC or equivalent (imazapyr), 2 ounces of Garlon 4 or equivalent (tric1opyr ester), ~ ounce surfactant, and spray pattern indicator.

Table 1 summarizes the treatment proposed for each stand.

Table 1. Proposed Stand Treatments Plant Native

Compo Stand Acres Treatment Herbicide Species 15 6 43 Regen., C&L No No 15 8 37 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 15 19 22 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 15 35 10 Regen ., C&L No No 16 2 25 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 16 4 41 Reqen ., C&R No No 16 6 6 Regen ., C&R No No 16 7 25 Reqen ., C&R Yes Yes 16 9 28 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 16 12 32 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 16 27 44 Regen ., C&L Yes Yes 16 32 9 Reqen., C&R Yes Yes 16 33 24 Regen ., C&R No No 17 18 36 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 18 4 42 Regen. , C&L Yes Yes 18 10 13 Reqen., C&L Yes Yes 18 17 30 Regen ., C&L Yes Yes 19 18 20 Regen ., C&L Yes Yes 24 14 24 Regen ., C&L Yes Yes 24 16 30 Regen ., C&L Yes Yes 25 2 49 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 25 8 15 Regen. , C&R No No 25 9 23 Regen ., C&R No No 25 23 22 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 25 24 32 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 25 25 6 Reqen ., C&R No No 25 31 32 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 26 26 11 Regen ., C&L No No 27 23 48 Regen ., C&L No No 28 2 35 Regen ., C&L No No 28 5 8 Regen ., C&L No No 28 10 37 Regen ., C&L No No 28 12 9 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 28 16 5 Reqen ., C&L No No 28 19 15 Reqen ., C&L No No 28 24 41 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 28 26 5 Reqen ., C&L No No

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to' , Table 1. Proposed Stand Treatments Plant Native

Comp. Stand Acres Treatment Herbicide Soecies 28 30 42 Regen ., C&L Yes Yes

28 31 17 Reqen ., C&L Yes Yes

28 32 12 Regen ., C&L No No

28 34 49 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes

28 35 17 Reqen., C&L Yes Yes 28 37 17 Regen ., C&L Yes Yes 28 38 21 Regen., C&L No No

28 42 15 Reqen ., C&L Yes Yes

29 1 16 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes

29 4 28 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes

29 7 16 Regen., C&R Yes Yes

29 8 13 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes

29 9 31 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 29 12 17 Reqen ., C&R Yes Yes 29 14 11 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 29 17 30 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 29 19 8 Reqen ., C&R Yes Yes 30 1 34 Regen., C&L No No 30 5 22 Reqen ., C&R Yes Yes 30 6 10 Regen ., C&L No No 30 16 6 Regen., C&L No No 30 19 7 Reqen., C&L Yes Yes 30 26 95 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 30 27 100 Reqen. , C&L; Woodland Yes No 30 34 24 Regen., C&L No No 30 41 94 Regen., C&R No No 30 42 8 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 31 1 13 Regen., C&R No No 31 2 173 Regen., C&R No No 31 17 11 Reqen ., C&R No No 31 18 21 Regen ., C&R No No 32 8 71 Reqen ., C&L Yes Yes 32 15 153 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 32 17 41 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 32 19 15 Regen., C&L No No 32 26 7 Regen., C&L No No 32 27 8 Regen., C&L No No 32 29 12 Reqen., C&R Yes Yes 32 30 39 Regen ., C&L No No 33 4 32 Reqen ., C&L No No 34 20 52 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 36 1 28 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 36 12 10 Regen ., C&L No No 36 17 6 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 36 19 28 Reqen., C&R Yes Yes 36 23 36 Reqen., C&L No No 36 26 41 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 36 32 16 Reqen., C&L No No 36 34 4 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 36 35 41 Regen ., C&R No No 36 36 29 Regen ., C&R No No

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Table 1. Proposed Stand Treatments Plant Native

ComP. Stand Acres Treatment Herbicide Species 36 37 21 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 37 2 81 Regen ., C&L No No 37 16 18 Regen ., C&L No No 37 22 43 Regen., C&L No No 37 24 40 Regen., C&L No No 37 27 27 Regen ., C&L No No 37 34 5 Regen. , C&L No No 37 46 14 Regen., C&R No No 37 64 8 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 38 3 27 Regen ., C&L; Woodland Yes No 38 9 32 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 38 11 28 Regen ., C&R; Woodland Yes No 38 40 33 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 38 42 3 Regen ., C&R; Woodland Yes No 39 7 16 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 39 18 12 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 39 20 20 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 39 34 4 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 39 35 5 Regen ., C&R No No 41 12 245 Regen ., C&L No No 42 1 87 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 42 23 29 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 42 24 24 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 42 25 21 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 42 26 21 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 43 2 18 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 44 33 2 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 45 1 80 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 45 6 46 Regen ., C&R No No 45 7 104 Regen ., C&R No No 45 10 41 Regen ., C&R No No 45 27 8 Regen. , C&L No No 45 28 10 Regen., C&L No No 46 25 26 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 47 7 52 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 48 1 96 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 48 2 44 Regen., C&R; Woodland Yes No 48 3 50 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 48 4 41 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 48 5 42 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 48 6 8 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 49 1 30 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 49 2 17 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 49 9 19 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 49 30 21 Regen ., C&R No No 49 32 24 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 49 33 4 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 50 2 98 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 50 10 14 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 51 1 12 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 51 3 25 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes

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Table 1. Proposed Stand Treatments Plant Native

Comp. Stand Acres Treatment Herbicide Species 51 4 43 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 52 23 40 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes

52 24 48 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 52 29 5 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 53 5 43 Regen ., C&L No No 54 6 17 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 54 13 43 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 54 17 50 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 54 27 96 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 54 29 17 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 54 31 11 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 55 7 24 Regen ., C&L No No 55 8 47 Regen ., C&L No No 55 13 33 Regen ., C&L No No 55 14 14 Regen ., C&L No No 55 17 14 Regen ., C&L No No 55 18 14 Regen., C&L No No 55 19 10 Regen., C&L No No 56 3 33 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 56 12 13 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 56 15 8 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 56 23 17 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 56 32 19 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 56 37 8 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 56 38 7 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 56 39 18 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 56 40 3 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 56 43 6 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 56 44 9 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 56 45 3 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 56 91 2 Regen., C&R Yes Yes 57 3 68 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 57 7 44 Reaen., C&R Yes Yes 57 15 23 Regen. , C&R Yes Yes 57 16 35 Regen., C&L No No 58 12 53 Regen ., C&L No No 58 14 40 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 62 5 51 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 65 16 17 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 65 21 6 Regen., C&L No No 65 22 46 Regen ., C&L No No 65 23 10 Regen ., C&L No No 65 24 12 Regen ., C&L No No 65 25 24 Regen ., C&R Yes Yes 65 26 31 Regen., C&L No No 65 27 55 Regen ., C&L No No

Total 5,605

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Table 2. Summary of Treatments

Treatment Acres Other Follow-up

Acres Treatment Objectives Treatments

Herbicide would be used to prepare sites for Herbicide planting and later to be used to release

2,951 desirable crop trees from competition.

Native species such as shortleaf pine, pitch

Reforestation pine, Table Mt. pine and American chestnut

Regen, would be planted on suitable sites depending 3,679 2,876 on availability of seed sources.

C&R Frequent fire and mechanical/chemical treatments would be used to reduce woody

Woodland competition and promote herbaceous understories in this plant community. Woodlands provide early successional habitat

75 for many species of animals and plants.

Herbicide would be used to prepare sites for Herbicide planting and later to be used to release

515 desirable crop trees from competition.

Native species such as shortIeaf pine, pitch

Reforestation pine, Table Mt. pine and American chestnut

Regen, would be planted on suitable sites depending 1,926 388 on availability of seed sources.

C&L Frequent fire and mechanicaUchemical treatments would be used to reduce woody

Woodland competition and promote herbaceous understories in this plant community. Woodlands provide early successional habitat

127 for many species of animals and plants.

Connected Actions

The following activities would be conducted in connection with vegetation management activities.

• System Road Construction: Twelve (12) system roads would be built providing access to 20 loblolly timber stands. These new roads are needed to provide access during timber harvest and to provide for long term resource management.

These roads are designed by Forest Service engineers to specific standards that include designing drainage structures such as culvert installations, inside slope ditching, road crown specifications, widened turn-around, gates, and signage. Total specified system road construction is estimated at 8.2 miles but may vary once actual design is completed. Information on roads is contained in the road analysis.

• Road Reconstruction and Maintenance: System road reconstruction and maintenance would be needed on approximately 59.2 miles of roads. Reconstruction work would

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consist of but not be limited to graveling road surfaces, replacing culverts - including replacements for aquatic organism passage, ditch cleaning, removing brush and trees along road rights-of-way, installing, repairing or replacing gates and correcting road safety hazards. Road maintenance would consist of spot gravel replacement, blading, cleaning culverts, light brushing and mowing.

• Temporary Roads: Log landings that have no access to existing roads would be accessed by a temporary road that connects to the forest transportation system. Temporary roads are generally under 10 percent grade and road widths less than 14 feet. Approximately 4.9 miles of temporary roads are needed for access. Most of these would be reopening of former temporary roads that are in suitable locations, but for the most part have stabilized cut and fill slopes that may not be disturbed. Temporary roads would be closed and adequate erosion and stormwater control measures completed and replanted with vegetation

• Skid Roads: Designated skid roads, some with temporary bridges or other protective measures may be used to provide access over stream and drainage channels. It is estimated that skid roads would total less than 1.5 miles. They would be closed after use with adequate stormwater and erosion control measures.

• Log Landings: It is estimated that approximately 122 log landings would be needed. Log landings are locations where logs are piled and then loaded onto trucks. Former landings sites would be used whenever appropriate to limit effects. They would be closed after use with adequate stormwater and erosion control measures.

To view maps of the location of proposed treatments go to http://www.fs.fed.us/rS/fms/sumter/resources/projects.current.php ?p=1.1. 7 .3. Please contact the district office if you would rather have printed copies of the map sent to you.

Relation to Forest Plan

This proposal is consistent with the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, Sumter National Forest (Sumter Forest Plan) that provides goals and objectives for the project area.

The project area would help meet the following goals and objectives in the Sumter Forest Plan:

../ Goal 8 - Maintain and restore natural communities and habitats in amounts, arrangements, and conditions capable of supporting viable populations of existing native and desired non-native plants, aquatics, and wildlife species within the planning area .

../ Objective 8.01 - Restore 2,000 - 6,000 acres of native communities on sites occupied by loblolly pine on the Andrew Pickens District over the 1 O-year planning period .

../ Objective 8.02 Provide ... 4, 000 - 5,000 acres of woodlands on the mountains on dry­xeric sites in woodland, savanna, open grassland, or shrub land conditions;

../ Objective 12.01 - Restore 500 to 2,500 acres of table mountain pine (pitch pine) forest over the 1 O-year planning period.

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