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] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]