Posted by Jane Clark
From:
Landscope: News and Views from American Lands
October 31, 2001

Forest Service Proposes to Reduce Public Participation in Forest
Management

On September 20, 2001, the Forest Service proposed to reduce public
participation in decisions affecting National Forests.  The proposal
will allow the Forest Service to increase the use of Categorical
Exclusions (a method of avoiding conducting environmental analysis) and
will eliminate the public's opportunity to comment on and file
administrative appeals of many Forest Service projects.

Forest Service regulations currently prohibit the use of a Categorical
Exclusion whenever extraordinary circumstances, such as roadless areas,
threatened and endangered species habitat, and Research Natural Areas,
are present.  The Forest Service proposes to eliminate this restriction,
enabling them to allow off road vehicles in roadless areas and timber
sales in endangered species habitat without public comments or appeals.
Get more information, a sample letter and send a free fax at
http://www.heartwood.org/CE.html.

Written comments to the Forest Service must be received by November 19,
2001 and sent to: Director, Lands Staff, 4th Floor-South, Mail Stop
1104, Sidney R. Yates Federal Building, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box
96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.  To send electronic mail
to:[log in to unmask]  For more information contact Joshua Martin at
812-233-5456, mailto:[log in to unmask]

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