Environmental studies may no longer be a part of the US forest management plans. The United States Forest Service recently decided not to write lengthy and time-consuming environmental impact statements, particularly while revising the national forest plans.
Forest service officials have estimated that planning and assessment activities consume 40 per cent of total work at the national forests. This costs more than US $250 million per year. Planning costs for a single project can exceed US $1million. Besides, the 15-year forest plans, which the forest service is required to prepare for each of the 125 units of the national forest system, are often 800 pages long and require as long as 10 years to prepare at an average cost of US $9 million each. The long time taken to draw the plans makes them obsolete by the time they are done and since they do not lead to any decisions, "let us not waste more years and dollars" writing the impact statements, said the authorities.
The regulation thus lists the 15-year forest planning projects as a "categorical exclusion" and asks planners to skip the tasks of conducting environmental impact assessments.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.