U.S. Forest Service invites public comment on including new lands in the National Wilderness Preservation System

The local branch of the national Forest Service will be taking public input next month on what lands and rivers to consider recommending for protection under the National Wilderness Preservation System and the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. They are also asking the public for feedback on the evaluation process itself. The evaluation materials will be available here before the end of October.

Upcoming public meetings:

• Nov. 9, 6-8 p.m.
  • Tartan Hall, 26 Church Street, Franklin, NC, 28734
• Nov. 9, 6-8 p.m.
  • Mountain View Room, Kimmel Arena, University of NC Asheville, 1 University Heights Asheville, NC, 28801

People wishing to make comment but who cannot be at the meetings may use materials online or send a request for hard copy materials for mailing to 160A Zillicoa Street; Asheville, NC 28801.

Full announcement from the US Forest Service:

As a requirement of the Nantahala and Pisgah forest plan revision process, we are about to begin the next step of two required evaluations. We must identify and evaluate lands that may be suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System, prior to analyzing the effects of recommending (or not recommending any such lands for wilderness designation. We must also identify eligibility of rivers for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

In late October, we will share the proposed methods for the wilderness and wild and scenic river evaluation steps coming next, and a few samples of how that methodology could be applied to both evaluation processes. We will ask for constructive feedback on our draft evaluation questions; and for information you know about the areas and rivers that can inform the evaluations.

Evaluation materials will be available on the web in late October and we will host two public meetings in November.

*Please note: Inclusion in the evaluation process does not bestow special status or designation, nor will all areas and rivers considered be recommended for designation.

What is the purpose of sharing these materials and holding public meetings?

•   To provide an update on these processes and share how your input has been used to date.
•   To provide an opportunity for the public to have discussions with Forest Service staff and one another, on these evaluation processes.
•   To let you know how to best share information throughout these processes.

Who should provide input?

Anyone who has information to provide to the wilderness or wild and scenic river evaluation processes for the Forest Plan Revision effort.

What is the format of the public meetings?

The format will be the same for both meetings, at both locations. We will provide information on both evaluation processes by PowerPoint at the beginning of each meeting. After the presentations, maps will be available for individual review as well as blank evaluation forms. We will also provide a few filled-in sample evaluations to show how the questions could be answered. Evaluation materials that you can take with you to provide information at a future date will be available.

All meeting materials, including presentations and evaluation forms will be available here.
Contact the Asheville Forest Service office at:
160A Zillicoa Street; Asheville, NC 28801
828-257-4259 ● NCplanrevision@fs.fed.us