BlueRibbon Coalition BRC: Comment Deadline for New US Forest Service Planning Regulations Looms

This site earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Date: 05/02/2011
Comment Deadline for New US Forest Service Planning Regulations Looms
BRC's Key Comments and Concerns and Letter Generator Available

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
Last year the U.S. Forest Service began revising their regulations that govern how the agency prepares Forest Plans. Known as the "Planning Rule," these regulations will determine how the agency develops, amends and revises their Land Use Plans for the next 30 years.
In February this year, the agency released a Draft Planning Rule for public review and comment. The Draft Planning Rule is overly complex, likely because it follows decades of controversy and litigation. BRC staff has been carefully reviewing the Draft, but questions and concerns remain. We need more time. We continue to push for an extension in the comment deadline (read our previous alert here) .
While we await a decision on that request, the current May 16 comment deadline to comment is still in place. The Forest Service needs to hear from many of you, and they need to hear from you now! We've posted "comment suggestions" for you in our Rapid Response Center so they can understand your key concerns about the Draft Rule. Your comments will go directly to the agency.
In BRC's previous comments, we cautioned the agency to focus on the process of revising Forest Plans, not to make this about the Forest Plan itself. Planning regulations need to be about how to formulate plans and NOT what the plans will contain.
Sadly, it looks as if these new planning regulations will not follow this advice. They apparently move the agency away from its multiple use/sustained yield mandate and toward preservation oriented management. This will continue to make the agency vulnerable in almost any decision and impede efficient, meaningful management. It will not do anything to solve the problem this Rule is supposed to address. Indeed, it may make administrative gridlock worse, to the detriment of recreation and other uses of the Forest System
Please help us by sending your comment letter today. Click HERE
Thanks in advance for your involvement,
Greg Mumm
Executive Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 101
For more background information on the proposed new Planning Rule, please visit our dedicated webpage at: www.sharetrails.org/public-lands/?section=FS_Planning_Rule



The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. 1-800-BlueRib - www.sharetrails.org
_______________________________________________________
As a non-profit, grassroots organization funded primarily by membership dues and donations, we greatly appreciate your support. Visit http://www.sharetrails.org/make-a-difference-now to help fund our efforts to protect your trails!
afeeds_feedburner_com__ff_BlueRibbonCoalition_c13d8c281309bd9b7e13e25c830b8e5b._.gif
afeeds_feedburner_com__r_BlueRibbonCoalition__4_83qE3t9sPhQ_.gif


Continue reading...
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom