AG ​Bonta led a coalition of nine attorneys general in sending a comment letter to the U.S. Forest Service opposing its proposal to dilute the predicational administrative review process that applies to a broad swath of Forest Service projects. The proposed rule would amend the process for public participation by slashing some public comment timelines by more than 50%, eliminating neutral reviewing officials, and imposing other new limits on how public comments are articulated, submitted, or considered. In the letter, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition explain that the proposed rule would greatly limit public awareness and participation in Forest Service project-level decisions that can have a profound local and regional impact.

“Public participation is paramount in government decision-making, but the Trump Administration would rather undermine active community involvement so they can quickly and easily exploit our public lands. Let’s be clear: This isn’t efficiency, it’s obstruction. Our communities play an important role in preventing hazards and preserving our forests. Public agencies like the Forest Service should empower people to actively exercise their rights and engage in decisions that impact our natural resources, not work to strip away those rights.”  – AG Bonta