10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2016
Local
USFS
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 10
Harvey also had a list
of prepared questions for
Montoya, and he read from
that list: “Have members
of your staff reviewed
the Baker County Natural
Resource Plan as required
for your Line Officer?”
Montoya said, “They
have started that process,
but I don’t think they have
completed it.”
Harvey continued: “Have
members of your staff
reviewed Baker County’s
comments from August
2014, and have they made
any efforts to address the
inconsistencies with the
Baker County Plan?”
Montoya said, “They
have reviewed the com-
ments, and we’ve provided
some of that today, to try
and understand where you
were coming from.”
Harvey said that review-
ing the NRP would have
helped.
Harvey continued: “No
current or future plans
within Baker County
should be approved, with-
out going through the full
Coordination process with
Baker County, to come
to consistency with our
Natural Resource Plan.”
He said, “That’s all in the
law.”
Harvey continued:
“In your Fall newsletter
(newsletter-type updates
are released periodically,
followed by conference
calls), you share examples
of Forest Service staff
recommendations on back-
country areas, recommend-
ed wilderness, wildlife
corridors, and designated
routes. Why have you
not used Baker County’s
recommendations for these
issues?”
Montoya said, “Because,
that’s a Forest Service
decision.”
Harvey said, “Not com-
pletely.” Montoya said, “It
is.”
Harvey continued:
“Your newsletter also
references the 2005 Travel
Management Rule. This
rule has been repealed, so
why are you still referring
to it as if it’s still in place?”
Montoya said, “Not to
my knowledge, it hasn’t
(been repealed).”
Harvey said, “It has.”
Harvey continued: “In
your briefing paper (which
Harvey had, and displayed)
referring to the Forest
Plan Revision, it states the
Subpart A process does not
result in a decision, but the
resulting report must be
consistent with, and sup-
port the objectives found
in the relevant land and
resource management plan.
Who’s plan and who’s ob-
jectives? This has not been
done by coordinating with
Baker County, as required
by the Law of Coordina-
tion. Why not, and, when
will you?”
Montoya said, “Subpart
A was worked through the
1990 Plan...”
Harvey continued:
“Your briefing paper also
states that, ‘Designation
decisions are made locally,
with public input, and in
coordination with state,
local, and tribal govern-
ments.’ This also has not
been done. Can we, as a
County, expect that your
agency will now work
with Baker County on
Supbart B, through the
Coordination process, with
Baker County, as the law
requires?”
Montoya said, “When
we get to Subpart B, we
plan to work with all of the
counties.”
Harvey continued: “The
requirements of NEPA,
Multiple-Use Sustained-
Yield Act of 1960, and
Travel Management, all
state that they shall be
developed through Coor-
dination, and, since the
Forest Plan Revision is so
interconnected, this must
also be developed through
the coordination process,
with Baker County, within
our jurisdiction.
“All of these require-
ments support the stance
that Baker County has
taken: that this plan cannot
move forward, without
following the full coordi-
nation process, as the law
requires.
“Will you, as an agency,
suspend your timetable for
completion of the Forest
Plan Revision, and begin
to work directly with
Baker County in Coordina-
tion, so that we, together,
can bring a conclusion to
this planning effort?”
Montoya said, “I will say
no, we will not suspend
our process. We’re mov-
ing forward with that pro-
cess. We will work with
you, and try to coordinate
with the Resource Plan,
but I, cannot, at this point,
suspend that process. That
process is actually the
Regional Forester’s (Jim
Pena) process.”
Harvey said, “I under-
stand that, but the law also
requires consistency, and
if you haven’t got consis-
tency, how can you move
forward?”
Montoya said, “We’re
trying to do that.”
Books make great gifts for Christmas! Order any Black Lyon book through
your local bookstore or Amazon.com—or visit www.BlackLyonPublishing.com
HOLIDAY HIGH TEA
December 10 and 17
OPERA PARTY
December 13 and 20
CHRISTMAS FEAST
Sunday, December 25
Reservations please. 541.523.1889 | Open daily 7a-9p