The Southern Environmental Law Center reports that the U.S. Forest Service is proposing sweeping policy changes that would eliminate public involvement and environmental review for most national forest decisions, including logging projects, road construction, and even pipelines. Please take a moment to tell the Forest Service that your voice is important to public land decisions.
If you haven’t already made your voice heard on the proposed rule changes, now is your chance! The U.S. Forest Service has extended its comment deadline to August 26th. Many of the changes in the proposed rule are based on adding or expanding existing categorical exclusions. If you love our forests, we ask that you speak out against these changes, which would effectively remove the public from public lands management.
US Forest Service proposal to speed up logging, cut environmental analysis, public input
Asheville Citizen-Times
August 9, 2019
The rule would allow the Forest Service to cut 4,200 acres in national forests throughout the country, with no advance notice and no public comment. This would stop alternatives from being suggested, would stop transparency, would stop our public voices as citizens.
– US Forest Service proposal to speed up logging, cut environmental analysis, public input Asheville Citizen-Times (August 9, 2019)
Don’t Let Them Silence You
Blue Ridge Outdoors
August 1, 2019
National forests in Southern Appalachia are among the most popular in the country. The Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina is the nation’s second-most visited national forest, with nearly 7 million visitors last year. According to the U.S. Forest Service’s own 2014 Visitor Use Survey for the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest, over 90 percent of forest users are hikers, mountain bikers, paddlers, trail runners, and other nature-seeking outdoor enthusiasts. Without their input into future decisions, our forests will become less hospitable to the activities they enjoy.
– Don’t Let Them Silence You Blue Ridge Outdoors (August 1, 2019)
The public still has an opportunity to comment on the proposed rule changes. The comment period for the proposed rule was extended. Comments must be received in writing by August 26, 2019 at www.fs.fed.us/emc/nepa/revisions/index.shtml or visit Southern Environmental Law Center’s action page for the Forest Service rule change at OurForestsOurVoice.org