National Forest Planning Rule

[Grumpy]

Dear Stakeholder,

Thank you for your comments on the Forest Service Planning Rule Notice of Intent (NOI). Your comments provide valuable insight for us as we move forward on preparing the draft environmental impact statement and the Proposed Rule. We hope that you will continue to engage with us throughout the process.

We would like to invite your continued participation in the collaborative process for the development of the new National Forest planning rule. The collaborative process provides numerous avenues for contributing meaningful input for the agency’s decision-making process and allows diverse interests to come together to explore critical issues. The input will be used by the USDA Forest Service rule writing team in the development of the draft environmental impact statement and proposed rule.

The process includes a Science Forum, national and regional roundtables, Tribal collaboration and consultation, and an electronic discussion forum at Planning Rule Blog to engage, educate, encourage meaningful dialogue, and gain as much input as possible from interested stakeholders. The Science Forum and all roundtables will be open, public forums. Notes from the various roundtables will be synthesized and posted for further feedback opportunities. The national roundtables will include a webcast component for participation by those unable to attend the events in person; webcasting may also be available for some of the regional roundtables. The NOI and additional information about all the different ways to participate is available at the Forest Service Planning Rule Website. Pre-registration for the in-person events is strongly requested as far in advance as possible – preferably one week prior to any meeting(s) you plan to attend.

SCIENCE FORUM: March 29 – 30, 2010, in Washington DC, is being convened by the USDA Forest Service with support from Booz Allen Hamilton. Panels of scientists will present the latest science on topics relevant to the development of the planning rule. The key themes from the Science Forum will help frame the collaborative discussions at the regional and national roundtables that will follow. Please pre-register here: www.fsnationalmeetings.eventbrite.com. If you have questions concerning special needs or to request sign language interpretation, contact Kathryn Hite at 703-412-7494 or by email at hite_kathryn@bah.com by March 22, 2010.

Three NATIONAL ROUNDTABLES are being convened by the Forest Service with support from the US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (USIECR) and the Meridian Institute. Your attendance at all three meetings is encouraged! Please pre-register here: www.fsnationalmeetings.eventbrite.com. If you have questions concerning special needs or to request sign language interpretation, contact Danielle Youngblood at (202) 354-6451 or dyoungblood@merid.org at least a week before the scheduled roundtable.
First National Roundtable - April 1-2, 2010, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC. This meeting will engage attendees in dialogue about the planning rule and will solicit focused input on how the planning rule should address restoration, climate change, watershed health and biodiversity (NOI substance principles 1-4).

Second National Roundtable - April 20-21, 2010, in Washington DC (specific location TBD). This meeting will engage attendees in dialogue about the planning rule and to solicit focused input on how the planning rule should address the social, economic and cultural contribution of NFS lands to surrounding communities; provide for effective collaboration; consider the relationship between national forests and surrounding lands; and use the latest in planning science (NOI substance principle 5 and process principles 1-3).

Third National Roundtable - May 11-12, 2010 in Washington DC (specific location TBD). This meeting will allow stakeholders to discuss and build upon the synthesized results from the Science Forum and the preceding national and regional roundtables.

To encourage broad participation, the Forest Service, through the National Forest Foundation, is offering the opportunity to apply for travel support (flight and/or ground transportation and/or hotel) to attend the science forum and national roundtables. These are limited funds targeted toward individuals who would not be able to attend without such assistance. This assistance will help ensure that multiple stakeholder perspectives are represented in the planning rule dialogue. Additional information and an application are available at http://www.nationalforests.org/conserve ... assistance.

REGIONAL ROUNDTABLES are being conducted throughout April in locations around the country. The roundtables will engage stakeholders in dialogue about the planning rule, and provide opportunities for stakeholders to explore issues of particular relevance in each Forest Service region. Dates, locations, and registration links are available at the Forest Planning Rule Website.

Secretary Vilsack’s charge to the Forest Service gives all stakeholders a unique opportunity to play a vital role in the development of a new national forest planning rule that draws on the best elements of previous rulemaking efforts, while considering new scientific knowledge and the evolving values and priorities for forest and ecosystem management.

Please join in this exciting endeavor. Thank you!


********************************************************************
Barbara Timberlake
USDA Forest Service
Writer/editor
on detail to Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff

Phone: 202-205-0917 Fax: 202-205-1012
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[Grumpy]

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing a new Planning Rule and is seeking public input to help create a new rule that is effective and endures over time. The upcoming Roundtable Meeting in Portland on April 6, hosted by the Pacific Northwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service, is part of this collaborative effort. We look forward to seeing you there.

The meeting will include three interactive sessions, beginning at 9 am, 1 pm and 6 pm. You are welcome to participate in any or all of these sessions. Each session will open with a plenary presentation, followed by facilitated roundtable discussions highlighting specific issues relevant to the proposed Planning Rule. Discussions will focus on areas of agreement and disagreement, as well as possible alternatives. Interested participants may engage in more than one roundtable. Sessions will conclude with report-outs from each roundtable to all attendees. Summaries of these sessions will become part of the public record and will be utilized in the rule-writing process.

Roundtable discussion topics will be drawn from the "Process (3) and Substantive (5) Principles for a New Rule" published in the Federal Register on December 18, 2009 (http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-30174.pdf). We will provide you with an agenda and discussion guide prior to April 6.

You may also be interested in reviewing or contributing to ongoing online discussions on the Forest Service Planning Rule blog at http://blogs.usda.gov/usdablogs/planningrule.

If you have not already done so, please reply by email to ForestServiceMtg@LSAResults.com with your name, address and organizational affiliation to let us know if you plan to attend. Your response is not required to participate, but is extremely helpful for planning purposes and very much appreciated.

The event will be held in the Multnomah Room at the Doubletree-Lloyd Center in Portland. Participants are eligible for a $94 room rate (April 5th and/or April 6th), which includes overnight parking. To receive this rate, guests should make reservations before March 22 either online at www.doubletree.com using the group/convention code SVC or by calling the Doubletree at 800.996.0510 or 503.281.6111. The government per diem rate is $120 and includes parking, breakfast and in-room wireless service.

Open house hours are from noon to 1pm and from 5pm to 6pm. Come-and-go participants may pick up handouts and contribute comments individually, if they so choose.

We look forward to seeing you -- and hearing from you -- in Portland.

NOTICE: The Forest Service is committed to providing equal access to this meeting for all participants. For questions about accessibility or to request alternative formats or other reasonable accommodation, please email ForestServiceMtg@LSAResults.com or call 206.408.7129. Advance notice of two weeks (by March 22) will allow us to provide seamless access.
__________________
Randy Drake
Oregon State Director
Deschutes County 4 Wheeler
(Trails Development Committee)
Harney County High Desert Wheeler

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Last edited by high desert 4x4; Yesterday

[Grumpy]

BRC Nationwide Land Use Advisory - National Forest Planning Rule Collaborative Meetings AnnouncedMarch 26th, 2010

IMPORTANT LAND USE ADVISORY
USFS PLANNING RULE MEETINGS ANNOUNCED

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

Executive Summary:
Below is an update on the U.S. Forest Service revision of its rules and regulations for amending Forest Plans. The agency has said it is committed to a open collaborative approach, and has announced several national and regional meetings.

After reviewing the agendas for the meetings, BRC believes there is good reason for the recreating public to be concerned about the direction the agency is proceeding. We discuss these concerns below, as well as provide information and links to the meetings.

This issue is of sufficient importance that we hope you will take some time to review the information, but if you want to skip it, or leave it for later, and go straight to the action item click here.

As always, please call or email if you have any concerns or questions.
Brian Hawthorne
Public Lands Policy Director, BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102


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BRC NATIONAL LAND USE ADVISORY:
USFS PLANNING RULE MEETINGS ANNOUNCED

We're collaboratin' now!

The U.S. Forest Service (FS) is beginning the process of revising their regulations that govern how the agency prepares Forest Plans. Known as the "Planning Rule." These regulations will be the driving force behind how the agency develops, amends and revises their Land Use Plans. The FS has recently closed a formal comment period on a proposed action that includes several so-called "Principles" that will guide the new regulations.

The FS partnered with the US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution, and they have been working to develop a collaboration strategy for the ongoing development of the new planning rule. As part of that effort, Chief Tom Tidwell recently announced a series of events to provide additional opportunities for “public discussion.â€

[Grumpy]

A letter to the USFS from a concerned wheeler. Posted with permission:


April 6, 2010

United States Forest Service-Pacific Northwest Region

Attention: Forest Service Planning Rule

Dear Managers of our Public Lands,

We applaud the Forest Service’s attempts and efforts as they try to follow directives from Washington DC and incorporate management of our natural resources into these efforts. Collaboration in developing a new Planning Rule to manage 193 million acres of the public’s holdings will be a monumental task. Special interest groups are more often than not well funded, well armed and well prepared and therefore receive the most attention, a perfect example of “the squeaky wheel getting the most grease.â€

[Grumpy]

POCATELLO, ID (April —The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) expressed its concerns following the Science Forums the Forest Service held in Washington, DC last week. Heralding science and collaboration as underpinning the making of the new Forest Planning Rule, the agency held the two days of Science Forums stating that information presented at the conference would lay the foundation for upcoming National and Regional Roundtables scheduled for April and May.

Applauding the Forest Service efforts in facilitating both the Science Forums and the subsequent National and Regional Roundtables, the Coalition supports the open collaborative effort to gather information prior to writing the first draft of the new Forest Planning Rule.

"This represents a welcome approach to national rule making. On behalf of our members' recreational interests on public lands, we welcome the opportunity to take part in the national, regional and local meetings," said BlueRibbon Coalition Executive Director, Greg Mumm. "I believe this approach is a critical step toward building understanding of, and support for, the development of a lasting, efficient, and effective Forest Planning Rule."

At the same time, after attending both the National Science Forums and participating in the first National Roundtable in Washington, DC, Mumm did have concerns that some segments of science may be missing from the analysis. "I came away from the Science Forums feeling it was top-heavy with biological/ecological science and lacking data from the social/economic science side of the issue."

Mumm concluded, "In the end, this Planning Rule will have a dramatic affect on a great many communities across this country and I would encourage the Forest Service to broaden the science they are looking to 'underpin' the making of it with. 'Science' is a method of inquiry-not a static body of knowledge. Human communities are an undeniable part of the natural environment and more than just narrow perspectives on 'hard' science need to be part of this equation."

The BlueRibbon Coalition is encouraging its members and the general public to be engaged in this important process. More information and a summary of other input the BlueRibbon Coalition has offered to the Forest Service on the rulemaking process can be found on their website at:
http://www.sharetrails.org/public-lands ... nning_Rule


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[Grumpy]

This is an overview of the Forst Service planning rule process 1976-2009 - an idea as to where it all started and the reasoning for the development of a new National planning rule being addressed at the present time.

In 1976 , Congress enacted the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) to guide management of the National Forest System lands and ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. To accomplish this, the Act established a three-tiered approach to regulation and management of the National Forest, with tiers at the national, regional, and local levels.

In 1979, the Forest Service developed the first Forest Planning Rule; this initial rule was amended in 1982; and in 2000, the Forest Service once again amended the 1982 rule. The 2000 rule modified the earlier rule in several ways. The two most significant modifications included requirements for insuring species viability and the issuing of "regional guides" and standards and guildelines. The 2000 rule also replaced the post-decision appreal process with a pre-decision "objection" process. Under this new process, members of the public wishing to object to an LRMP amendment or revision have 30 days from the date an EIS is made available to do so.

The 2000 rule was legally challenged, and in 2002, the USDA proposed amending the 2000 rule because, in their words, "the 2000 rule [was] neither straightforward nor easy to implement" and "did not clarify the programmantic nature of land and resource management planning." The final verision of the 2002 rule was published in 2005.

This 2005 rule challenged on the grounds that the USDA had 1) violated the Administrative Procedure Act by promulgating the 2005 rule without providing notice of the changes and allowing the public to submit comments; 2) violated NEPA by applying the categorical exclusion and failing to prepare either an EA or an EIS; 3) violated the ESA by failing to engage in consultaions with other federal agencies. The court enjoined the USDA from putting the 2005 rule into effect until the agency complied with these statutes.

In 2007, the USDA re-published the 2005 rule along with a draft EIS, seeking public comment. The final version of the EIS and the rule was published in 2008. The 2008 rule was challenged on the grounds that, although the USDA attempted to comply with the statutes by publishing an EIS and a BA in connection with the 2008 Rule, the agency violated NEPA and the ESA because the EIS and BA simply repeated the agency's previous finding that the 2005 Rule would have no effect on the environment or protected species. On June 30, 2009, the United States District Court for the Northern District of california issued the decision that the adoption of the 2008 planning rule violated NEPA and EA, and the court enjoined the Forest Service from implementing and using the 2008 planning rule. The Court ruled that the agency could choose whether to reinstate the 2000 planning rule or the 1982 planning rule.

The USDA has determined that the 2000 planning rule will be in effect for the time being, including its transition provisions, as amended in 2002 and 2003, and as clarified by interpreative rules in 2001 and 2004, which allows the Forest Service to use the procedures of the 1982 planning rule to amend or revise plans.
In August 2009, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack called for the development of a new national planning rule; he charged the Forest Service with creating a new rule using a collaborative process; he also provided an opportunity to develop a new national rule that draws on the best elements of previous rulemaking efforts, while considering new scientific knowledge as well as the evolving values and priorities for forest and ecosystem management.

The Forest Service has designed a collaborative strategy for the rulemaking process through the following actions: National and Regional Roundtables; Interagency and Internal Working Groups; and through Tribal Outreach and Consultaion. ###

Thanks to the Forest Service for the overview information on the National Planning Rule process - it was obtained at the Regional Roundtable conducted in Portland on the 6th; it gives a better understanding as to why and where we are in the process and the importance of the scheduled public roundtable meetings here in the Pacific Northwest, the final draft isn't expected until winter of 2011.

A summary from the Portland Roundtable Meeting is forthcoming from my office. ###

Arlene Brooks, WA. State Director (pnw4wda -c)

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[Grumpy]

The Forest Service has scheduled in April a series of national and regional roundtable (public) meetings across the United States. These sessions would facilitate participation (reconnecting with the stakeholders) and intergrate public input into a rule making process.

The Pacific NW Region 6 Regional roundtable meeting was held on April 6th in Portland Oregon; there were three repeated sessions available - (9:00 am - 1:00 and 6:00 pm) with a plenary presentation followed by facilitated roundtable discussions. Specific tables were available that identified substantive key principle themes - i.e. climate change, wildlife habitat, watershed health, social and economic impacts, and recreation to name a few. It was stated during the plenary presentation the agency had not addressed recreation earlier, however did plan to include it at today's meeting and found it a popular principle theme during the discussion period.

At the 1:00 o'clock session found a diverse group representing recreation; horesemen, motorcycle, waterways (kayaker), hiker, ATV, and four wheel drive stakeholders. The PNW4WDA had six representatives throughout the day; Randy and Mona Drake and Bob and Arlene Brooks at the 1:00 session with Don and Carol Jensen attending the one at 6:00 pm.

The following are some recreation points that were discussed: ) It needs to be recognized that motorized recreation demand is exceeding recreation opportunities; ) Forest Service should use an all lands approach - i.e. analyzing recreation opportunities on federal - state and private adjacent lands; ) the Rule should state that recreational use be addressed as a core value of the Forest Service planning process; ) there were concerns the Forest Service under valuates recreation, some stakeholders felt that it could be helpful to have an inventory analysis done of recreational opportunities nationally; ) economic benefits of recreation are not being considered; ) and trails and roads often disappear without notice - are not replaced - stakeholders want to ensure that there is a "no net loss."

During the other two (9:00 and 6:00) sessions - draft notes reflected the following - ) volunteer groups are an essential and important part of recreation; ) there are many differnt types of recreation and it is important that all are included; ) direct planners at all levels to consider recreational access by land, water, and air to national forest service lands by motorized and non- motorized users during all seasons; and ) redefine the terms and conditions of "recreation" and "recreational use."

The above discussion and comments on the Plan content are in DRAFT FORM ONLY and a short summary from the three hour session - final Planning Rule is not scheduled for release until winter 2011. ###

Arlene Brooks, WA State Director (pnw4wda -c)

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Last edited by Arlene Brooks; Today at 06:01 PM.

[Grumpy]

Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 6:54 AM

Subject: Forest Service Releases Draft Framework As It Works on New Forest Planning Rule



Daily Report for Executives: 07/13/2010

Forest Service Releases Draft Framework As It Works on New Forest Planning Rule

The U.S. Forest Service released a draft framework July 12 for a new forest planning rule that stresses adaptive management.

The service issued the draft to cover both forest planning and land management planning in federal forests and grasslands. Describing the tentative plan as “the overall framework that we are considering,â€

[Sveta]

I think, we definitely need to visit the blog and post our opinions there.

Forests should be for everybody's use and enjoyment and not just for conservation. Responsibility-that what counts.

http://blogs.usda.gov/usdablogs/plan...rule_framework.

[Grumpy]

Sorry, you are looking for something that isn't there.



Okay, now I need to figure this out!!!

[Grumpy]

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