11/18/2025-
The Ashland Field Manager has signed a Decision Record (DR) for the Ashland 2025 Strategic Operations for Safety (SOS) project, for the removal of dead and dying conifers on 530 acres of BLM-managed lands to improve public and firefighter safety, reduce hazardous fuel loading, and support safe and effective wildfire response in the face of increasing conifer mortality and fire risk. Proposed treatments include removal of hazard trees along roads, treatment of strategic linear features, and area-based salvage in high mortality zones. This project focuses on BLM-managed lands experiencing extensive tree mortality near the communities of Ruch, Applegate, Jacksonville, and Buncom.
BLM signed the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Ashland 2025 SOS Project on September 11, 2025. The analysis of activities associated with the can be found in the the 2025 Ashland SOS Environmental Assessment (EA) DOI-BLM-ORWA-M060-2025-0001-EA.
The BLM would like to thank everyone who submitted comments for scoping and on the draft EA, as well as those who were able to attend our field trip. We have reviewed and considered all comments received, and in some instances, made changes to the proposed action and/or analysis. The BLM attached responses to public comments to the DR.
Hard copies of the DR and FONSI are also available at the Medford Interagency Office (Bureau of Land Management, Ashland Field Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon 97504). This forest management decision becomes effective upon its publication on this website, in accordance with 43 CFR § 5003.1. A person adversely affected by this forest management decision may appeal the decision to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (Board), within the Office of the Secretary, Office of Hearings and Appeals. Appeals to the Board are governed by the Department’s regulations at 43 CFR Part 4.
9/11/2025-
The Ashland Field Manager has signed Decision Records (DR) for the Ashland 2025 Strategic Operations for Safety (SOS) project, for the removal of dead and dying conifers on 1,745 acres of BLM-managed lands to improve public and firefighter safety, reduce hazardous fuel loading, and support safe and effective wildfire response in the face of increasing conifer mortality and fire risk. Proposed treatments include removal of hazard trees along roads, treatment of strategic linear features, and area-based salvage in high mortality zones. This project focuses on BLM-managed lands experiencing extensive tree mortality near the communities of Ruch, Applegate, Jacksonville, and Buncom.
BLM signed the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Ashland 2025 SOS Project on September 11, 2025. The analysis of activities associated with the can be found in the the 2025 Ashland SOS Environmental Assessment (EA) DOI-BLM-ORWA-M060-2025-0001-EA.
The BLM would like to thank everyone who submitted comments for scoping and on the draft EA, as well as those who were able to attend our field trip. We have reviewed and considered all comments received, and in some instances, made changes to the proposed action and/or analysis. The BLM attached responses to public comments to the DR.
Hard copies of the DR and FONSI are also available at the Medford Interagency Office (Bureau of Land Management, Ashland Field Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon 97504). This forest management decision becomes effective upon its publication on this website, in accordance with 43 CFR § 5003.1. A person adversely affected by this forest management decision may appeal the decision to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (Board), within the Office of the Secretary, Office of Hearings and Appeals. Appeals to the Board are governed by the Department’s regulations at 43 CFR Part 4.
5/29/2025 -
The draft EA for public comment has been updated to remove error messages that were blocking some table and section reference numbers. No new or different information has been added or changed for this format adjustment. Comments submitted on the initial draft will still be considered as will any new comments. The comment period dates will not change.
5/23/2025 -
The BLM will host a public field trip on June 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to discuss project details and answer questions on-site. To RSVP, please email [email protected] with the subject line “SOS Field Trip”
5/23/2025 -
The Ashland Field Office of the Medford District Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) is seeking public input on the Ashland 2025 Strategic
Operations for Safety (SOS) Project Environmental Assessment (EA). The BLM
proposes to remove dead and dying conifers across up to 5,362 acres of
BLM-managed lands to enhance public and firefighter safety, reduce hazardous
fuel loading, and facilitate safe and effective wildfire response amidst rising
conifer mortality and fire risk. Key proposed treatments include removal of
hazard trees along roads, treatment of strategic linear features, and area-based
salvage in high mortality zones
This project focuses on BLM-managed lands that have
experienced significant tree mortality, particularly near the communities of
Ruch, Applegate, Jacksonville, and Buncom.
For access to the EA please check the Documents tab.
To ensure your input is fully considered in the
environmental analysis process, please submit comments by June 23, 2025
Comments can be submitted directly through the ePlanning
site (click Participate Now) or by mail to:
NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-ORWA-M060-2025-0001-EA
ePlanning site: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2035179/510
By mail: Attn:
Ashland 2025 SOS EA
Ashland
Field Office
Bureau
of Land Management
3040
Biddle Road
Medford,
Oregon 97504
4/16/2025 -
The BLM is canceling the programmatic Strategic Operations for Safety - Salvage and Removal of Dead and Dying Conifers (DOI-BLM-ORWA-M000-2024-0002-EA) environmental assessment and is moving forward with one site-specific project at this time, the Ashland 2025 SOS EA. Information and public input gathered during the programmatic environmental assessment NEPA process is being applied to the site-specific project. More information to come.
11/20/2024 - Ashland Field Office SOS Project 1 EA Scoping Period
Please read the Dear Reader letter in the maps or documents section prior to considering scoping feedback.
Ashland Field Office SOS Project 1 EA Scoping Period
The Ashland Field Office is seeking scoping input on potential treatment locations for SOS Project 1 EA, the first project-level EA under the SOS Programmatic EA. Scoping is the process by which the BLM solicits input for potential issues, impacts, and alternatives to be addressed in an environmental assessment (EA) complying with the National Environmental Policy Act. This project focuses on approximately 3,000 acres of BLM managed areas that are showing extensive dead and dying trees in the vicinity of Ruch, Applegate, Jacksonville, and Buncom for responder and public safety. The SOS EA Project 1 treatment areas comply with the SOS Programmatic EA. Treatment areas were initially identified through aerial detection surveys, field verification of beetle infestation, and indicators of tree decline. BLM specialists then refined the finalized treatment units to meet survey compliance standards for their respective resources. The BLM is seeking input on potential resource conflicts with identified treatment areas, areas that the public feel are highest priority, additional areas within the project area (see maps) experiencing conifer mortality, and any other areas within the Ashland Field Office that may benefit from treatment. The final treatment areas for the SOS project 1 EA will vary depending on what alternative is selected on the SOS Programmatic EA. For example, a subset of these potential treatment areas may be chosen to move forward. Please see the attached table and maps for the potential treatment areas currently under consideration for the SOS Project 1 EA.
For more information concerning the SOS Project 1 EA, you may contact Justin Cournoyer at (541) 618-2229 or Emily Ellison at (541) 618-2450. Please submit your written scoping comments through one of the following methods:
NEPA #: DOI-BLM-OR-M060-2025-0001-EA
Online at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2035179/510
By mail: Attn: SOS Project 1 EA
Ashland Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
3040 Biddle Road
Medford, Oregon 97504
Your scoping input will be accepted through Monday, January 6, 2025. The programmatic EA that this EA will tier to is located here: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2027249/510
Substantive comments are those that provide new information, issues, alternatives, flaws, or credible research. Non-substantive comments are out-of-scope, lack specificity, focus on opinion, or restates existing policies.
Future Public Engagement Opportunities
The Ashland Field Office will have a public comment period on the SOS Project 1 EA and unsigned FONSI in Spring 2025. Information will be posted to the ePlanning page listed above.
