Plan Revision Timeline

PRE-ASSESSMENT 

2023

• Internal preparation to initiate forest plan revision

ASSESSMENT PHASE

2023 - 2024

• Provide official notice in the Federal Register.

• Gather relevant data, information including local knowledge on current resource conditions and trends for use in assessment.
• Allow public to share concerns about trends and perceptions of risks to social, economic, and ecological systems.
• Open Houses designed to offer an opportunity for the public to learn about the revision process and assessment phase.

• Evaluate existing and relevant data and information about species indicating substantial concern about the species’ capability to persist over the long term.
• Begin communication and public input on Potential SCC.
• Final SCC when Final Forest Plan Decision is signed.

• Engage public on the inventory of waters to be studied.
• Engage public on the eligibility study during later planning phases.

• Engage public on the Inventory Step.
• Engage public on the evaluation, analysis, and recommendation during later planning phases.
• The four-step process is a required component of plan revision. There is no obligation to make a recommendation and only Congress can designate wilderness areas.

• Inform public that draft summary assessment and draft assessment reports available for public review on March 25, 2024.
• Gathered public input regarding additional data/information through public meetings and an informal feedback period.

• Inform public of availability.

• Release Draft Preliminary Need to Change.
• Informal feedback period to gather public input from October 8 - November 7, 2024.
• Ensure the Draft Preliminary Need to Change reflects the need to change management direction in the 1990 forest plans and public input.
• Education on key resource areas and how assessment is used in developing proposed plan.

• Provide official notice in the federal register of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and provide a public comment period on the Proposed Action/Draft Plan.

• Timber suitability and monitoring.
• Develop desired conditions and other plan components for all resources.
• Map proposed land allocations, such as management areas and designated areas.
• Identify suitabilities across the landscape.
• Develop a proposed plan monitoring program.
• Scope the Proposed Action.

• Provide minimum 90-day public comment period on Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

• Review public comments from scoping.
• Develop alternatives.
• Develop the environmental impact statement and analyze the effects on resources of each of the alternatives.
• Release the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

• Analyze and respond to public comments from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• Select a preferred alternative.
• Develop biological assessment on the selected alternative and consult with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service.
• Release Final Environmental Impact Statement.
• Release individual Draft Record of Decision and Draft Plan for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. 

• Objection period and review of objections.
• Work with objectors to resolve objections prior to final Plan and Record of Decision.

• Provide official notice of Final Plan Approval.

• Ongoing implementation of projects that achieve Plan direction.
• Collect information and data to answer Plan monitoring questions.