Town of Little Valley - Herbicide Application to Establish Forest Regeneration

Negative Declaration

Cattaraugus County - The New York State Department of Conservation (NYS DEC), as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Herbicide Application to Establish Forest Regeneration will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. The action involves the application of herbicide to approximately 80 ± acres of forest as part of a timber stand improvement to control undesirable regeneration colonizing the understory of the forest stands. Target species include Striped maple, hophornbeam, Blue beech, Black birch, American beech, honey suckle, Russian olive, buckthorn, New York and hays-scented fern. Treatment methods may include application to cut stump, basal bark spray, frill or "hack and squirt" and foliar, to target species only. This will create conditions suitable for seed germination and the establishment of desirable commercial timber species. The abundance of these undesirable plant species present on the site are growing at a density that interferes with the development of desirable forest regeneration. Herbicide application is the most effective way to eliminate undesirable plant species that interfere with the development of desirable forest regeneration. A timber sale is scheduled for these stands in the near future. This FEAF/Negative Declaration covers subsequent treatments, as necessary to meet targeted goals. The project is located in the Cattaraugus RA #5, Stands 71 and 72 in the Town of Little Valley, New York.