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Yesterday we wrote about the proposed management plan for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, and mentioned that Rep. Denny Rehberg recently sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service requesting that the public comment period for the plan be extended. It was slated to close for good on Monday.

Well, the Forest Service answered Rehberg's request early yesterday afternoon and granted another 30 days for public comment on the plan. So if you haven't yet had your say, now's your chance.

Many people have already taken the time to provide their thoughts on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge. The management plan deals with designated wilderness, timber harvests, motorized and non-motorized recreation areas, restoration projects and more on the 3.38 million-acre national forest in southwestern Montana. The Forest Service put forward a version of a management plan back in 2002, and that draft was amended multiple times before the current version, which consists of more than 500 pages, was published in the Federal Register in February.

Needless to say, not everyone is happy with the latest version. Among these is the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership, a unique coalition of three conservation groups and five businesses with timber interests. The partnership had suggested significantly more wilderness than is currently included in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge plan, for instance, and also offered specific input on stewardship contracting, timber harvesting and restoration. Much of that input didn't make it into the proposed plan, so now the partnership is pushing for new legislation that, if approved by Congress, would amend several portions of the management plan.

But partnership members aren't the only ones criticizing the new plan. Several motorized recreation groups, local governments and other interests also think it could use some tweaking.

Whether you agree with them or think the proposed plan is fine as it is, you now have until April 30 to make your preferences known - and we encourage you to take full advantage of this opportunity. It's highly unlikely the comment period will be extended again.

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