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BLM Western Oregon Plan Revision process, old-growth reserves, Northwest Forest Plan
Conservation Policy Initiative
WESTERN OREGON PLAN REVISIONS
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is revising the six western Oregon Resource Management Plans tiered to the Northwest Forest Plan in what is being called the Western Oregon Plan Revision (WOPR) process. The BLM districts involved in this planning process include the Salem, Eugene, Roseburg, Medford, and Coos Bay Districts and the Klamath Falls Resource Area of the Lakeview District.
The planning area includes over 2.5 million acres of public lands and encompasses currently protected old-growth forests, roadless areas, and vital salmon and steelhead streams.
The WOPR eliminates the Northwest Forest Plan on BLM lands and threatens Western Oregon's wildlife, salmon, clean water, and old forests.
During the 2005 scoping phase of the project, we submitted scoping comments to the BLM encouraging the agency to be guided by the best available credible ecological science and hold ecosystem integrity as a core value to be protected.
Environmental Impact Statements
On August 10, 2007, the BLM released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Revision of the Resource Management Plans of the Western Oregon Bureau of Land Management Districts.
After the release of the DEIS, we provided a rapid response summary for our supporters and partners - Scientific Evaluation of the Implications of the BLM's Western Oregon Plan Revisions to Forests and Watersheds. On January 11, 2008, the National Center submitted formal DEIS comments to the BLM documenting serious concerns regarding the effects of WOPR alternatives and analysis.
Other organizations and agencies were critical of the Draft Plan including the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the WOPR Science Review Team.
The BLM released a Final Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Resource Management Plans in October 2008. Initially the BLM refused to accept public comment or administrative protests on the FEIS and PRMPs. However, after a lawsuit was filed by several groups they opened a 30-day protest period.
Because of our participation at all levels of planning including commenting on the DEIS, the National Center was able to file an official protest of the FEIS and PRMPs with the BLM's Washington DC office.
Protest of the BLM's Western Oregon Plan Revisions by the National Center
Oregon Governor Kulongoski is an official partner in the WOPR planning process. The Governor recently completed his review of the FEIS and PRMPs and called for modification of the plan and an additional public comment period.
We applaud the Governor's strong stand particularly his support for considering climate change in the plan and completion of Endangered Species Act consultation prior to the issuance of a Final Resource Management Plan.
In addition, in a recent letter the Environmental Protection Agency has criticized the FEIS and PRMPs stating:
"We believe that the proposed reduction of protection for riparian areas, landslide prone areas, and key watersheds has implications for water quality and sensitive beneficial uses, such as municipal water supply and salmonid spawning and rearing. ...our independent analysis leads us to believe that the analysis used in the WOPR overestimates the ability of the PRMP to fully meet shade goals and stream temperature water quality standards."
Next Steps
The next step is up to the BLM. Our sources tell us that the BLM is busy working on reviewing the 255 protests that they received and that they plan to issue a Record of Decision by the end of the year - only two weeks from now! Protests were due by December 8. Given the BLM's failure to address our DEIS comments as required by law and the volume of protests it will be difficult for them to address the protests in any meaningful way.
The Governor has an opportunity to appeal the Record of Decision if the BLM fails to address his requests. Since the Governor specifically asked for an additional public comment period it appears that the BLM will be unable to follow the Governor's wishes and release a Record of Decision by the end of the year. We hope that the Governor will maintain a strong stand on the WOPR and appeal the final decision.
