Malheur National Forest extends Austin Project comment period
By Logan Bagett on Friday, February 20th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
JOHN DAY – (Press Release from the Malheur National Forest)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is extending the public comment period on the recently released draft environmental impact statement for the Austin Project on the Malheur and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. The document is available for a 45-day public comment period, and comments should be received by the Blue Mountain Ranger District on or before March 19, 2026.
The Austin Project is located approximately nine miles northeast of Prairie City and encompasses portions of the Blue Mountain and Prairie City Ranger Districts, and a section of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The project aims to support local economic vitality, reduce wildfire risk to communities and firefighters, and improve watershed function by implementing various fuels and vegetation treatments.
For a detailed outline of proposed treatments and project activity, please refer to the Malheur National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/malheur/newsroom/releases/forest-service-seeks-input-austin-project
The preferred method to submit comments is electronically to the Comment Analysis and Response Application (CARA) database at: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=53678.
Alternatively, written comments concerning the project may be submitted using the following methods:
- Postal mail: Blue Mountain District Ranger, c/o Bethany Parker PO Box 909 John Day, Oregon 97845
- Hand delivery: Please submit during business hours, 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
- Fax: 541-575-3319
