Letter From Regional Forester Bernie Weingardt

File Code: 1920
September 20, 2005

Forest Stakeholders:

I am pleased to announce the availability of the Revised Land and Resource Management Plans (Forest Plans) and accompanying Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Records of Decision for the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino National Forests. For those of you who have been involved through the planning process, I thank you for your time and hard work. Your input has been instrumental to crafting higher quality final Forest Plans.

Because they share many ecosystem types and management challenges, the four national forests (Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino) undertook a joint environmental analysis that will now provide a strategic-level framework to guide future site-specific planning and activities for over 3.5 million acres of public lands that extend from the international border with Mexico north to Monterey. The diverse landscapes of the forests include alpine forests, rugged mountain peaks, chaparral, and beaches along the magnificent Big Sur coast. Although there are similarities, each forest has a separate Forest Plan that reflects its distinct personality including unique natural features, opportunities, programs, and community needs and desires.

• The Angeles National Forest (662,983 acres) administers lands located within Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. (Vision | Strategy | Design Criteria)
• The Cleveland National Forest (420,877 acres) administers lands located within Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties. (Vision | Strategy | Design Criteria)
• The Los Padres National Forest (1,781,364 acres) administers lands within Kern, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. (Vision | Strategy | Design Criteria)
• The San Bernardino National Forest (665,753 acres) administers lands within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. (Vision | Strategy | Design Criteria)

The first Forest Plans under the National Forest Management Act were completed in 1986 (Cleveland), 1987 (Angeles), 1988 (Los Padres), and 1989 (San Bernardino). Revision of those plans was launched in 2000, and a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register was posted in 2001. Based upon review and analysis of over 18,000 comments received from the public, the Forest Service organized the input into five issue categories: Public values and uses; Ecosystem elements and function; Commodity values and uses; Urbanization and forest linkage needs; and Special designations. The Forest Service then developed six preliminary management alternatives and hosted open houses in February and March 2003. Based on the feedback from the public, tribal consultation, and employees, the planning team refined the alternatives. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Revised Forest Plans were released in May 2004 for public review and comment. During the review period, almost 11,000 individual comments were received and analyzed. The Records of Decision (Angeles | Cleveland | Los Padres | San Bernardino), which explain the rationale of my decision in detail, were signed on September 20, 2005. The approved plans will become effective 30 days after publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

I have selected Alternative 4a in the Final Environmental Environment Statement to reflect and implement in the Revised Forest Plans. My decision strikes a reasonable balance between the sustainability of the national forest and the complex demands expressed by a wide variety of people, groups, and organizations affected by the management of the four national forests. Alternative 4a adjusts the preferred alternatives by using selected elements from other alternatives, as well as making changes to the scheme of land use zones in response to public comment, tribal consultation, and internal review of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and land management plans for the four southern California national forests.

Alternative 4a is focused on active management for the maintenance of healthy forests; community protection from wildland fire; managed, sustainable recreation settings and uses; and the management of threatened and endangered species. The alternative theme includes the opportunity for a low level of growth of recreation activities and the facilities to support increased use. Managed sustainable use of the national forests is compatible with the maintenance of long-term biological diversity and ecological integrity. The focus on community protection is complementary to the National Fire Management Policy.

Decisions on site-specific ground disturbing projects are not made in this document. Such decisions on proposed projects will not be made until completion of further environmental analysis and documentation for the specific project, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

This decision is subject to appeal in accordance with the provision of 36 CFR 217 by filing a written Notice of Appeal, in duplicate, within 90 days of the date specified in the published legal notice of this decision (Sacramento Bee), as provided in 36 CFR 217.5(b) and 217.8(a)(3). An appeal notice must be submitted in writing clearly stating that it is a Notice of Appeal being filed pursuant to 36 CFR 217. Appeals must be filed with the Chief of the Forest Service at either of the following addresses:

A copy must simultaneously be sent to :

USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Attn: Appeals and Litigation
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, CA 94592

The notice of appeal must include sufficient narrative evidence and argument to show why this decision should be changed or reversed (36 CFR 217.9). Requests to stay approval of the Revised Forest Plan will not be granted (36 CFR 217.10(b)). For a period not to exceed 20 days following the filing of a Notice of Appeal, the Reviewing Officer shall accept requests to intervene in the appeal from any interested or potentially affected person or organization (36 CFR 217.14(a)).

The Records of Decision, Forest Plans and FEIS are available in print, on a CD, and on the internet at any of the forest websites: www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles, www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland, www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres, and www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino. These documents are available at public libraries throughout southern California. You may also review and obtain copies of these documents at the following Forest Service offices:

• Angeles National Forest: Arcadia, Glendora, Saugus, and Tujunga;
• Cleveland National Forest: Rancho Bernardo, Alpine, Corona, and Ramona;
• Los Padres National Forest: Goleta, Frazier Park, King City, Ojai, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria;
• San Bernardino National Forest: San Bernardino, Fawnskin, Idyllwild, Lytle Creek, Mentone, and Skyforest.

For additional information, please contact the Planning staff on your local national forest:

• Angeles National Forest, ATTN: Clem Lagrosa, 701 North Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006, Telephone Number: 626-574-1613;
• Cleveland National Forest, ATTN: Tom White, 10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200, San Diego, 92127,Telephone Number: 858-674-2901;
• Los Padres National Forest, ATTN: Jim Turner, 6755 Hollister Ave., Suite 150, Goleta, CA 93117 Telephone Number: 805-968-6640;
• San Bernardino National Forest, ATTN: Ruth Wenstrom, 1824 South Commercenter Circle, San Bernardino, CA 92408, Telephone Number: (909) 382-2600.

Sincerely,

BERNARD WEINGARDT
Regional Forester