Editor’s Note: The BlueRibbon Coalition is highlighting upcoming meetings this week regarding proposed action for the Rio Grande National Forest in Colorado. See below for more information.

The Rio Grande National Forest invites public input on the Proposed Action for the forest plan revision. The Proposed Action is not a proposed plan; the public will help develop the proposed plan through input on the Proposed Action. Public input will also help identify issues and develop alternatives to the proposed plan that will be analyzed in the draft environmental impact statement.

The Rio Grande National Forest Revised Forest Plan is the overarching document that guides all management decisions and activities on the entire Rio Grande National Forest for the next 10-15 years, including activities such as preservation of cultural and historic resources, grazing, timber production, recreation, wildlife management, firewood cutting and gathering of special forest products.

The Forest Service will hold three public meetings during the last week of September to present and discuss the Proposed Action for the forest plan revision. The Proposed Action is the first step in the formal plan development stage of the revision process.

Presentations and discussion are scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for each meeting. Light refreshments will be provided.

The meetings are scheduled for:

Tuesday, September 27, at the Saguache County Road and Bridge Building, 305 3rd Street, Saguache.

Wednesday, September 28, at the South Fork Community Building, 254 State Highway 149, South Fork.

Thursday, September 29, North Conejos School District board room, 17890 US Highway 285, La Jara.

Comments on the Proposed Action are most useful if received within 45 days following the publication in the Federal Register of the Notice of Intent to initiate the Rio Grande National Forest Plan Revision Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Written comments may be mailed to Rio Grande National Forest, ATTN: Forest Plan Revision, 1803 US Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144; emailed to rgnf_forest_plan@fs.fed.us; or send by facsimile to 719-852-6250.

For more information, visit the Rio Grande National Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande and click on the forest plan revision link or contact Mike Blakeman at the Rio Grande National Forest Supervisor’s Office at 719-852-6212.

To view the Proposed Action or learn more about the forest plan revision process, visit the Rio Grande NF website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/riogrande/landmanagement/projects/?cid=stelprd3819044 or call Erin Minks, Forest Planner at 719-852-6215.