Southern Appalachian Forest Plan
by Kate Smolski, Regional Conservation Organizer
Sierra Club Nation Forest Campaign Action Alert and Update:
- The Bush Administration Proposed National Forest Regulations: Comment Deadline April 7th.
- THE FOREST SERVICE NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU! The National Forest Management Plans have been released for the Southern Appalachian National Forests: We have 90 short days to have our voices heard. Public Hearing Dates and Locations Below!
- Sierra Club National Forest Campaign 'On the Road Rallies': Many Thanks!
1. Bush Administration Proposed National Forest Regulations: Send in Your Personal Comments by April 7th!
The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976 requires the US Forest Service to develop a management plan for each National Forest or administrative unit. The regulations (or rule) that implements this law are key in detailing the requirements that the agency must follow in developing the plan. As part of its barrage of damaging proposals the Bush administration has announced changes to the NFMA rules. The draft proposal would greatly reduce the amount of environmental analysis, wildlife protection, and public involvement currently required in the development and revision of forest management plans and the management of our National Forests.
The current regulations, first implemented early in the Reagan administration, were revised and updated in 2000 after significant scientific and public input. But after complaints from the timber industry, the Bush administration put the revised safeguards on the chopping block. Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey, a former lobbyist for the American Forest and Paper Association, has led the charge. Unremarkably, today's NFMA changes mirror the timber industry "wish list" from the American Forest and Paper Association's 2001 congressional testimony.
The Bush administration's proposed NFMA rules would:
- ** Effectively exempt the plan revisions from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA.) By not requiring a full environmental impact analysis of the revised plan, this one step would give agency managers total discretion on when and how much they wanted to involve the public and how they would weigh public input.
- ** Eliminate the requirement to maintain viable populations of native wildlife species. This current requirement is one of the most important legal safeguards of National Forest wildlife habitat.
- ** Eliminates requirements in the 2000 regulations to evaluate and protect wild roadless forests.
- ** Increase the likelihood of harmful logging projects based on "multiple use values." This would allow commercial logging under the guise of "wildlife habitat improvement," or "fuel reduction," among other reasons.
- ** Reduces overall environmental standards and accountability by allowing management plans to be revised to accommodate individual projects and opens loopholes for "adaptable management."
- ** Drastically limit public involvement and allow no opportunity to request administrative review or an appeal of the final plan.
YOU CAN HELP! Send official comments to the Forest Service and a copy of your comments to your Congressional representatives. Comments should be sent by April 7!
Please raise the above points in your comments and use the sample
latter below. Your Comments should by sent to:
USDA FS Planning Rule
Content Analysis Team
P.O. Box 8359
Missoula, MT 59807
via email:
planning_rule@fs.fed.us
fax (406) 329-3556
SAMPLE
LETTER
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Dear Forest Service:
Many Americans relish their trips to any of America's 155 National Forests today, thanks in large part to forest protection measures that have been in place for decades. But if the Bush administration and its timber industry allies get their way, the public's forests will be managed to maximize commercial logging profits with little consideration of harm to fish and wildlife, clean water and recreation.
I oppose the Bush Administration's Proposed Changes to National Forest Management (NFMA) regulations. These proposed regulations would weaken environmental and wildlife safeguards, harm wild forests and clean water, drastically limit public involvement, increase damaging commercial logging projects and reduce agency accountability. Please completely withdraw these harmful proposed NFMA regulations.
Our National Forests belong to all Americans, not just those who wield chainsaws and donate money to political campaigns. Instead of undermining current National Forest and wildlife protections, the Bush Administration and the Forest Service should be working to protect our wild roadless forests, stop damaging commercial logging and logging road construction and restore our National Forests. Please count this as my official comment on these proposed regulations.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
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2. Have your Voice Heard! Attend a Public Hearing on the Forest Management Plans.
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests – Location and Dates:
- Tuesday, April 8th, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Location: Young Harris College, Wilson Lecture Hall
- Thursday, April 10th, 5:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. Location: North West Georgia Trade and Convention Center, Dalton
- Saturday, April 19th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Location: Gainesville College, Oakwood, Adult Learning Center
- Wednesday, April 23rd, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Location: Rock Eagle 4H Center, "Bankers Building", near Eatonton
Description: These meetings will begin with a short presentation about the Draft Land Management Plan followed by an opportunity for questions about the draft documents in break-out rooms where Forest Service Planners can address specific issues.
Sumter National Forest – Location and Dates:
- Tuesday, April 8th, 3:30 pm to 8 pm Location: Ramada Inn, US Highway 76 and 126, Clemson, SC
- Thursday, April 10th, 3:30 pm to 8 pm Location: Clemson Extension Service Meeting Facility, 120 Kirby Street, Union, SC
- Monday, April 28th, 3:30 pm to 8 pm Location: Savannah Lakes Resort and Marina, McCormick, SC
- Tuesday, April 29th, 3:30 pm to 8 pm Location: Forest Headquarters, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC
Description: The Sumter National Forest meetings will all be in an open house format for participants to learn more about the Draft Plan and speak with the USFS.
3. The Sierra Club National Forest Campaign 'On the Road Rallies' at the Forest Service offices were a big success!
A special thanks to all the staff, volunteers and coalition partners that made them possible. Pictures from the rallies will be up on local chapter pages soon! Learn more about how you can get involved in the Sierra Club's campaign protect our public lands.
Contact: Kate Smolski: kate.smolski@sierraclub.org 404-607-1262 X222 Visit the Sierra Club Web site: www.sierraclub.org/logging
Last updated: 21 Mar 03