Forest Service releases new proposed planning rule
Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2012The Forest Service has released a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for land management planning for the National Forest System. USDA and Forest Service staff carefully considered nearly 300,000 comments received on the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement to develop a preferred alternative, which is included in the PEIS. The Secretary will issue a record of decision selecting a final planning rule no less than 30 days after publication of the Notice of Availability of the PEIS in the Federal Register. Visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule for more information.
MORE: In a press release, Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) chair and Nebraska state forester Scott Josiah said "State Foresters can and should play a unique role in the planning process." All states have completed Forest Action Plans that can feed localized data on forests across all management boundaries within a state into the USFS planning process.
S&PF handbook updated
Posted on Friday, July 8, 2011The USDA Forest Service has updated the "Principal Laws Relating State and Private Programs" handbook for 2011, which lists the major laws relating to the Cooperative Forestry Program of the State and Private Forestry mission area. The document is available on the web (http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/library/SPF-CF%20handbook.pdf) and in hardcopy (send requests to Mary Dempsey at mkdempsey@fs.fed.us).
New federal interagency council to promote recreation via 'Great Outdoors' initiative
Posted on Friday, June 17, 2011The Obama administration has established the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) to coordinate and promote outdoor recreation on public lands, as part of the president's "America's Great Outdoors" initiative unveiled in February. The council includes the Interior, Agriculture and Commerce departments, the Army and the White House Council on Environmental Quality and aims to reconnect American families with the outdoors and harness a major economic driver -- recreation -- in both rural and urban communities. According to Interior secretary Ken Salazar, a top priority for the new council will be to ensure the federal government coordinates its policies and programs with state, local and tribal partners.
Vilsack extends roadless rule
Posted on Thursday, June 2, 2011Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is renewing for a third year an interim policy giving himself sole power to choose which logging or road projects are exempt from roadless protections on tens of millions of national forest acres. The policy temporarily extends the controversial Clinton administration roadless rule until the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides its ultimate fate.
Forest Service Chief defends integrated fund
Posted on Friday, May 20, 2011Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell was grilled by Senate appropriators this week over the agency's proposal to combine habitat, watershed and timber harvest programs into one "Integrated Resource Restoration" fund, E&E News reports (subscription). The proposal has drawn skepticism from lawmakers who argue it would compliate oversight, but the Chief maintains the agency would still report traditional targets of board-feet harvested, miles of stream restored, acres of wildlife habitat improved and acres of invasive species removed. Chairman Jack Reed (D-RI) said he was concerned with the large reductions in research, wildland fire and maintenance funding in the agency's requested budget. The three programs are proposed to be nearly $600 million below the current enacted level, a 20 percent cut.
UN Forum on Forests to consider improving livelihood and reducing poverty in forest areas
Posted on Monday, January 24, 2011Strategies that can help the world's forests to promote social development, livelihoods and poverty eradication will be the focus of the United Nations Forum on Forests, which will meet from 24 January to 4 February.
USDA seeks nominations for Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Committee
Posted on Wednesday, March 10, 2010The Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations from the public for a new Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Advisory Committee. Authorized by Title IV of Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, the purpose of the CFLR program is to encourage the collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest landscapes. NASF plans to recommend the appointment of a State Forester to the committee to further an "all lands" approach to U.S. forests. For more information on committee selection criteria and the application process, view the Federal Register Notice (PDF).
Forest Service to host public events on development of new planning rule
Posted on Monday, March 1, 2010The USDA Forest Service will sponsor a series of events to provide opportunities for public discussion on the development of a new Forest Service Land and Resource Management Planning Rule (planning rule). The agency will host a national science forum, three national roundtables and nine regional roundtables. Following the meetings, notes will be posted on the planning rule Web site, http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule, to allow for further feedback. Summaries of the presentations and discussions in the science forum and roundtables, along with the individual comments received during the 60-day formal comment period on the Notice of Intent, will be used to develop the proposed rule and a draft environmental impact statement. Click here for the full schedule of public meetings.
Tax tips for forest landowners for the 2009 tax year
Posted on Wednesday, October 21, 2009This bulletin (PDF) from the U.S. Forest Service summarizes federal income tax information useful to woodland owners in preparing their 2009 tax returns. It is current as of October 1, 2009, and supersedes Management Bulletin R8-MB 132. Visit the National Timber Tax website for more information.
Comment period for CSP interim final rule extended
Posted on Wednesday, October 14, 2009The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the comment period for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) interim final rule to October 28. See the Federal Register notice for more information.
