Forest Service delays release of draft environmental impact statement for NW Forest Plan update

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The USDA Forest Service is informing partners, collaborators, and the public that the release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the amendment to the Northwest Forest Plan, initially anticipated at the end of August, is now expected in October.  

When released, the draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register, which will start a 90-day public comment period allowing all interested parties to provide input on the proposed amendment. 

The Forest Service is amending the Northwest Forest Plan to address changed conditions 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 Forest Service said it "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 Northwest Forest Plan covers 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in California, Oregon, and Washington. It was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region.

"After nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan needs to be updated to accommodate changed ecological and social conditions," the agency said.     

For more information visit the Northwest Forest Plan webpage at:  www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/nwfp