Region 5 of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has officially noticed the first document in its process of updating the forest plans for the Inyo, Sequoia, and Sierra National Forests. The “Preliminary Need for Change” document is the first step in the actual plan revision process for all three forests, which are “early adopter” forests whose plans are being revised under the 2012 update of the National Forest System Planning Rule.
The three forests have already completed their initial forest assessments, which were not without controversy. The assessments were done with no official guidance from the USFS or the corresponding Federal Advisory Committee, and some counties were unhappy with the minimal coordination between the forests and local governments. The USFS has proposed planning directives to guide forests on updating their plans, but the USFS is still in the process of reviewing public comment as the planning process on early adopter forests moves forward.
Workshops have been scheduled in Bishop, Fresno, and Bakersfield to discuss the planning process and take oral comments on the Need for Change document. Written comments should be submitted via email to Region 5 at R5planrevision@fs.fed.us no later than January 31, 2014. Counties with land in any of the three forests should review the Need for Change and submit comments accordingly.
For more information, and to download the Need for Change document, visit the USFS Region 5 Forest Plan Revision website here.
For additional information, please contact RCRC Regulatory Affairs Advocate Staci Heaton at 916.447.4806 or sheaton@rcrcnet.org.