that there was disproportionate commenting from various stakeholders, such as the recreation community. While there were difficulties associated with the “living document,” several planners believed it helped with information gathering during the pre-assessment phase and engaged the public; they said they would use a similar approach again in the future.

### 3.3 Best Available Scientific Information

On the second day, the workshop included an hour-long session addressing BASI and working with research stations. This session included a panel discussion as well as group discussion.

The planning rule specifically dictates that plans should “use the best scientific information available.” Furthermore, plans must document their use of BASI (§219.3). Based on the panel discussion and comments from workshop participants, several different approaches existed to meet BASI requirements. Region 5 worked with the Pacific Southwest Research Station to develop a science synthesis document concurrent with the assessment process that addressed BASI at the bioregional scale. The Region noted that it may have made more sense to finalize the document prior to undertaking assessment. Participants from the region noted the following questions as important to consider:

- • relevant scientific information being considered? • relevant scientific information being considered?
- • the information reasonably interpreted? • the information reasonably interpreted?
- • there uncertainties documented? • there uncertainties documented?
- • management consequences identified and documented? • management consequences identified and documented?
- • do you do when there is conflicting science or different interpretations of science? • do you do when there is conflicting science or different interpretations of science?

Region 8 provided perspective on how it approached BASI for the El Yunque National Forest. The forest put together documentation of the best available science, which was reviewed by the region using several different tools. The region identified its Ecological Sustainability Evaluation tool (ESE) as something used to support plan decision-making. To address climate change, the region pointed to the Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO), which offers a searchable database of the latest scientific information related to climate change. On the Francis Marion National Forest, participants noted that for gaps in knowledge, the forest intended to monitor and apply adaptive management. The region said that addressing BASI in the Record of Decision is a challenge.

The panel also discussed BASI in assessments based on a review of completed assessments. The panelists noted that assessments often provided criteria for assessing BASI but did not directly apply these criteria on specific items. The panel identified several suggestions, including the development of an appendix with citations and relevancy to plan, criteria, trends, and indicators for each individual item.

Participants identified several challenges related to BASI. The panelists noted an unresolved question with regard to whether assessments should serve as a forum for debate about conflicting science. Furthermore, the participants acknowledged the difficulty of using BASI when it conflicts with public preferences or local knowledge. Another highlighted the appeal of using BASI because it has already been scrutinized and identified as reliable.