Raoul Joins Coalition Opposing Changes to Forest Service Public Comment Rules

CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and eight other state attorneys general opposed a U.S. Forest Service proposal that would reduce public participation in decisions affecting national forests, including Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. The proposed rule would shorten comment periods by more than half, remove neutral reviewing officials, impose page limits on objections, change where notices are published, and allow officials to disregard certain comments. Raoul and the coalition said the changes would limit public awareness and input on projects such as timber harvests and hazardous fuels management and reduce the ability of residents, tribes, and organizations to participate in project-level decisions.