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Greetings-
We are now at an important milestone in revising the Land Management Plans, also known as the forest plans, for the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests. The Forest Service has been working with the tribes, local, state and federal agencies, and the public
on forest plan revision and we appreciate your patience and involvement throughout this process.
We would like to inform you that we initiated the pre-decisional administrative review process (also known as the objection process) for the final environmental impact statement (FEIS), revised forest plans, draft records of decision, and the species of
conservation concern lists for the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests, on June 14, 2022. The final EIS, revised forest plans, draft records of decision, species of conservation concern lists, and supplemental information will be available on-line at the Sequoia
and Sierra project website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=3375).
Hard copies of the documents are available upon request.
Forest plans are important because they provide strategic direction guiding how we manage your national forest system lands. The plans detail the desired conditions, standards, guidelines, and objectives that will provide the foundation of future management
activities across the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests for at least the next 15 years.
These new revisions are the result of refining our analysis, guided by public comments we received on the revised draft EIS and revised draft plans released in June 2019. These newly updated plans emphasize close cooperation with State partners, Tribes,
and local communities. The plans provide guidance for increasing the pace and scale of restoration efforts and wildfire risk reduction treatments by strategically and safely using both mechanical treatments and fire to maintain healthy forests while reducing
wildfire risk to communities, and also navigating habitat requirements for at-risk species. The revised plans also identify river segments eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation.
The objection process provides an opportunity for those who have participated in a prior formal public comment period for these plan revision efforts to have their unresolved concerns reviewed prior to the Forest Supervisors issuing final decisions on the
revised forest plans and the Regional Forester issuing decisions on the species of conservation concern lists for each forest. The 60-day objection filing period begins with the publication of legal notices in the Porterville Recorder and Fresno Bee on June
14, 2022. More about the revised plans and associated documents, including instructions for how to object or file as an interested person, can be found at the Sequoia and Sierra Forest Plan Revision website (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5444003).
The Forest Service will also host two public meetings to share information about the plans and next steps. The meetings are:
· The Sierra National Forest is hosting their meeting on July 13, 6:00-7:30 pm, at the Veterans Memorial Building, 808 4th St, Clovis, CA 93612.
· The Sequoia National Forest is hosting their meeting on July 12, 6:00-7:30 pm, Doubletree Inn, 3100 Camino Del Rio Ct., Bakersfield CA 93308.
If you would like more information on the Sequoia plan revision process including the objections process, please contact Keith Fox, Environmental Coordinator, at 559-920-8276, or keith.fox@usda.gov. If you would like more information on the Sierra plan revision
process including the objections process, please contact Judi Tapia, Forest Planning Officer and Business Manager, at 559-297-0706, ext. 4938, or judith.tapia@usda.gov.
Thank you for your interest in the management of the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests.
Sincerely,
Teresa Benson Forest Supervisor Sequoia National Forest
Dean Gould Forest Supervisor Sierra National Forest
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