The U.S. Forest Service is implementing a rule change that allows discussion of a project with affected parties before a final decision is made.
No, really. This is actual news, not simply common sense. You just can’t make this stuff up . . .
In U.S. Forest Service-speak, we’re switching from a 215 to a 218.
The difference in digits determines how and when someone can protest a timber sale or a road decommissioning, or any other Forest Service project that needs an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment.
Under rule 215, you appeal the decision after it’s announced. Under rule 218, you object before the decision is made.
“The idea is we can sit down together and work out the issues,” said Ray Smith, Forest Service Region 1 objections and appeals coordinator. “It’s really important – the work together part.
“Under the appeal process, an appellant couldn’t sit down with the person who made the decision or the person who’s reviewing the project. It’s all separate, all isolated. You even need a specific official document to communicate. That isolated everybody, and made it difficult to have good back-and-forth dialogue.”