APPENDIX 8


United States         Forest           Allegheny National     P.O. Box 847 
Department of         Service          Forest                 222 Llberty Street
Agriculture                                                   Warren, PA 16365
                                                     (814) 723-5150: FAX (814) 726-1465
              Reply To: 2720
              Date: July 3, 1999

Rainbow Family Members:

Attached is the site and resource rehabilitation plan for the Bear Creek area of the Allegheny National Forest. This plan covers all areas impacted by the 1999 Rainbow Family Gathering. Although some site specific needs have been included, most of the specific rehabilitation work will be identified after event participants have departed and actual site impacts can be determined.

All materials and supplies needed to complete rehabilitation of the site will be purchased by the Rainbow Family. This will include but is not limited to tools, equipment, and seed.

All rehabilitation work must be completed by August 1, 1999. If the rehabilitation is not completed or is not effective the Forest Service will complete the project and bill the Rainbow Family for all costs incurred by the government.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 814-776-6172.

Sincerely,

(signed) LEON F. BLASHOCK District Ranger

cc: Bill Fox, IC

enclosure

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REHABILITATION PLAN
1999 RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING
MARIENVILLE RANGER DISTRICT
ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST

The 1999 National Rainbow Family Gathering is taking place on the Marienville Ranger District of the Allegheny National Forest. The site is approximately five air miles west of the town of Ridgway, Pennsylvania. Members of the Rainbow Family of Living Light (RBF) began gathering and impacting the site on June 4, 1999. It is estimated that between 1,500 and 25,000 RBF members win gather on the site by July 4, 1999.

This rehabilitation plan provides general and site-specific methods, specifications, and guidelines to facilitate the clean up and rehabilitation of the areas impacted by the RBF The plan is intended to be a guide to assist Forest Service and RBF members to better understand the objectives and expected end results of the clean up and rehabilitation process.

The National Incident Command Team was given a Delegation of Authority by the Forest Supervisor to manage the effects of the I 999 Gathering on the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). ANF resource specialists have been assigned to work with the National Team in identification of significant forest resources that may be impacted, and in the development of strategies to provide for their protection and post-event rehabilitation.

Since arrival in early June, RBF members have been continually informed of sensitive resource areas within or adjacent to the Gathering site. Forest resource specialists will continue to work with the RBF during the rehabilitation process. Some of the site-specific rehabilitation needs have already been identified. However, additional design work will be necessary after most of the event participants have departed and the actual site impacts can be determined

It is expected that all rehabilitation work will be completed by August 1, 1999.

The following are rehabilitation objectives designed to return the site to near pre-gathering conditions:

1 . Clean up and rehabilitation includes all areas impacted by the RBF.

2. Physical evidence of human presence created by the RBF will be removed from the site, or rearranged to present a natural appearance.

3. All refuse, litter and foreign material will be removed and disposed of at a recognized sanitary landfill or recycling center in accordance with County and State regulations.

4. All structures and facilities will be totally dismantled. Man-made material will be removed from the site. Other material will be scattered to achieve a natural appearance.

5. All water lines will be removed. Rehabilitation of the springs will be done as per methods identified by the Forest Service.

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6. All string, rope, wire, twine, and flagging utilized by the RBF will be removed from the vegetation and disposed of properly

7. All abandoned dogs, cats, and other animals will be removed by the RBF.

8 All abandoned vehicles will be moved to suitable facilities at the expense of the RBF.

9. All pre-existing improvements damaged by the participants will be repaired or replaced by the RBF.

10. Any closed road opened by the RBF will be closed by methods designated by the Forest Service.

11. Areas of exposed mineral soil, to be designated by the Forest Service, will be scarified or aerated and seeded. To ensure revegetation within one growing season, seeding will be completed as soon as possible after people leave the area of impact.

12. Trails that were created or enlarged by gathering participants will be obliterated and restored following ANF restoration guidelines.

13. To minimize erosion, all trail segments and disturbed areas on slopes over 15 percent will have erosion control structures in place prior to August 1, 1999. Erosion control design will be specified by the Forest Service.

14. Fire pits will be filled with the native material that was removed from the pit. Rocks will be scattered to appear natural to the surrounding area.

15. Slit latrines will be covered with native material originally removed from the pit and mounded with excess material to allow for settling. All fecal material will be completely covered with ash or lime before covering with soil.

16. Compost pits will only include natural decomposable material. Compost pits and gray water pits will be covered with dirt and mounded with excess material to allow for settling.

17. All creek crossings and stream banks will be returned to pre-gathering condition. Erosion control measures will be designated by the Forest Service. Stream crossings will be the last areas rehabilitated prior to leaving the site. This will ensure that no further damage will occur to the creek and riparian areas.

18. Parking areas will be restored as designated by the Forest Service.

19. Wildlife food plots may require scarification and re-planting. Rehabilitation needs will be assessed after most of the participants have departed. Alternative seeding mixtures may be required for wildlife habitat.

20. Seed specifications and seed rate shall be determined by the Forest Service at the end of the Gathering. Seed shall be certified .04 percent or less weed free. Certification tags will be provided to Forest Service resource personnel. A proper seedbed will be prepared by scarification of the soil

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with the appropriate tools, such as rakes. The seed should be spread and worked into the soil by raking. The seed will be covered by no more than 1/2 inches of soil.

1999 Rainbow Gathering Rehabilitation Plan - 7/3/99