The release of a draft Forest Service planning rule has been delayed until early 2011, according to an announcement today on the planning rule website. Originally, a draft rule and accompanying Draft Environmental Impact Statement were targeted for December with a final in November 2011. A planning rule is required by the 1976 National Forest Management Act.
Meanwhile, 21 Forest Plans are being revised using the transition provisions of the existing rule, originally finalized in 2000 and republished in December 2009, which allow continued use of the procedures of a 1982 rule.