USFS Planning Rule Info

[Grumpy]

Today the Forest Service is proud to announce the proposed planning rule for the 193-million acre National Forest System. This proposed rule has been developed through an open and transparent process through contributions from a broad and diverse mix of the American people.

I want to thank all of you that are participating with us to develop the new planning rule.

The proposed planning rule will be released in the Federal Register on February 14, 2011, kicking off a 90 day public comment period. A prepublication copy of the proposed rule is now available online at http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule. I encourage you to take a look and let us know how we can make it better. Information on how to submit comments is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/planningrule/HowToComment.
We are committed to keeping the development of planning rule open, transparent and participatory. Please take advantage of the following opportunities to stay engaged over the coming months:
Attend one of our public forums to learn more about the proposed rule. Information on these public meetings is available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/planningrule/forums

From the IAD Position Two the meetinn for PNW will be held March 25th in Portland at the Airport Sheraton. Details will be out later

Submit written comments at http://www.govcomments.com/. Comments are due by May 16, 2011.

Check back often to the planning rule website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/planningrule for the latest information. This site will be upgrade to reflect the meeting in your area.

Discuss the proposed rule informally with other interested members of the public on the Planning Rule blog at http://planningrule.blogs.usda.gov/.

Sign up for the planning rule listserv to keep informed on progress and opportunities to participate along the way. If you haven’t already, please sign up at http://www.fs.fed.us/news/pr-listserv-subscribe.html.
You can also follow the Forest Service on Twitter at http://twitter.com/forestservice.
Thank you again for your interest in the National Forests and Grasslands and your help with the rule development process. Your continued participation is important to our success.
Sincerely,
Tony Tooke Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination Barbara Timberlake
USDA Forest Service
on detail to Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff Phone: 202-205-0917 Fax: 202-205-1012
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[Grumpy]

HELP SUPPORT REQUESTS TO EXTEND COMMENT DEADLINE FOR US FOREST SERVICE PLANNING RULEApril 26th, 2011

BLUERIBBON COALITION NATIONAL ACTION ALERT
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED
HELP SUPPORT REQUESTS TO EXTEND COMMENT DEADLINE FOR US FOREST SERVICE PLANNING RULE

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

BRC, along with multiple-use stakeholders, local governments and numerous recreational advocacy organizations, has asked the Department of Agriculture to provide an additional 90 days to review and comment on the Draft Planning Rule for the U.S. Forest Service.

The new planning regulations are extremely complex and include new, untested provisions for habitat planning and monitoring. In addition, the agency has, sadly, chosen to emphasize preservation over multiple use and recreation. BRC is working with a wide range of stakeholders in efforts to bring the agency back to its multiple use mandate and the groups have collectively requested an extension of the comment period. Read the letter HERE.

We need your help.

Please help us by sending a quick message to Harris Sherman, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment in support of our extension request.

In order to assist you, BRC has activated our Rapid Response Center. Simply click HERE to send your message.

Thank you in advance for your involvement. As always, please call or email with questions.

Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102

[Grumpy]

Science Review of USFS DEIS for National Forest System Land Management Now AvailableApril 28th, 2011

BLUERIBBON COALITION NATIONAL ACTION ALERT!

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Unbelievable.

Yesterday, just days before the comment deadline for the US Forest Service's new Forest Planning regulations, the US Forest Service released a "science review" of their Draft Planning Regulations for public review and comment.

See HERE.

This is unbelievable. While stakeholders, including BRC, ask for additional time to make sense of hundreds of pages of planning bureaucracy, the agency dumps another hundred pages of "scientific" review and recommendations.

Rest assured BRC will review this new information and its potential impact on recreation. But your help in securing additional time for review is critical.

Yesterday we sent out a National Action Alert (see below), asking for your help getting the Department of Agriculture to provide an additional 90 days to review and comment on the Draft Planning Rule for the U.S. Forest Service.

If you haven't yet visited, BRC's Rapid Response Center and sent your message, please take just a couple of minutes and do it now. You can simply click HERE to send your message.

Thank you in advance for your involvement. As always, please call or email with questions.

Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102


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