Title
Discussion of Possible Comments to Santa Fe National Forest Draft Land Management Plan
Body
The Santa Fe National Forest (NF) has been revising its 1987 Land Management Plan to better address current issues and incorporate modern science. Since the plan revision process began, the Santa Fe NF has engaged over 3,200 people in roughly 250 public meetings and has collaborated with 13 cooperating agencies, 24 Federally Recognized Tribes, and 4 Tribal Councils. These engagements, along with input from Santa Fe NF resource specialists and the best available science, have formed the draft revised Land Management Plan and have shaped the desired conditions, objectives, guidelines, standards, and management approaches within the document. Additionally, a complete analysis of the proposed draft Plan and alternatives to the draft Plan are included in a three volume draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
Last month the USFS published a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register which officially begins a 90-day comment period on these documents. This comment period is scheduled to close on November 7, 2019. Following the official release of these documents, the Santa Fe NF plans to hold numerous public meetings around the Forest to answer questions about the documents and resources, and help interested parties to develop substantive comments for submission during the 90-day comment window. Please refer to the Santa Fe NF planning website for more information (www.fs.usda.gov/goto/santafeforestplan <http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/santafeforestplan>).
Council will discuss if County comments should be drafted during the comment period.