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Discussion: The appellant contends that the Forest Service ignored the scenery status of the Crystal <br />River Corridor (Class A) as laid out in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the White <br />River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Chapter 3, Part 3, Topic 4, Page 3-507). <br />The Forest Plan does not discuss the maintenance of Class A features specifically. Moreover, the point <br />was not raised prior to the decision, thus it is not expressly addressed in the record. However, the <br />Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Decision Notice (DN) did address concerns regarding scenic <br />integrity. Design criteria relating to scenic resources state that "the rock harvesting operations will be <br />located so they are.visually screened (by topography and trees), as much as possible" (EA, page 11). In <br />addition, the District Ranger required that lighter colored rocks exposed during harvest and left on the <br />hillside will be "stained to blend in with the existing darker rocks on the surface when visible from <br />below" (DN, page z). In addition, the proposal states that the staging area will remain in its current <br />position on private land (DN, page 1). The concerns regarding screening trees becoming infested with <br />spruce budworm or other infestation and dying due to this cause, is speculative and conjectural. Even if <br />this should occur, the record supports that the scenic integrity of the Crystal River Corridor has been <br />considered and protected using other means, including but not limited to topographic screening, <br />monitoring at Key Observation Points, and staining as mentioned above. <br />Recommendation: Recommend the District Ranger's decision be affirmed on this issue. <br />Matthew J. Janowiak <br />Acting District Ranger, San Juan National Forest <br />Appeal Reviewing Officer <br />3 <br />a <br />a-