🌲Proposed Rule Changes for Roadless Areas Impacting Local Businesses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is initiating an environmental impact statement (EIS) and rulemaking concerning management of inventoried roadless areas on approximately 44.7 million acres of National Forest System lands, including in Alaska. The proposed rule would rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (2001 Roadless Rule) (66 FR 3244, 36 CFR Subpart B (2001)), which prohibits road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas, with limited exceptions. State-specific roadless rules for Idaho and Colorado at 36 CFR 294 Subparts C and D will be retained and are excluded from this notice. Rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule is intended to return decision making for road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas to local officials, in conjunction with Forest-level land management planning. As directed by Executive Order 14153: Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, the proposed rule will expressly exclude the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule. The EIS will evaluate the impacts of the proposed rule rescission and study alternatives for roadless area conservation on National Forest System lands, including the Tongass National Forest, in the context of multiple use resource management. USDA invites written comments on alternatives or effects and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposal.
Learn More🌳National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council Meeting Notice
The National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (Council) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The committee is authorized under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, Section 9 (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the committee is to develop a national urban and community forestry ten-year action plan in accordance with Section (9)(g)(3)(A-F) of the Act, evaluate and report annually on the implementation of that plan to the Secretary, and develop criteria for and submit recommendations to the Forest Service's National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-share Grant Program as required by Section (9)(f)(1-2) of the Act.
Learn More🌲Notice of West Virginia Resource Advisory Committee Meeting
The West Virginia Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act as well as make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Monongahela National Forest within Greenbrier, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, and Webster Counties, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
Learn More🌲Final Recreational Shooting Order in Colorado National Forests
The Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), U.S. Department of Agriculture, is issuing a final permanent order prohibiting recreational shooting, which covers approximately 94,900 acres in southern Clear Creek, northern Larimer and Grand Counties, Colorado, in the Clear Creek, Canyon Lakes, and Sulphur Ranger Districts of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland.
Learn More🌴USDA Notice
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the renewal of a currently approved information collection, Post-Hurricane Research and Assessment of Agriculture and Forestry Systems in the U.S. Caribbean (OMB #0596-0246).
Learn More🌲Overview of Forest Products Removal Permits and Contracts
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension, with no revision, of information collection 0596-0085, Forest Products Removal Permits and Contracts.
Learn More🌲USDA Proposes Revision of Forest Land Management Plans in Oregon & Washington
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is revising the land management plans for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests (together known as the Blue Mountains National Forests) and preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) consistent with the agency's National Forest System Land Management Planning regulations (36 CFR 219) and USDA National Environmental Policy Act regulations (7 CFR 1b.7). This notice announces the Forest Service's intent to prepare an EIS and initiate public involvement on the proposed action and request comments on the Preliminary Need to Change, Preliminary Draft Proposed Land Management Plan, the Evaluation of Wilderness Characteristics of Lands included in the inventory, and the list of Preliminary Species of Conservation Concern. This notice describes the documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the need for change to the existing land management plans; provides information concerning public participation and collaboration, including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated schedule for the planning process, including the time available to submit comments; and explains how to obtain additional information. The Planning, Administrative Reviews, and Litigation System identification number for the project is 64157.
Learn More🌲Helena-Lewis and Clark RAC Meeting for Project Proposals and Funding
The Helena-Lewis and Clark Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a public meeting according to the details shown below. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act as well as make recommendations on recreation fee proposals for sites on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest within the counties of Broadwater, Meagher, Teton, Lewis and Clark, and Judith Basin, consistent with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
Learn More🌲Timber Sale Contract Operations and Regulatory Compliance
The Department of Agriculture has submitted information collection requirements regarding timber sale contracts to the OMB for review. This includes the need for businesses to provide essential information for contract administration, ensuring compliance with various regulations affecting forestry operations. Comments from the public are encouraged to enhance the collection process.
Learn More🌲Request for Comments on Community Forest Conservation Program
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the renewal of a currently approved information collection, 0596-0227 Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program.
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