Forest Service hosting open houses, continues to seek more public input
By Robert Stevens
Managing editor
9-1-2016
The Manti-LaSal National Forest is hosting another round of open houses to gather public input on the new forest plan the agency is designing.
According to Duane Resare, media contact on the new forest plan, the next Sanpete-based open houses will be held at the Sanpete County Courthouse in Manti on Monday, Sept. 7 from 5-7 p.m. and at the Mt. Pleasant City Hall on Thursday, Sept. 29, also from 5-7 p.m.
Open houses are also being held in Price, Castle Dale, Moab, Monticello, Blanding and Provo.
“The current Manti-La Sal National Forest Plan is 30 years old and needs to be revised to address the changing needs of the forest and those who use it,” Brian Pentecost, forest supervisor, said in a statement about the open houses. “This revision is expected to take four years, starting with the assessment phase in 2016 and ending with approval of the new forest plan in 2019.”
Pentecost explained that forest planning includes federal regulations allowing for public participation in every phase of the four-year planning process.
For more information about the Manti-La National Forest Plan revision process, visit http://bit.do/manti-lasalplanrevision or call Blake Bassett, the Manti-La Sal National Forest plan revision partnership coordinator, at (435) 636-3508.
