The committee last met in Olympia, Washington in late June where they finalized recommendations to inform the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment Draft Proposed Action. The committee developed 192 recommendations targeting key areas and voted unanimously to approve and advance the completed recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture.
The September meeting will be held to further discuss next steps in the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment process, discuss how their recommendations are being incorporated into the proposed action, and how other alternatives are being developed for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
The Northwest Forest Plan draft environmental impact statement is expected to be released in October. It will be published in the Federal Register and will initiate a 90-day comment period.
The meeting will be held at the Skamania Lodge Riverview Pavilion, 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson, WA 98648 and is open for the public to observe in-person. The meeting will also be streamed online.
Written and oral comments will be accepted during a designated portion of the meeting. Anyone wishing to provide in-person oral comments must pre-register by 11:59pm PST on September 13, 2024.
Written public comments will be accepted through 11:59pm PST on September 13, 2024. Comments submitted after this date will be provided by the Forest Service to the Committee, but the Committee may not have adequate time to consider those comments prior to the meeting.
Details regarding the upcoming meeting, including how the public can provide information to the committee is posted on the regional website at: fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/nwfpfac.
The Federal Advisory Committee does not replace the public involvement process or the public’s opportunity to engage directly with the Forest Service regarding Northwest Forest Plan amendment efforts during the planning process.
The Secretary of Agriculture established the FAC to support ongoing efforts to amend the Northwest Forest Plan. The FAC seeks to bring together representatives with diverse perspectives that reflect a range of experiences and expertise, including community, Tribal, government and other interest groups from across the Northwest Forest Plan landscape to inform the Northwest Forest Plan amendment. The group is working to help the agency identify ways to effectively conserve key resources while considering social, ecological, and economic conditions and needs.
The USDA Forest Service is amending the Northwest Forest Plan to address changed conditions with a focus on five key areas: wildfire resilience, climate change adaptation, tribal inclusion, sustainable communities, and conservation of old growth ecosystems and related biodiversity. The Forest Service is committed to preserving the elements of the plan that are working well while incorporating the latest science to help forests adapt to social, economic, cultural, and ecological changes.
The Northwest Forest Plan covers 24.5 million acres of federally managed lands in California, Oregon, and Washington. It was established in 1994 to address threats to threatened and endangered species while also contributing to social and economic sustainability in the region. After nearly 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan needs to be updated to accommodate changed ecological and social conditions.
Additional information about the Northwest Forest Plan is available at fs.usda.gov/goto/r6/nwfp.
