KENAI — The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with plans to update its management plan for the Chugach National Forest on the eastern part of the Kenai Peninsula.
The Peninsula Clarion reports the federal agency began a revision process for the forest in 2012 by gathering input from the public and researching current use and environmental conditions.
A report released last week says the Forest Service is revising the forest plan because of a changing environment and public concern.
More than 1,400 responses were submitted during the public comment period. The comments included those from Alaska Native corporations that voiced concerns about access to the land for activities such as mining and logging and land ownership.
The Forest Service expects a draft environmental assessment to be finished in 2017.
