PUBLIC LANDS -- The 22 formal objections filed to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests’ revised forest plan were made available for review this week.

The revision of the plan last revised in 1987 was released in September and is meant to guide forest management of everything from timber production to roadless areas for the next 15 years or so.

The objections can be reviewed on Idaho Panhandle National Forests “Objections Received” webpage.

People interested in an objection can file a request to participate in any resolution meetings that are scheduled.

For example:

• Old stands of pines, cedars and firs don’t have enough protections under the Idaho Panhandle National Forests’ draft management plan, according to environmental groups, who say the big trees need more safeguards.
• The plan's recommendations for wilderness are criticized for being too much as well as too little.
• Objections from the Shoshone County Commission, including issues about snowmobiling, were so extensive they had to be separated into two online files.

The Forest Service has 90 days to respond to the objections.