Forest Service Region 5 Planning Update

Status Update: August 12, 2009

On June 30, 2009, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued a decision in Citizens for a Better Forestry v. United States Department of Agriculture ordering the Forest Service to cease the implementation and use of the 2008 planning rule. The Forest Service is complying with the Court’s decision. Use of the 2008 planning rule has been discontinued. Here is where we are currently with planning in the Pacific Southwest Region.

The 2000 planning rule, as amended, is now in effect. The rule allows the Forest Service to use the 1982 rule procedures to amend or revise plans. The Forest Service will be using procedures of the 1982 planning rule and is working on how best to transition to these procedures.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Modoc National Forest will continue work on their land management plans using the 1982 planning rule procedures.

Forest Service plan revision teams remain committed to working collaboratively with stakeholders. Planning activities such as public meetings that are independent of any specific planning rule will continue while we determine how best to transition to the 1982 rule procedures.

The forest plan revision work that we have completed to date remains valid and useful. We are evaluating how to organize and convert this work to fit the framework of the 1982 rule procedures. We will provide regular updates as we determine the process and timeline for resuming forest plan revision work. As additional information becomes available, it will be shared with stakeholders and posted on our website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/planning

Thank you for your continued interest and involvement in forest plan revision efforts.

For more information about the 2000 planning rule and 1982 rule procedures please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/2000_planning_rule.html