Jo Co Commission Submits Letter on USFS Proposed Amendment

Johnson County’s Commissioner approved a request from Chairman Bill Novotny to submit a letter to the US Forest Service to comment on a proposed policy amendment that will affect National Forests including the Bighorn National Forest.

He explained further.

According to govinfo.gov, “the purpose of the amendment is to establish consistent plan direction to foster ecologically appropriate management across the National Forest by proposing to amend all land management plans for units of the National Forest System to include consistent direction to conserve and steward existing and recruit future old-growth forest conditions and to monitor their condition across planning areas of the National Forest System. The intent is to foster the long-term resilience of old-growth forest conditions and their contributions to ecological integrity across the National Forest System.”

The letter sent by the Johnson County Commission:

Linda Walker, Director

Ecosystem Management Coordination

United States Forest Service

201 14^th Street SW

Mailstop 1108

Washington, DC 20250–1124

Re: Comments on December 20, 2023, Federal Register Notice FR 88, No. 243 88042 – 88048

Dear Director Walker,

Johnson County, Wyoming wishes to submit the following scoping comments regarding the United States Forest Service’s (USFS) Federal Register Notice FR 88, No. 243 88042-88048 (Old Growth Plan Amendment). Johnson County is home to the Bighorn National Forest and utilized our cooperating agency status to participate in the forest planning process.

Based on the proposed scoping:

1. Your Old Growth Plan Amendment Notice failed to invite Johnson County to participate as a cooperating agency.
2. Your proposed timeline is not achievable and will prohibit proper engagement of cooperating agencies, forest users, and the general public.
3. The Old Growth Plan Amendment fails to consider Johnson County’s Natural Resource Plan as we as the overall forest plan for the Bighorn National Forest.
4. This rule should be withdrawn and individual concerns regarding Old Growth Planning should be addressed through the local planning process.

Decisions pertaining to the Bighorn National Forest should be made on the local and reflect the unique forest needs, not guided by unrealistic edicts from Washington. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (307) 684-7555 or bnovotny@johnsoncowy.gov.

Sincerely,

William J. Novotny, III

Chairman, Johnson County Board of Commissioners