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FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
FSM 3400 – FOREST PEST MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 3450 – PEST MANAGEMEMT ADMINISTRATION
Supplement No.: 3400-2001-1
Effective Date: April 4, 2001
Duration: Effective until superseded or removed
Approved: ABEL M. CAMARENA
Acting Regional Forester
Date Approved: 03/21/2001
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Title and calendar year.
Post by document name. Remove entire document and replace with this supplement. Retain this
transmittal as the first page of this document.
New Document(s):
3450
6 Pages
Superseded Document(s):
3450
5 Pages
(Last supplement was 3400-98-1 to
Zero Code.)
Digest:
3450
3451.2a
3451.2c
3451.3
Updates unit names and incorporates minor editorial changes
throughout the chapter.
Removes paragraph (1) Surveys and Evaluations.
Adds direction for funding of bark beetle suppression.
Prohibits use of suppression funds to supplement standard
survey needs.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 3400-2001-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/04/2001
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
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FSM 3400 – FOREST PEST MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 3450 – PEST MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION
3451 - USE OF FUNDS
Forest Health Protection funds are available for approved forest insect and disease prevention
and suppression projects on Regional lands. The Regional Forestry and Forest Health staff
administers funds. The Regional Forester approves requests for project funding and ensures that
all proposed projects meet standards in FSM 3430. All projects must:
Be supported by a biological evaluation prepared by a Regional Forest Health (FH)
specialist that substantiates the need for the project and strategies proposed.
Be environmentally acceptable and supported by a documented environmental
analysis (FSM 1950) prepared by the requesting unit.
Be economically feasible and supported by an economic evaluation (FSM 3409.11)
prepared by the requesting unit.
1. Pest Prevention Projects. When specifically recommended by a FH specialist and
approved by the Regional Forester, use these funds to reduce stand susceptibility to
bark beetle attack by thinning (FSH 3409.11 and 6509.11g) or protect individual trees
by treatment with insecticides prior to attack, or through the of insect pheromones.
a. Qualifying Criteria. In addition to the standard project selection criteria,
stands proposed for prevention thinning projects must:
(1) Be pole-size ponderosa pine stands with more than 80 square feet of
basal area per acre.
(2) Be areas with unique features, such as a municipal watershed,
recreation site, or wildland/urban interface area.
(3) Be supported by a documented hazard evaluation prepared by a FH
specialist that demonstrates a potential outbreak situation.
(4) Follow a site-specific resource management plan with silvicultural
prescriptions developed and approved by a certified silviculturist
(FSM 2478).
(5) Require supplemental thinning in lieu of or in addition to
commercial thinning, but should not be included in timber stand
improvement plans because of low priority or no other funds are
available.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 3400-2001-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/04/2001
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
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FSM 3400 – FOREST PEST MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 3450 – PEST MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION
2. Pest Suppression Projects. Use Forest Health Protection funds to finance insect and
disease suppression projects which remove or destroy infested or infected trees,
reduce destructive pest populations, or reduce fire or erosion hazard resulting from
pest management activities (FSH 6509.11g).
a. Dwarf Mistletoe Suppression. Use funds for the following dwarf mistletoerelated activities:
(1) Residual Tree Removal. Killing (by cutting, girdling, or use of a
registered herbicide) infected residual trees after fire, harvest, or
during other vegetation management activities when such an activity
is not part of normal programs.
(2) Sanitation. Stand entries made exclusively for the purpose of dwarf
mistletoe control, including activities such as non-commercial or
intermediate cuts. Normal timber stand improvement and
programmed entries are not included, but may be supplemented with
pest suppression funds to help achieve pest management objectives.
(3) Recreation areas. Pruning or removal of infected trees in recreation
and adjacent areas for the purpose of reducing impact and spread of
the disease or improving the health and vigor of infected trees.
(4) Stand Destruction. Destroying infected stands which cannot be
managed economically, but need to be removed to protect adjacent
high-value stands. Dwarf mistletoe suppression funds cannot be
used to cover regeneration costs.
b. Western Spruce Budworm and other Defoliator Suppression. In addition to
project analysis procedures set forth on FSH 3409.11 chapter 61.32, the
Regional Forest Health staff evaluates the need for suppression of defoliating
forest insect outbreaks on a case-by-case basis. Suppression project proposals
will be considered for funding based on meeting one of the following
conditions (FSH 6509.11g):
(1) The defoliator infestation is in the early stage of an outbreak cycle
and aerial application of one or more insecticides has the potential to
reduce the insect population to a low level to enhance population
regulation by natural factors.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 3400-2001-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/04/2001
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
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CHAPTER 3450 – PEST MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION
(2) High-value trees in recreation sites and similar locations can be
treated with a ground application of insecticides to provide foliage
protection when one or more years of defoliation is expected to cause
unacceptable damages, such as visual effects or tree mortality.
c. Bark Beetle Suppression. Suppression of Dendroctonus bark beetle outbreaks
in the Region will only be considered when there is a clear justification for
effective control. Ips bark beetle species can mass attack fresh pine slash,
build to high population levels, and attack nearby live stands of pines.
Suppression of Ips infestations in slash can be accomplished by the use of
mechanical and insecticidal techniques. A key is detection of a building
infestation immediately following attack of slash to allow sufficient time to
treat the slash before beetle flight.
3. Prohibited Uses of FHP Funds. Do not use funds to:
a. Pay for removing dead or dying trees, except to prevent the spread of forest
insects or diseases.
b. Remove trees or tree parts for the purpose of reducing public safety hazards.
c. Compensate for the value of property damaged or destroyed or injury to the
public from hazard trees.
d. Supplement survey or evaluation funds for standard forestry operations (FSH
2409.26d) or fire prevention projects, including dwarf mistletoe projects.
e. Finance recurring maintenance measures such as regular applications of
pesticides for nuisance insects, weeds, or other insects or disease organisms
that do not affect forest trees.
f. Finance planned timber stand improvement work, except where forest pests
necessitate measures which exceed those normally carried out.
g. Construct or maintain long-term facilities.
h. Control noxious weeds or pests affecting rangeland and forage plant species
R3 SUPPLEMENT 3400-2001-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/04/2001
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
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FSM 3400 – FOREST PEST MANAGEMENT
CHAPTER 3450 – PEST MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION
3452 - PLANNING AND BUDGETING
3452.2 - Requesting Control Project Funds
On National Forest system lands, Forest Supervisors shall select and request financing of pest
prevention and suppression projects using existing planning and budgeting process. Projects
must meet the control project standards of FSM 3430. By November 15 of each fiscal year,
Forest Supervisors must submit to the Regional Forester a funding request identifying all pest
prevention and suppression projects that require funding. In emergency situations, when the life
cycle of the pest precludes making decisions at an earlier time, proposals should be submitted to
the Regional Forester as soon as possible. In this instance, the documentation required remains
the same; however, the time schedule is compressed. With either situation, FH specialists must
be contacted as soon as possible in the project planning process. For example, for defoliator
suppression projects, Project Proposals (Form FS-3400-2) must be submitted by September 15 of
the fiscal year prior to the project to meet the Chief’s reporting requirements of October 1 (FSM
3452.21, para. 1). For cooperative prevention and suppression projects involving non-Federal
lands, at least one of six conditions covered in FSM 3433 must exist, and the maximum Federal
share or project costs is covered under FSM 3452.23, para. 3, Financial Assistance.
1. Requests for Presuppression Surveys. The cost for presuppression surveys
should be covered by the benefiting function as an integral part of resource
inventory procedures. The emphasis in the Region is to fund prevention and
suppression projects that directly reduce the intensity and distribution of
pest in specific areas. Requests for presuppression surveys shall include a
Project Proposal (Form FS-3400-2), listing the pest to be suppressed, the
number of acres to be surveyed, the cost per acre to be supplemented by
suppression funds, and a description of how costs were calculated and the
name and location of the analysis area covered by the survey.
2. Requests for Suppression Projects. Suppression project requests must be
based on the results of completed presuppression surveys, and the
subsequent silvicultural prescriptions or direct suppression alternatives
selected. Projects proposed for recreation sites need to be addressed in a
vegetation management plan. Requests for suppression projects shall
include all the required documentation (FSM 3432):
a. Forest Pest Management Project Proposal. The requesting unit must
prepare a proposal, form FS-3400-2, for each suppression project. The
proposal must list the pest to be suppressed, the number of acres to be
treated, and the cost per acre to supplemented by suppression funds.
R3 SUPPLEMENT 3400-2001-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 04/04/2001
DURATION: Effective until superseded or removed
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b. Project Work Plan. The requesting unit shall prepare a project work
plan that outlines the activities planned in the proposed project. This
should include copies of approved silvicultural prescriptions and maps
showing the location of the proposed project.
c. Environmental Analysis. The requesting unit shall follow the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and CEQ regulations in preparing
an environmental analysis (FSH 1901.15).
d. Economic Evaluation. The requesting unit shall prepare an economic
evaluation (FSH 3409.11) demonstrating that the proposed project is
economically feasible.
e. Pesticide-Use Proposal. If applicable, the requesting unit must prepare
a Pesticide-Use Proposal, Form FS-2100-2, in compliance with
direction per FSM 2150.
3. Pretreatment Evaluation. Forest Health specialists must prepare a Pretreatment
Evaluation (FSM 3420) after reviewing presuppression survey data, proposed
silvicultural prescriptions, direct suppression alternatives, existing stand conditions, and
resource management objectives. No project will be funded without an approved
Pretreatment Evaluation.
4. Control Project Recordkeeping. Records on each pest management project shall be
maintained at the appropriate Supervisor’s Office or Ranger District Office with a
duplicate set at the respective Forest Health Zone Office. Records shall include all
required documentation.
5. Posttreatment Evaluation (FSM 3421.4 and FSM 2478.4). The purpose of the
posttreatment evaluation is to compare actual versus predicted results of treatment on
both the pest and forest resources. The information obtained should be used in planning
future work. Posttreatment evaluations should be made within one year of project
completion. For certain disease management projects, such as dwarf mistletoe
treatments, a second posttreatment evaluation should be made 5 to 10 years after project
completion to determine long-term results and effects. Posttreatment evaluations of pest
management projects should be conducted or approved by a FH specialist.