IPNF plan first to undergo objection process

After more than ten years of work, the revised Forest Plan for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest is ready for comment. The IPNF Forest Plan is the first Forest Plan in the country to utilize the objection process.

This is the first chance the public has had to object before a decision is made said Mary Farnsworth, Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor. Previously there was no communication before the decision explained Farnsworth.

“This is a more open process to handle differences,” said Farnsworth at the Sept. 16 Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative meeting. “A new way to do business. It is designed for more communications.”

On Sept. 27, the 60-day objection period began. After the objection period, the U.S. Forest Service has ten days to publish objections and then people have ten days to file as interested parties. An interested party is someone who may or may not have objected during the process, but has an interest in supporting or opposing a submitted objection. People filing as interested parties are privy to the discussion of the particular objection.

Farnsworth indicated it will be a long time before the decision is signed.

For more information on the objection process, visit www.fs.usda.gov/kipz.