The Sequoia National Forest is continuing the collaborative effort to establish the Giant Sequoia National Monument Management Plan. The purpose of the Monument Plan is to provide a 10-15 year vision, with direction and overall guidance on the management of lands and uses within the Monument. The Monument was created on April 15, 2000, by Presidential Proclamation and is located in south-central California.

The U.S. Forest Service is amending the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and documenting this amendment in a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) and separate Giant Sequoia National Monument Management Plan. The Draft EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and will include alternatives describing various proposed management direction.

On June 18, and 19, the Forest will host public meetings to present preliminary draft alternatives to provide management guidance for the Monument. The goal of these meetings is to present the draft alternatives, gain public feed back to, refine them, or create additional alternatives, if necessary. Thursday, June 18, 6:30 p.m.– 8:30 p.m., at the Visalia Convention Center.

This will be a condensed overview of the preliminary draft alternatives, followed by workshop discussions.

Friday, June 19, 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m., at the Supervisors Office in Porterville.

This will be comprehensive workshop on the preliminary draft alternatives with indepth discussion regarding vegetation treatments.

In April 2009, the public participated in a series of workshops to discuss the Monument Plan and provide comments during the initial scoping period. The substantive comments received during this scoping process are being used to identify the key issues that are the basis for developing varied alternatives that will be addressed in the Draft EIS.

Giant Sequoia National Monument Plan

“The goal of the two upcoming meetings is to share information on where we are in the development of the Monument Plan”, stated Tina Terrell, Forest Supervisor. “When fully developed, the Draft EIS will reflect what we have heard from the public throughout this collaborative process.”

When the Draft EIS is published, a 90-day public comment period will begin. The public will be asked to provide comment on the Draft alternatives. The Draft EIS begins to unfold the vision, forest policies and direction, to develop the Final Environmental Impact Statemen (FEIS). The FEIS and Record of Decision are scheduled for release in March 2010.

For further information contact the Monument Team Leader: Anne Thomas, (559) 784-1500, extension 1164. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1- (800) 877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

For further information about this planning effort, or for copies of the documents, please visit www.gsnm-consult.limehouse.com/portal, or call (559) 784-1500.