The Forest Service released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Austin Project on February 2. Because this project affects nearly 80,000 acres of public land in Eastern Oregon, Forest Access For All (FAFA) took the time to read the document carefully, review the maps, and compare what is written to what exists on the ground. What we found raises serious concerns about access, transparency, and whether the project stays within the emergency authority it rel

When we talk about the Blue Mountains Forest Plan revision today, we aren’t starting from scratch. We’ve been here before. In 2018, the first attempt to revise the forest plans for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests  was withdrawn. That didn’t happen quietly. And it didn’t happen by accident. It happened after significant public involvement raised serious concerns about process, analysis, and how community needs were reflected in the proposed directio

“Stored” Roads, Closed Access: The Austin Project and a Pattern of Public Misdirection

From Open Forests to Permission-Based Access: What This Revision Is Trying to Change

Across Eastern Oregon, many of us have felt it: Why bother commenting? They’re just going to do what they want anyway. That feeling didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s been built over time—through long processes, dense documents, and decisions that often felt disconnected from the people who live, work, and rely on these forests. That frustration is real. And it’s shared. But it’s not the whole story. Because when we look back honestly, there are moments where our collective inv

From Open Forests to Permission-Based Access

You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Comment The Forest Service is preparing to release a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision. When that happens, the public will have an opportunity to submit comments. For many people, the idea of commenting on a federal planning document feels intimidating. The documents are long. The language can be technical. It’s easy to think you need to be an expert to have something worth saying. You don

Honoring the message of being active citizens - Will you stand for the closure of YOUR LANDS?

Oct. 6th is the deadline to comment.

The time to stand is now.

📢 Public Notice: Forest Service Releases Notice of Intent for Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision Today, the U.S. Forest Service filed...

The Quiet Disappearance of Cross-Country Travel in the Blue Mountains Forest Plan

The Draft Plan Reduces — Not Increases — Active Land Management

Where is this plan headed if we don't stop it now.

2019 headquarters guidance ignored, 80 % of the old text recycled—and public meetings start this week. In March 2019  Washington‑Office...

A time to show your concerns for keeping out mountains open

They Didn’t Remove Travel Management — They Just Renamed It

Recycling a Rejected Plan: The Forest Service’s Second Attempt at the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Risks Repeating Old Mistakes

The Forest Service has announced a new round of public meetings in July to gather input on the Preliminary Draft Forest Plan for the...

🚨 The Forest Service is moving forward with a flawed revision of the Blue Mountains Forest Plans—and it could mean fewer roads , less...