The US Forest Service has announced that a correction has been issued to extend the comment period for its published Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal to amend the Northwest Forest Plan.
The comment period on the 17 separate land management plans has been extended to February 2nd to allow additional time for the public to review and submit their feedback on this initiative.
The Notice of Intent identifies changed conditions that are driving the need to amend the plan with a focus on five key areas: wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation, tribal inclusion, sustainable communities, and conservation of old-growth ecosystems and related biodiversity.
The US Forest Service is committed to preserving the elements of the plan that are working well while incorporating the latest science to help forests adapt to social, economic, cultural and ecological changes.
The Forest Service has scheduled a series of informational winter webinars and a virtual open house to help provide a better understanding of the Northwest Forest Plan and Notice of Intent. These events will offer an opportunity for individuals to learn more about the current amendment effort and how to submit their comments.
The Northwest Forest Plan covers 24.5 million acres of federally-managed lands in western Oregon and Washington, and northwestern California. It was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region.
