Lincoln National Forest Land Management Plan Revision and Environmental Impact Statement
Planning, Public Involvement, and NEPA
Forest Service Planning and the Need for a Land Management Plan Revision
The National Forest Management Act directs every national forest to develop and revise its forest plan:
Every 10 to 15 years
When conditions or demands in the area covered by the forest plan change significantly
When changes in agency policies, goals, or objectives would have a significant impact on forest-level programs
When monitoring and evaluation indicate a revision is necessary
Many of the trails and campgrounds on the Lincoln National Forest were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s or 1940s
Every national forest or grassland managed by the Forest Service has a LMP that provides broad guidance for planning of specific projects and activities in compliance with the National Forest Management Act. LMP components guide what future site specific projects and activities may take place, where they can occur, and under what conditions. The LMP also provides vision and direction at the highest level.
Phases of LMP Revisions
The Forest Service’s 2012 Planning Rule also guides the development, amendment, and revision of LMPs for Forest Service units to maintain and restore NFS land and water ecosystems while providing for ecosystem services and multiple uses. The planning rule is designed to:
Ensure that LMPs provide for the sustainability of ecosystems and resources
Meet the need for forest restoration and conservation, watershed protection, and species diversity and conservation
Assist in providing a sustainable flow of benefits, services, and uses of FS lands that provide jobs and contribute to the economic and social sustainability of communities.
The planning rule also provides requirements for developing or revising LMPs which consists of three major phases:
Assessment
Plan (LMP) development
Implementation and monitoring
Public Involvement
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that federal agencies engage the public during preparation of an EIS. The Forest Service began this process on May 30, 2019, by publishing the Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register that they would prepare this EIS and announcing the beginning of a scoping period to solicit public comments and to identify issues. With the publication of the Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Lincoln National Forest Draft LMP Revision and Draft EIS in the Federal Register on August 6th, 2020, the Forest Service initiated a 90-day public comment period to allow for review and gather input from the public, tribes, and agencies. Comments will be accepted through November 5, 2021. More details on how to comment are provided here.
The Lincoln National Forest is hosting three virtual public meetings to discuss the Draft LMP Revision and Draft EIS as part of the LMP revision process. The revised LMP will guide forest management practices for the 1.1 million-acre Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico for the next 10 to 15 years.
Photo of public meeting attendees
The meetings will be held on Zoom on the following dates:
• September 22, 2021 at 4:00 PM MDT
• September 29, 2021 at 2:00 PM MDT
• October 12, 2021 at 4:00 PM MDT
A general presentation on the content of the documents will be given. The presentation will cover topics such as proposed wilderness, caves, vegetation management, grazing and watersheds. Participants will have time to ask questions and make official comments during the meeting. The meeting is open to everyone.
Participants are required to register in advance. To register to attend the public meeting, please visit this registration page. Attendees can join by computer or phone to learn about the Lincoln National Forest Draft LMP Revision and Draft EIS, the Forest Service planning process, and the NEPA process. Participants can ask questions of the Lincoln National Forest staff and provide official verbal comments. More information about these meetings and how to attend can be found here.
The NEPA Process
The NEPA process begins when a federal agency develops a proposal to take a major federal action. Federal agencies prepare an EIS if a proposed federal action may have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. The steps in the process of of preparing an EIS include the following:
An agency publishes a NOI in the Federal Register informing the public of the upcoming environmental analysis and describes how the public can become involved in the EIS preparation. The NOI begins the scoping process during which the federal agency and the public collaborate to define the range of issues and potential alternatives to be addressed in the EIS.
A Draft EIS is published for public review and comment. Agencies will consider substantive comments on the Draft EIS (see here for more information on substantive comments). If necessary based on public comments, the agency may also conduct further analyses.
The agency publishes a Final EIS with responses to substantive comments and begins a 30-day waiting period before making a final decision, while the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a NOA in the Federal Register announcing to the public the availability of both Draft and Final EISs.
The EIS process ends with the agency issuing a Record of Decision (ROD) that:
Explains the agency's decision
Describes the alternatives the agency considered
Discusses the agency's plans for mitigation and monitoring, if necessary
Forest Service planning process and NEPA process
Next Station: Early Scoping and Alternatives Development
For more information on the project or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Diane Prather at (575-649-9405) or diane.prather@usda.gov.