Aug. 21, 2019: We are adamantly opposed to changes with §220.4 General requirements. Paragraphs (d) and (e). Currently, Section Paragraph (e) (1) states “ Scoping is required for all Forest Service proposed actions, including those that would appear to be categorically excluded from further analysis and documentation in an EA or an EIS.” The proposed NEPA change would limit public notice and scoping to only proposed actions that will be documented with a decision memo, EA or EIS.

The Notice for this Proposed Action states, “The Proposed rule outlines an approach for ‘right-sizing’ the public engagement and scoping processes to each proposed action.” We would strongly disagree. The proposed rule, rather than right-sizing public engagement appears to be capsizing that engagement.

Feb. 7, 2015: BREDL opposes this temporary special use permit. Although the US Forest Service avers that a complete inventory of forest flora and fauna needs to be completed for this project, we believe that nothing good can come of allowing this pipeline to cross national forest lands. Moreover, this “temporary” permit is far from temporary.

BREDL Comments

Jan. 5, 2015: Today in a letter to the United States Forests Service, The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) released a statement calling for a ban on all hydraulic fracturing and oil and gas development activities in national forests, as well as restricted use of timber harvest and production, chemical treatment, and prescribed burning, with special protections for designated Wilderness Areas. The statement by BREDL’s Executive Director, Lou Zeller, was submitted to the Forest Supervisor for the National Forests of North Carolina, Kristin Bail, in response to the public comment period for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests 15 Year Plan Draft Revision. The final plan will determine the standards, outcomes and desired conditions for Nantahala and Pisgah Forests, which together span over one million acres in western NC along the Appalachian Mountains in eighteen counties.

BREDL Press Release | BREDL Comments

March 12, 2013: We oppose the practice of prescribed burns in the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area because of their negative impact on public health and their incompatibility with the area’s federal wilderness designation.

BREDL Comments to U.S. Forest Service

Meetings will run from 6-9 p.m. The following dates and locations have been set:
• Cheoah Ranger District: Feb. 21 at the Graham County Community Center in Robbinsville;
• Appalachian Ranger District: Feb. 25 at Mars Hill College, Broyhill Chapel, in Mars Hill;
• DATE CHANGE Tusquitee Ranger District: March 5 at the First Baptist Church in Murphy;
• Grandfather Ranger District: March 12 at McDowell Technical Community College, Room 113, in Marion;
• Pisgah Ranger District: March 18 at the Transylvania County Library in Brevard;
• Nantahala Ranger District: March 19 at the Tartan Hall in Franklin.

This is the first set of public meetings under the first phase of Plan revision. The meetings will provide an overview of the planning process, as well as an opportunity for sharing information about these two national forests. The U.S. Forest Service is in the process of revising the management plan for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. When completed, the plan will guide management of the two national forests for approximately 15 years.

Sept. 05, 2002: BREDL letter to Jefferson National Forest Supervisor Bill Damon regarding Wilderness/Roadless areas for Forest Plan revision.

August 28, 2001: BREDL comments on the National Forests Roadless Area Conservation Rule (the second time around) Comments Deadline was Sept. 10, 2001

Press releases, comments, alerts and other information regarding the Forest Service plan for highway construction and timber cutting at Bluff Mountain in western North Carolina.