Process and Timeframe

• Evaluate existing and relevant data/information on existing conditions, roles and contributions, and trends.
• Assess sustainability of social, economic and ecological resources within the plan area and a broader landscape.
• Prepare a Forest Assessment Report as the basis for determining needs-for-change to the 1985 plan.

March 2015

• Identify need-to-change for the current plans.
• Develop the proposed action that addresses potential desired conditions, management objectives, and other plan components based on identified need-to-change.
• Distribute proposed action for public review and comment
• Host public meetings to receive feedback on plan components and content

December 2016

• Develop a Draft Environment Impact Statement (DEIS) that analyzes the effects upon resources of each of the alternative plan proposals

June 2018

• Analyze and respond to comments from the DEIS
• Select a preferred alternative
• Prepare a final EIS
• Complete a biological assessment on the selected alternative

Late 2019

• Prior to approving the preferred alternative, the public may raise issues related to the plan revision and suggest ways to improve the plan decision.

Fall/Winter 2020

• Final decision is made by the Helena and Lewis and Clark NF Supervisor.

Fall 2021

• Forest Service implements the Plan and begins on-going monitoring

2021 and on