6/3/2026  The BLM Ashland Field Office has released the Draft Douglas-fir Mortality Complex Environmental Assessment for public review and comment. The 30-day comment period is open from June 3, 2026, through July 3, 2026. Comments may be submitted through ePlanning. 

How to Submit Comments During the Public Comment Period

The BLM will consider comments submitted during the public comment period. To be most useful in the NEPA process, comments should be substantive and should provide specific information, analysis, or reasoning related to the Draft EA.

A substantive comment may do one or more of the following:

• Question the accuracy of information in the Draft EA.
• Question the adequacy of the environmental analysis, including the methodology or assumptions used.
• Present new information relevant to the analysis.
• Present a reasonable alternative other than those analyzed in the Draft EA.
• Provide information that could result in changes or revisions to one or more alternatives.

Comments that express general support or opposition without supporting reasoning or information may be received and acknowledged, but may not require a detailed response. Examples of comments that are generally not considered substantive include:

• Comments that only state support for or opposition to the proposed action or an alternative without providing reasoning related to the analysis.
• Comments that only agree or disagree with BLM policy or resource decisions without supporting information relevant to the Draft EA.
• Comments that do not pertain to the project area or the proposed project.
• Comments that consist only of vague or open-ended questions.
• Comments directed at the Administration or President of the United States rather than the proposed project or Draft EA.

Comments should be submitted through ePlanning during the public comment period.

To assist the BLM’s review, comments should be concise, specific, and directly related to the Draft EA, the proposed action, the alternatives, or the environmental analysis. Commenters are encouraged to clearly identify each substantive comment and explain the basis for the comment. Substantive comments embedded within lengthy opinion statements, broad policy discussions, or unrelated material may be more difficult to identify and evaluate and possible missed. Lengthy submissions that primarily contain general opinions, broad policy statements, or material unrelated to the project will not require a detailed response unless they also include intelligible substantive comments relevant to the analysis or decision.

1/5/2025 Higher resolution scoping maps have been added to the Documents tab.

12/8/2025 Douglas-Fir Mortality Complex Scoping Period The Ashland Field Office is seeking scoping input on potential treatment locations for the Douglas-Fir Mortality Complex (DMC) 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 9,000 acres of BLM managed areas that shows extensive dead and dying trees in the vicinity of Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Lake Creek, Medford, and Ruch for responder and public safety. Treatment areas for the DMC EA were initially identified through aerial detection surveys, field verification of beetle infestation, and indicators of tree decline. Additional treatment areas were identified for green thinning near areas of mortality. 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 attached in letter) experiencing conifer mortality, and any other areas within the Ashland Field Office that may benefit from treatment. The final treatment areas for the DMC EA will vary depending on what alternative is selected. 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 DMC EA. For more information concerning the DMC 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-ORWA-M060-2026-0001-EA Online at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2041633/510

        By mail: Attn: DMC EA

Ashland Field Office Bureau of Land Management 3040 Biddle Road Medford, Oregon 97504 Your scoping input will be accepted through Wednesday, January 14, 2026. 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.