MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Due to recent changes in COVID-19 risk ratings for Fresno, Kern and Tulare Counties, the U. S. Forest Service has decided to transition the public meetings that were planned for July 12 in Bakersfield, and July 13 in Clovis, to virtual events.
The purpose of these meetings is still to provide information about the availability of revised forest plans for the Sierra National Forest and the Sequoia National Forest.
The Forest Service is currently within the pre-decisional administrative review process (also known as the objection process) for the final environmental impact statement (FEIS), revised forest plans, draft records of decision, and the species of conservation concern lists for the forests.
Image by Victoria Palacios.
The Sequoia National Forest will host the virtual meeting, to start at the same date and time originally scheduled for the in person public meeting, July 12 from 6 – 8 p.m.
Use this link to join the Sequoia National Forest live event.
The Sierra National Forest will host the virtual meeting, to start at the same date and time originally scheduled for the in-person public meeting, July 13 from 6 – 8 p.m.
Use this link to join the Sierra National Forest live event.
At the virtual meeting, the Forest Service will provide information on the status of plan revision, including the objection process.
There will be time for attendees to ask questions; Forest and regional staff will be available to address the various resource areas covered under the plans.
Image by Connor McSheffrey.
The objection process provides an opportunity for those who have participated in a prior formal public comment period for these plan revision efforts to have their unresolved concerns reviewed prior to the Forest Supervisors issuing final decisions on the revised forest plans and the Regional Forester issuing decisions on the species of conservation concern lists for each forest.
The 60-day objection filing period begins with the publication of legal notices in the Porterville Recorder and Fresno Bee on June 14, 2022.
More about the revised plans and associated documents, including instructions for how to object or file as an interested person, can be found at the Sequoia and Sierra Forest Plan Revision website.
If you would like more information on the Sequoia plan revision process including the objections process, please contact Keith Fox, Environmental Coordinator, at 559-920-8276, or keith.fox@usda.gov.
If you would like more information on the Sierra plan revision process including the objections process, please contact Judi Tapia, Forest Planning Officer and Business Manager, at 559-297-0706, ext. 4938, or judith.tapia@usda.gov.
A short video about the U. S. Forest Service.
