Forest Service officials are seeking public comments on a proposed amendment to the land management plans for the four Southern California National Forests (the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino).

The proposed amendment would modify existing land use zone allocations in selected inventoried roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas. An alternate monitoring framework is also proposed. The full details of the proposed action can be found on the project webpage at www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35130.

This proposed amendment to the land management plan is part of the settlement agreement approved Jan. 3, 2011, in the case of California Resources Agency, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture, and Center for Biological Diversity, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture.

The four national forests will be hosting multiple open houses during the 45-day scoping period that began April 27. The content and format of each meeting will be identical; however, each forest will be presenting information specific to what the proposed amendment means locally. Forest Service staff officers will be available to answer questions, and maps of the proposed changes will be available for viewing. The only meeting scheduled is 4-7 p.m.Thursday, May 31, at the San Bernardino National Forest Headquarters, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408.

Comments should be received within 45 days of the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. The notice was published on Friday, April 27 and the comment period closes on Monday, June 11. Send written comments to: Cleveland National Forest, 10845 Rancho Bernardo Rd., Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92127-2107, ATTN: LMP Amendment.

Comments may be sent via email to [email protected], or filed through the project web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35130.

For further information, contact Project Manager Bob Hawkins at [email protected] or visit the project website at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php?project=35130.