California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Mar. 10 that he is leading a coalition of nine attorneys general in opposing a proposal by the U.S. Forest Service to change its predecisional administrative review process for forest projects.
The proposed rule would reduce public comment periods, remove neutral reviewing officials, and introduce new restrictions on how public comments are submitted and considered. These changes could limit public participation in decisions affecting national forest lands, which cover about 20 million acres in California.
“Public participation is paramount in government decision-making, but the Trump Administration would rather undermine active community involvement so they can quickly and easily exploit our public lands,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Let’s be clear: This isn’t efficiency, it’s obstruction. Our communities play an important role in preventing hazards and preserving our forests. Public agencies like the Forest Service should empower people to actively exercise their rights and engage in decisions that impact our natural resources, not work to strip away those rights.”
The current review process has been in place since 2013 and allows for input from the public, Tribes, and organizations on issues such as timber sales, road construction, and hazardous fuels management. The proposed changes include shortening comment timelines from 30 days to 10 days for some projects and from 45 days to 20 days for others; removing neutral reviewers; changing publication locations for notices; imposing page limits on objections; and allowing the agency to disregard comments without specific recommendations.
Bonta leads the California Attorney General’s office, which serves as the state’s chief law enforcement authority with responsibilities including enforcing state laws and advancing policies related to civil rights, consumer protection, economic security, and environmental justice according to the official website. The office operates statewide as part of California’s executive branch according to the official website.
The California Attorney General’s office also promotes transparency through tools like the OpenJustice portal for publishing criminal justice data according to the official website. As this debate continues, observers will watch how federal agencies balance efficiency with opportunities for meaningful public engagement.
