Peloncillo Firescape Comments Due Fri., March 15

The 30-day window to comment on the Forest Service’s draft environmental assessment for their proposed Peloncillo Firescape Project closes March 15.

The Chiricahua Regional Council (CRC) recognizes the need for public land managers to address the threats posed by wildland fire. In our age of climate change, this has grown in importance. Although the CRC agrees in general with the proposed plan, we feel that there are inadequate protections given to the Peloncillo Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) within the project area. This area should be afforded a similar level of preservation as the Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) that are currently being excluded from mechanical treatment. Although hand thinning could be an acceptable tool to use in the IRA, the presence of larger mechanized equipment needed for mastication operations should not be allowed in the IRA.

We ask members to write comments urging the forest service to protect the integrity of the roadless area and refrain from using heavy mechanized methods to thin vegetation within it. You can submit your comments here.