Idaho Panhandle NF Revised Forest Plan Objection Response Now Available

Release Date: Sep 9, 2014

Contact(s): Jason Kirchner

Review for  the objections received to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s Revised Forest Plan, Environmental Impact Statement and draft Record of Decision has been completed and the reviewing officer’s response to objections is now available. The reviewing officer’s response to objections is the final step in the objection process and provides the final decision for the 22 objections received. The reviewing officer’s response also contains directions to Northern Rockies Regional Forester, Faye Krueger. These directions include modifications and additions to the documents that will be completed prior to signing the final decision.

“This objection response is the outcome of a deliberative and extensive review of concerns raised by objectors involving complex regulatory and management issues,” acting Associate Deputy Chief Greg Smith stated. “The review focused on ensuring the Revised Plan meets current requirements and to determine whether changes are warranted to improve upon the analysis and decision based on the objections submitted.”

With the objection process ended the forest will begin work immediately on the directions contained in the reviewing officer’s response to objections. It is unknown exactly how long it will take to complete the instructions, but the forest anticipates having a final Record of Decision ready for the deciding official’s signature sometime this winter if the additional work indicates the forest does not need to go back out to the public. The forest will begin implementation of the revised forest plan 30 days after the final Record of Decision is signed.

"The Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle Zone plans are the first two of the 1982 Forest Plans to go through the objection process. We are still learning how the objection process works and the Forest Service is applying what we have learned here to the other Forest Plans, nation-wide,” said Northern Rockies Regional Forester Faye Krueger. “I appreciate all the good work the Forests’ staff, the Washington Office, the Objectors, and the interested public have put into this process to make the Forest Plans better.”

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest’s plan revision process has been ongoing since 2002 and has included numerous public meetings, open houses and more than 100 community based work-group sessions. A draft forest plan and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with multiple alternatives was released to the public in January 2012 and was followed by a 90 day public comment period. After incorporation of public comments and the selection of an alternative the final Revised Forest Plan, final EIS and draft Record of Decision were released to the public in September 2013, which marked the beginning of the objection process. Completion of the objection process is the final step before the forest finalizes the Record of Decision and begins implementation of the revised plan.

For more information on the objections received, or to view the Revised Forest Plan and any of the supporting documents, please visit the Idaho Panhandle NF’s Forest Plan Revision webpage, or contact your local Forest Service Office. Compact discs or hard copies of the forest planning documents may be requested by phone (208) 765-7233 or email (IPNFplanrevision@fs.fed.us).