Possible Changes to Citizen’s Challenge of Forest Service Decisions

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service is proposing changes to the process citizens use to challenge timber sales and other agency decisions. New guidelines expected to be unveiled later this week would require anyone interested in challenging agency actions to fully take part in the public review process and file formal objections before final decisions are made.

The Lewiston Tribune reports the new objection procedure is designed to make agency officials aware of potential problems early and have a chance to fix them. Agency spokesman Phil Sammon says the goal is to get more active involvement and information from the public early. In the past, he says the agency has made a decision and then people appeal it. Critics of the new policy say it requires them to predict the future.