Public comment sought for federal forest programs

The Lolo and Bitterroot National Forests are preparing to modify their Forest Plan’s monitoring programs to transition to the requirements of the 2012 National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule.

The 2012 Planning Rule requires than an existing plan’s monitoring program be made to conform to the requirements of the Rule. Both the 1986 Lolo National Forest Plan and the 1987 Bitterroot National Forest Plan were originally prepared under the 1982 Planning Rule and therefore must be compatible with the 2012 Rule.

To conform to the Rule, monitoring items found in both Forest Plans have been reviewed and adjusted to address information that is critical to inform resource management and remain within the financial and technical capabilities of the two Forests. The most notable changes that have been made include: Re-phrasing monitoring items as questions; Providing up-to-date indicators; Updating current sources of data.

Modifying, combining, removing, and creating new monitoring items to better assess Forest Plan components which includes goals, objectives desired conditions, and standards.

This transition in monitoring should not be interpreted as a change to other parts of the existing plans. Both the Lolo and Bitterroot National Forest Plans will remain in effect until revised. Both Forests are proposing to revise their forest plans simultaneously given that the two forests share a common boundary and can use a joint team of specialists to complete both plans at the same time. Depending on the availability of funding, an Assessment is proposed for completion in 2017. After finalizing the Assessment, the revision process will begin in 2018. Revised plans are expected to be prepared by 2021. Monitoring programs for both Forests will be reviewed again as part of the plan revision.

Monitoring and evaluation comprise the management control system for both the Lolo and Bitterroot Forest Plans. As part of the adaptive management, monitoring helps to provide the Forest Service, the public, and other stakeholders with information on progress towards, and outcomes of, implementing the plans. Monitoring and evaluation include comparing actual results of land management to outcomes forecasted. When management activities cannot be conducted in accordance with the Plans, or results do not meet the desired conditions, then activities are redesigned, rescheduled or dropped. Forest Plan amendments or revisions may also be made to address the findings of monitoring.

Because a plan monitoring program is not a plan component, it may be modified by an administrative change. Therefore, this transition will not result in a decision and is not subject to NEPA. Public comment is being solicited because an administrative change to modify a plan monitoring program may be made only after public notice and an opportunity for public comment is provided. Comments on these changes will be considered as part of an adaptive management approach to improve the plan monitoring program and inform future revision of the Lolo and Bitterroot National Forest Plans.

The “Forest Plan Monitoring Program Transition” document is available for viewing online at www.fs.usda.gov/lolo or www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot, under “Land and Resource Management”, then click on “Planning.” Documents can be found under the heading “2016 Forest Plan Monitoring Program Transition.”