After having projects halted because their 2005 Planning Rule was dismissed by a federal judge in 2007, the U.S. Forest Service was obliged to redo their overall planning rules. On April 21, 2008, they released the 2008 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219, National Forest System Land Management Planning: Final Rule), after reviewing 79,000 comments on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed rule.

This new plan calls for increased public collaboration, by requiring early and frequent public dialogues throughout the development, implementation and monitoring of plans. It also aims to be more responsive to changing conditions, allowing for quicker response to changing environmental and climatic conditions, and adjustments related to advancements in science and technology. Like the 2005 Rule, the 2008 Planning Rule does not authorize any specific on-the-ground activities. Instead it establishes a process to dialogue with the public about what issues are of most importance to them, and to balance those needs and desires with the best scientific knowledge and resource protection practices. The new plan also requires an Environmental Management System be in place prior to the implementation of approved projects.

The 2008 planning will likely meet opposition from environmental groups, although no legal action has been taken at this time. For more information about the plan, visit the following web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/2008_planning_rule.html.