Notice of Intent To Revise Resource Management Plans for Northwestern and Coastal Oregon and Southwestern Oregon in Oregon/Washington and Prepare an Associated Environmental Impact Statement

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In support of the Oregon and California Revested Railroad Lands Act of 1937 (O&C Act), in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon/Washington (OR/WA) State Office intends to prepare a revision of the Northwestern and Coastal Oregon Resource Management Plan and Southwestern Oregon Resource Management Plan (hereafter, the RMPs) with an associated environmental analysis. The magnitude of unprecedented and destructive wildfires and other threats to forest health over the last decade, approaches to management (including the barred owl management), and severely reduced timber production compared to historically higher levels (and its resulting adverse economic consequences) merit consideration in an RMP revision. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify issues, provide planning criteria for public review, and seek comment on current and future land use designations in the planning areas. The RMP revisions would replace the existing RMPs.