The Forest Service is undertaking an effort to improve its environmental analysis and decision making processes. As part of this effort, the agency published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) proposing to "revise its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures with the goal of increasing efficiency of environmental analysis." Read the full Federal Register Notice from January 3, 2018 here.

Public comments on the proposed rulemaking were due February 2, 2018. The RVCC Leadership Team submitted comments, suggesting that avenues for improving analysis and decision making other than Rulemaking might be just as likely to gain the efficiencies the Forest Service is seeking. Some suggestions include improving the use of existing authorities, improving training, working with partners to complete analyses, and conducting more programmatic analyses. We look forward to engaging with the Forest Service on this process in the coming months.