What's in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan - and when the new policies will start

The pandemic, over 10,000 public comments and more have all had a hand in delaying the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan. Here's the latest on the strategic plan that will manage over 1 million acres of national forest in Western North Carolina. James Melonas is the forest supervisor of the National Forests in North Carolina. Here's how he describes how close the plan is to being completed: "So it's kind of like we have the house under contract. We're moving toward closing. We haven't gone to closing to sign all the papers but that's where we are right now," said Melonas. There is still a final 60-day period when those who have previously commented on the plan can share objections. The Forest Service will resolve those objections during a 5-month objections period and can amend the plan. There are very specific rules on how to object which you can find online. Michelle Aldridge is planning team leader for the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan. Work on the plan started around 2012, with the last