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![[GRAPHIC]: KIPZ (Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests) Forest Plan Revision Logo - KIPZ letters are filled with various scenic photos of mountains, fire, and river. Graphic also contains a small Forest Service shield badge](/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/fsm91_056005.gif)
Forest Plan Revision
Welcome to the Forest Plan Revision website for the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
On June 30, 2009, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California invalidated the Forest Service’s 2008 rule, holding that it was developed in violation of NEPA and ESA. The district court vacated the 2008 rule, enjoined the USDA from further implementing it and remanded it to the USDA for further proceedings (Citizens for Better Forestry v. USDA, 632 F. Supp. 2d 968 (N.D. Cal. 2009)). The court stated that, although the effect of invalidating an agency rule is to reinstate the rule previously in force, the Agency may choose whether to reinstate the 2000 rule or the 1982 rule. (View the court decision)
Under established legal principles, in circumstances like those here, the 2000 rule was immediately back in effect, without any process. Therefore, the Department of Agriculture determined that the 2000 Planning Rule is now in effect (including transition provisions and interpretative rules) which allows us to use the procedures of the 1982 Planning Rule to amend or revise plans. Thus, the Forest Service is now in the 2000 Planning Rule transition period. See Forest Service memorandum of July 15, 2009, signed by Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief for National Forest System. (View the memorandum)
We are re-evaluating our current situation, and determining the best course of action to continue to move forward. The comments received on the proposed plans as well as the collaboration and internal work accomplished over the last several years will serve as the starting point for finalizing the Plans.
Thank you for your continued interest in our process of revising our Forest Plans.
Ranotta McNair - Idaho Panhandle Forest Supervisor
Paul Bradford - Kootenai Forest Supervisor
Environmental Management System
In order to address priority environmental issues and continually improve environmental performance we are establishing an Environmental Management System (EMS). More...
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