Planning
Each national forest and grassland is governed by a management plan in accordance with the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). These plans set management, protection, and use goals and guidelines. Monitoring conditions on a forest or grassland ensures projects are done in accordance with plan direction and determines effects that might require a change in management.
The National Forests and Grassland in Texas (NFGT) is starting an Oil and Gas Leasing Availability Analysis. The analysis will inform the decision about what NFGT lands will be available for oil and gas leasing and under what conditions.
UPDATE: The EIS is currently being prepared and is expected to be completed in Summer 2026.
Texas National Forests and Grasslands, Oil and Gas Leasing and Availability Analysis
- 2019 Scoping Documents
- Document - Project and Purpose
- Document - Process/Steps
- Map – Nonattainment and Class 1 Areas
- Map – Decision Area and Key Resources (Angelina National Forest)
- Map – Existing Stipulations (Angelina National Forest)
- Map – Existing Leases (Angelina National Forest)
- Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario for Oil and Gas Activities
2026 Notice of Intent
A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for this project was published in the Federal Register on April 23, 2026. Current project documents may be accessed on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/texas/projects/56882
Comments
Comments may be submitted electronically through the project website: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=56882
Comments on the project may also be submitted via email to: SM.FS.r8nfgtshcom@usda.gov. Email attachments will only be accepted in common digital formats such as PDF, Microsoft Word, or rich text format. Comments may also be faxed to (936) 639-8588.
Written comments may be mailed to:
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Oil and Gas Leasing
Natural Resources and Planning Staff Officer
2221 N. Raguet St.
Lufkin, Texas 75904
Although comments are welcome throughout the Environmental Impact Statement process, the deadline to provide input as part of the public comment period is April 28, 2026. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of public record. Comments submitted anonymously will still be accepted and considered.
For additional information regarding this project, contact Juanita Garcia, Public Services Staff Officer at Juanita.garcia@usda.gov or (936) 639-8501.
All 1996 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (RLRMP) documents are available upon request in hard copy form from the Forest Supervisor's Office in Lufkin, Texas. Electronic versions of all documents are available below:
Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Plan):
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS):
- FElS (Cover thru Page 187)
- FEIS (Page 188 thru Appendix B, Page 83)
- FEIS (Appendix B, Page 84 thru Appendix D, Page 129)
- FEIS (Appendix D, Page 130 thru Appendix F, Page 15)
- FEIS (Appendix F, Page 16 thru End)
- FEIS Appendix K Comments & Responses (Cover thru Page 153)
- FEIS Appendix K (Page 154 thru End)
- FEIS Map Package (Cover thru End)
Management Area (MA) Maps:
- LBJ NG Management Area Map
- Caddo NG Management Area Map
- Angelina NF Management Area Map
- Davy Crockett NF Management Area Map
- Sabine NF Management Area Map
- Sam Houston NF Management Area Map
Summary of Five-Year Review/Analysis of the Management Situation
Supplement #1:
- Appendix I-Old Growth - PDF format
Amendment #1:
- ROD for the Texas Blowdown Reforestation Project - PDF format
Amendment #2:
Errata #1
Errata #2
- Allocation of Tannehill/Bishop Tracts based upon the Texas Blowdown Reforestation Project ROD - PDF format
Amendment #3: (due to error in numbering, this amendment does not exist)
Amendment #4 (Vacated by U.S. District Court for the Southern District - Houston Division on 9/30/2005):
- ROD to the FEIS Vegetation Management in the Coastal Plain/Piedmont
- Supplement to the FEIS Vegetation Management in the Coastal Plain/Piedmont
Amendment #5:
Amendment #6:
Amendment #7:
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker Recovery Plan Amendment to the 1996 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan - PDF format
- Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker Recovery Plan Non-significant Forest Plan Amendment #7 - PDF format
Amendment #8: (Reserved)
Amendment #9
- The Travel Management Rule Addendum to the 1996 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan
- Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Travel Management Rule (70 FR 68264; November 9, 2005) Non-significant Plan Amendment #9
Errata #3
- Change in RCW Nesting Season Dates - PDF format
Amendment #10
Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 212, Subpart B, Designation of Roads, Trails, and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use)
Highlights of the Rule
- The rule requires each national forest or ranger district to designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicles.
- Designation will include class of vehicle and, if appropriate, time of year for motor vehicle use. A given route, for example, could be designated for use by motorcycles, ATVs, or street-legal vehicles.
- Once designation is complete, the rule will prohibit motor vehicle use off the designated system or inconsistent with the designations.
- Designation decisions will be made locally, with public input and in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
- Designations will be shown on a motor vehicle use map. Use inconsistent with the designations will be prohibited.
Project Description:
The project area is located in Shelby County, Texas, directly east of the town of Goober Hill, TX. The project area is located within the Sabine National Forest.
Silver Hill Energy Partners III, LLC is proposing the Cobra Master Development Plan. The project components include the installation of a natural gas trunk pipeline and construction of four (4) well pad locations and associated infrastructure on US Forest Service (USFS) land within the Sabine National Forest.