Forest Service Releases Administrative
Direction for New Planning
Rule
Washington, D.C., March 17, 2005 - The U.S.
Department of Agriculture
Forest Service today issued the proposed administrative policy for
implementing its new planning regulation, which governs the 155
national forests and 20 grasslands. The public will have 90 days to
comment on the policy.
The interim “National Forest System Land Management Planning
Directives,” a summary of which will be published in the Federal
Register in the next several days, can be found in the Forest Service
Manual and the Forest Service Handbook, essentially internal “how to”
guidebooks. The directives detail procedural requirements and
responsibilities for forest and grassland managers to implement the new
planning rule, which became effective Jan. 5.
“This policy direction will provide consistent overall guidance to our
line officers as they begin to revise their forest plans using the new
planning rule,” said Forest Service Associate Chief Sally Collins.
“These instructions are essential for realizing the vision outlined in
the new rule—to provide future generations with healthier forests,
cleaner air and water, and more abundant wildlife while sustaining a
variety of forest uses.”
The policy includes guidance on how to develop an Environmental
Management System tool to improve performance and accountability,
afford the public with improved public participation opportunities,
provide for species protection by taking into account the best
available science, and develop guidelines on forest activities, such as
hazardous fuels reduction.
