Response to Comments Process
In 2019 we published revised draft plans and a revised draft EIS, followed by a 90-day public comment period. We received more than 7,00 comment letters with 634 of those considered unique submissions. We heard from individuals, organizations, and agencies
about a broad range of topics. When you see the final revised forest plans later this year, you’ll notice we made changes in the final EIS analysis and revised forest plans based on many of the comments you shared with us.
We developed a process for responding to comments to ensure all comments were tracked and considered. Each comment letter was assigned an identification number and logged into a tracking database. An interdisciplinary planning team then reviewed each letter
we received, identifying and tracking separate comments with each letter, and categorizing them by topic. After reviewing each comment received, the team then identified where updates were needed in the revised plans or environmental analysis.
Applying What We Have Learned
Topics that received some of the greatest interest from commenters included wildlife and at-risk species, the pace and scale of timber and restoration treatments, fuels and fire management, sustainable recreation and access, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers,
use and management of the Pacific Crest Trail, and water quality and watershed management. Many comments also addressed the National Environmental Policy Act process, especially related to the alternatives developed and considered.
We are grateful to the thousands of you who provided comments on the revised draft plans and environmental analysis. Your thoughtful input has helped to inform our analysis and update the revised plans to better meet community and resource needs. For example,
we modified the proposed action (Alternative B) and developed alternative B-modified, which adds or updates many plan components in response to comments we received. We also refined our analysis related to recreation, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness, and
the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
In addition to updates made in response to public comments, we reviewed and refined our analysis related to issues such as ongoing disturbance and modification of forest habitats due to wildfires, increased urgency for taking action to slow these losses, and
regulatory compliance for species listed by the Endangered Species Act. We also adjusted plan content for several at-risk species to assure plan content supports the continued persistence of native species in the plan area.
These are just a few highlights of what we heard and how we responded to comments as well as additional changes that we made following the 2019 comment period. More information about how we considered and responded to comments will be shared with the publication
of the final revised plans and final EIS.
What's Next
Over the next few months, you can anticipate additional newsletter updates that preview some of the key elements of the final plans and environmental analysis as well as how we are addressing the issues raised during the 2019 comment period. You’ll see newsletter
updates specific to sustainable recreation and designated areas, aquatic and riparian resources, at-risk species, and fire and vegetation ecology. Please note, these updates are intended for information sharing and to let you know where we are in the process.
We are not receiving formal comments at this time.
We expect to publish the final revised forest plans, final EIS, and Draft Record of Decision later this year. A summary of substantive comments and Forest Service responses will also be included as an Appendix to the final EIS. With the publication of these
final documents, we will enter the objection phase, which allows stakeholders one more opportunity to work with us to resolve outstanding issues with the plans prior to a final decision.
Questions and Answers
Answers to some common questions about Sequoia and Sierra Forest Plan Revision are provided below:
How were public comments on the revised draft plans considered?
An interdisciplinary planning team reviewed each comment letter we received during scoping and the comment periods for the draft and revised draft EIS and plans. Comments were used to identify issues that served as the basis for alternative development. For
comments received in response to the 2019 comment period, the team tracked updates and changes requested by commenters for the EIS and forest plans. Subject matter experts and the responsible officials worked together to address issues and concerns raised
by commenters.
The final EIS will describe in detail the issues identified and the alternatives developed and considered. The Forest Supervisors for the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests will each issue a draft decision on the selected alternative for their revised forest
plan. The draft decisions will also include a discussion of how they considered the issues and themes raised in public comments.
Will the final forest plans reflect changes in response to comments on the Draft Plans?
Yes. The final Sequoia and Sierra revised forest plans include updates responsive to public comments we received on the revised draft forest plans (published June 2019). Many plan components were added or modified to respond to comments or because of additional
analysis. We will be highlighting some of these changes in future newsletter updates.
A summary of substantive comments and Forest Service responses will also be included as an Appendix to the final EIS. To ensure efficient organization of and response to the large volume of comments received, the group considered like comments together and
grouped comments with like responses.
When will the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests’ final EIS and forest plans be released?
The planning team is currently finalizing the revised forest plans and final EIS for the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests. We expect to publish the final plans and final EIS later this year, likely by this summer.
Where to Find More Information
For more information about the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests revision effort and to download project documents, please visit the
plan revision homepage. We also invite you to reach out to Plan Revision Team Leader, Bobbie Miller, with any questions you may about this planning process:
SM.FS.r5reviseplan@usda.gov.
Thank you for being a part of this journey,
Teresa Benson, Sequoia National Forest Supervisor
Dean Gould, Sierra National Forest Supervisor
Bobbie Miller, Plan Revision Team Leader
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