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Northwest Forest Plan Amendment Library
Northwest Forest Plan & Amendment
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Amendment Library
Engagement & InclusionUnder the 2012 Planning Rule, the planning process consists of three major phases – assessment, plan development, and monitoring. As documents are completed for each phase, they will be available on this page.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) - November 15, 2024
A draft environmental impact statement describes the purpose of and need for action, the proposed action and related alternatives, and any environmental and socioeconomic consequences for each alternative considered.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement also includes information on compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and any modifications that were informed from scoping and evolving internal understanding regarding the potential impacts of the amendment. Once published, the public can review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and submit feedback during the comment period.
- Federal Register Notice of Availability
- Project Page
- Proposed Amendment Themes
- Draft Environmental Impact Statement Documents
- Submit a Comment (Learn How to Comment)
- Press Releases:
- Jan. 6, 2025: USDA Forest Service to Host Public Meetings for Northwest Forest Plan Amendment
- Nov. 18, 2024: USDA Forest Service to Host Public Webinars on Northwest Forest Plan Draft Environmental Impact Statement
- Nov. 14, 2024: Forest Service to release Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Northwest Forest Plan Amendment
Notice of Intent - December 18, 2023
Plan development, the middle phase of the 2012 Planning Rule process, officially begins with a Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register. The Notice of Intent initiates a scoping period on a preliminary proposed action and advises the public that the Forest Service is preparing an environmental impact statement to evaluate the effects of amending the Northwest Forest Plan.
Bioregional Assessment of Northwest Forests 2020
Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the planning process consists of three major phases – assessment, plan development, and monitoring. During the assessment, we identified and evaluated existing economic, social, and ecological conditions, while considering emerging issues and information from the Synthesis of Science. This effort produced the Bioregional Assessment, which is used to develop a strategic path forward in amending the Northwest Forest Plan.
Science Synthesis 2018
The 2012 Planning Rule requires the use of the best available scientific information to inform planning and plan decisions. Stakeholders and the public also identified the importance of best available scientific information in 2015 to inform plan updates. In response, the Forest Service produced the 2018 Synthesis of Science, a three-volume report that builds on the 10-, 15-, and 20-year Northwest Forest Plan monitoring reports and synthesizes the vast body of relevant scientific literature that has accumulated in the 24 years since the plan was initiated.
- Jan. 16, 2024: Forest Service Announces Correction to Comment Period for Northwest Forest Plan Notice of Intent
- Dec. 15, 2023: USDA Forest Service Publishes Notice of Intent to Develop a Northwest Forest Plan Amendment
- Bioregional Assessment - Full Document (.pdf, 25.1 MB) Updated 7/16/20 to correct a data error in Table 4-2
- Supplemental Report to the Bioregional Assessment of Northwest Forests (31.1 MB .pdf)
- Executive Summary (.pdf)
- Synthesis of Science, Full Document (.pdf)
Get Involved!
We have many opportunities for you to get involved in the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment process! Whether you are looking for more information, want to share information, or are looking for opportunities to comment on document releases, you can find it all here.