Tongass National Forest

Approach

This portion of the Website describes the approach that was followed by the Tongass National Forest to work on the Court-related and ongoing adjustments and updates to the 1997 Forest Plan.

The Forest Service considers the response to issues raised by the Court, as well as the other ongoing adjustments and updates, to be a continuation of the 1997 Forest Plan revision efforts. This premise is based primarily on the fact that the following reviews have not resulted in Forest Plan revisions:

• appeals on the 1997 Record of Decision and Final EIS,
• the 1999 Record of Decision issued by Under Secretary Lyons,
• litigation in the District Court,
• the 2003 Record of Decision on the Roadless Area Evaluation, and
• the 5-Year Review of the Forest Plan.

Even the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision is focused on the procedural aspects related to the Forest Plan. Viewing the adjustment and updating effort as a means to refine the 1997 Forest Plan also maintained the significant scientific and collaborative foundation already established to date.

The work associated with adjusting and updating the Forest Plan was subdivided into five overlapping phases, all concluded in January 2008:

• Phase 1: Initiation and Study Plan
• Phase 2: Integrated Timber Operability and Other Initial Analyses
• Phase 3: Forest Plan Adjustment and Update Package
• Phase 4: Draft Planning Documents
• Phase 5: Final Planning Documents

The links below provide access to additional key information or work processes related to adjusting and updating the 1997 Forest Plan.

Background – This section of the Tongass Forest Plan Adjustment Website describes the background and history associated with the issuance of the 1997 Forest Plan Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement, including appeals, subsequent decisions, litigation, and legislation, in chronological order.

Planning Regulations – This section includes information related to the 1982 and 2005 Planning Regulations and their relationship to the Tongass Forest Plan adjustment process.

Study Plan – This section includes a description of the study planning process that was conducted to guide the Forest Plan adjustment work.

Work Items – This section provides access to the items analyzed for possible Forest Plan adjustment or updates.