U.S. Forest Service officials have released Draft Records of Decision for a proposed amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California national forests (Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino).

A legal notice published in each National Forest’s newspaper of record begins a 60-day public objection period. Objections will be accepted from individuals or entities who submitted substantive formal comments related to the plan amendment during previous public comment opportunities. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted comments unless new information arose after the designated comment period ended.

The objection process gives an individual or entity a chance for an independent Forest Service review and resolution of issues before the plan amendment’s approval. Objections must be filed within 60 days following the legal notice publication. Objections received prior to the legal notice publication will not be accepted, acknowledged or reviewed.

For more information on the objection process, visit the Forest Service National Objection webpage and select the link to the planning objections rules at 36 CFR 219: www.fs.fed.is/objections/objections_related.php#app_work

The Draft RODs and Final SEIS 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.

For more information, email Project Manager Bob Hawkins at [email protected].