The Department of Agriculture is again trying to curtail the public’s ability to meaningfully participate in decisions impacting federal lands.

Proposed changes would significantly limit the amount of time we have to comment on plans and decisions for timber sales and other land management projects managed by the US Forest Service and limit the amount and type of information we can include in public processes.

Many of the Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, and Decisions we comment on are complex in nature. Ground truthing and completing a detailed review of the ecological, legal, and practical impacts of land management plans (sometimes at a stand-by-stand level of detail) requires significant time and resources.

Accountability, local knowledge, careful review, and public feedback help the agency make better decisions. These changes are unacceptable and will lead to worse decision-making.

Please join us in fighting these changes by submitting a comment by March 9th. 

How to comment:

Go to this comment portal and type your comment in the box “Comment.” Then follow the instructions below the box to finish submitting your comment. We’ve provided a template to help get you started:

Hello, 

My name is [X], and I am writing to urge the Department of Agriculture to withdraw the proposed changes to 36 CFR 218. These changes severely curtail the public’s ability to provide meaningful comments on federal projects. Only allowing 10 days for EAs or 20 days for EISs for the public to review projects that are frequently very detailed and complex is unacceptable. Additionally, limiting the types and methods of information the public can submit will undermine federal projects. Public land decisions should be informed by public involvement and local knowledge. This type of information helps the Forest Service make better decisions. 

[Add in personal details about your involvement with public lands, type of local knowledge you have, etc.]

For the reasons listed above, the Department should withdraw the proposed changes. 

Best,

[your name]