PTEIR Frequently Asked Questions

The PTEIR Process

What is a PTEIR?
The letters stands for "Program Timberland Environmental Impact Report". The California Board of Forestry established the PTEIR process in the mid-1990s to consider entire programs of timber harvesting as a whole, instead of examining logging units on a plan-by-plan basis. The expected impacts are all examined up front.
Subsequently, landowners who want to log under the terms of the PTEIR file PTHPs (Program Timber Harvesting Plans), which are site-specific logging plans tailored to the conditions of the individual stand. The PTHP includes a checklist to demonstrate whether the intended logging is an implementation of what was envisioned in the PTEIR. In terms of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this means that the PTHPs are "tiered" to the PTEIR.

Who decides what is in the PTEIR, and who is writing it?
The MRC is responsible for the content and submission of the draft PTEIR to CAL FIRE. The MRC has hired Baldwin, Blomstrom, Wilkinson and Associates, a forestry firm in Arcata, to write the PTEIR under the direction of MRC staff, with the advice of the Mattole Forest Futures Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is made up of 9 members -- including two foresters, two Mattole landowners, and members of local environmental and forestry groups -- who offer regular input on the content of the PTEIR, and who represent a variety of view points on land use in the Mattole.
After the MRC and CAL FIRE agree on the content of the Draft PTEIR, it will be released for public comment. Based on the public comments received, MRC and CAL FIRE will revise it before the issuance of a Final PTEIR.

Has the public been able to provide input on the project?
Yes. Neighborhood meetings were held from April to June 2007 in 4 places in the Mattole, with outreach conducted through KMUD, the Independent, posters, and mailed notices. About 50 people attended these meetings. In January 2008, the project's Notice of Preparation, a required document informing the public that the plan would be written, was filed, inviting official scoping comments. As of this writing in April 2008, we are meeting with people who have concerns about the project to take their comments into account as we write a final project description.
In addition, we are drawing on the expertise of the Mattole watershed's Technical Advisory Committee, which includes scientists from federal and state agencies.

What is the schedule for finishing the PTEIR?
As of this writing in April 2008, we are revising the Project Description to reflect the public comments we received during our "scoping" period. This revised description will be in the Administrative Draft of the PTEIR, which will be submitted to CAL FIRE in late summer of 2008. The administrative draft is subject to revision by the state agencies, which will be included in a Draft PTEIR to be released in January of 2009. This Draft will be open to further public comment and input. The Final PTEIR will be released in spring of 2009, with the first PTHPs being filed in summer of 2009.

Can I still provide comments about the PTEIR?
Yes, certainly. Mail them to the MRC at PO Box 160, Petrolia, CA 95558; or email them to seth(at)mattole [dot] org, or call us at 707-629-3514. We welcome dialogue.