Robbinsville – The U.S. Forest Service identified the people and groups that will be considered “eligible objectors” to the revised forest plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.
This comes after a 60-day objection period closed March 22, following the release of the revised forest plan and final Environmental Impact Statement in January.
Among the list of eligible objectors is Graham County. Graham County commissioners are unanimous in their opposition to the forest management plan called Alternative E.
Alternative A was a status quo plan. Alternatives B-D were weighted to favor recreational uses, forestry, or a blend of the two. Alternative E took into account feedback previously received, with a slight tilt in favor of forestry.
The public had an opportunity to file an objection if they had concerns with some aspect of the revised plan and had engaged with the Forest Service during the process.
The regional team has gone through all submissions and determined which are eligible. The Forest Service reviewed all objections that were received. Of the nearly 14,000 received, more than 1,000 were submitted anonymously or submitted multiple times by the same individual.
Additionally, 7,000 form-letter objections were submitted by individuals who had not previously commented and were therefore not considered eligible.
Most of the issues identified by non-eligible objectors are the same or similar to issues identified by eligible objectors, said Regional Forester for the Southern Region Ken Arney.
The intent of the public engagement process over the past nine years was to listen to diverse public interests and incorporate them in the planning process as much as possible, said Arney. The purpose of public engagement is so that issues and concerns can be addressed prior to the objection process.
Those who are ineligible to formally object can still attend objection resolution meetings that are open to the public.
All eligible objections can be viewed on the forest’s website at: fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/nprevision.
The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are part of the Southern Region of the U.S. Forest Service. The region encompasses 13 states and Puerto Rico. Known as Region 8 within the Forest Service, the Southern Region consists of 14 national forest units and two special units.
National Forests in the Southern Region are managed to strike a balance between resource development and protecting wild places for recreation and wildlife.
Between 2/3 – 3/4 of Graham County is within Nantahala National Forest.
Objections were accepted from:
* Access Fund and Carolina Climbers Coalition
* American Whitewater
* City of Asheville
* Audubon North Carolina
* Back Country Horsemen of NC
* Buncombe County
* Carolina Mountain Club
* Center for Biological Diversity
* Chattooga Conservancy
* Cherokee County
* Clay County
* Defenders of Wildlife
* Ellis, Mary
* Fish and Wildlife Conservation Council
* Floyd, William
* Forest Keeper
* Friends of Big Ivy
* Friends of Panthertown
* Graham County
* Holshouser, Nicholas
* Hulse, Alicia (3678)
* I Heart Craggy Coalition
* I Heart Pisgah
* Irwin, Hugh and Janice
* MacDonagh, Stacey
* MountainTrue
* Nantahala Pisgah Forest Partnership
* N.C. Forestry Association
* Porter, Kim
* Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society
* Sierra Club
* Simonds, Cynthia
* Southern Appalachian Mineral Society
* Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards
* Southern Environmental Law Center, the Wilderness Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Mountain True, Sierra Club
* Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association/International Bicycling Association
* The Wilderness Society
* Warren, Greg
Interested persons are individuals or organizations with a particular interest in the resolution of an objection. Individuals who have commented previously during the plan revision-process may request to engage in the objections process as an “Interested Person” within 10 days from the date of the Interested Person Legal Notice that was published in Asheville.
Deputy Regional Forester Rick Lint will conduct the review of the eligible objection issues. The processing and review of the objections will take a minimum of 90 days. If it takes longer than 90 days, the objectors and interested persons will be notified by the Reviewing Officer.
A resolution meeting with objectors and interested persons will be scheduled in the coming months and the objectors and interested persons will be notified of the time, date, and location. The Regional Forester will use collaborative methods to discuss the objections with the forest and the objectors at these meetings.
The intent is to reach a mutually agreeable resolution.
Following the objection resolution meetings, the Regional Forester will issue a written response that may include additional direction for the Forest Supervisor to include in the final plan.
The Regional Forester’s written response is the final decision after which the Forest Supervisor can approve the new plan and begin implementation.