http://www.fs.fed.us/ National news from the U.S. Forest Service en-us WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that more than $385 million in Forest Service revenue will be distributed to 41 states and Puerto Rico for improvements to public schools, roads and stewardship projects. Press Office 2006-12-28 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/12/scientists.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/12/scientists.shtml WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2006-Two U.S. Forest Service scientists, Drs. Julie Sloan Denslow and Barbara Illman, have been elected by their peers as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The fellowships recognize scientists whose "efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished." Press Office 2006-12-27 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/12/ce-statement.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/12/ce-statement.shtml WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2006-The Forest Service has completed environmental review of the new process for developing and updating land management plans under regulations published last year. The environmental review has documented that writing management plans has no effect on the environment, which qualifies the individual plans of each National Forest for categorical exclusion from individual study under the National Environmental Policy Act. Further specific environmental study will be focused on each project that carries out the plan. This completes the final step in the overall revision of the Forest Service's planning process, which began in 2001. Press Office 2006-12-12 WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is joining with the Department of the Interior, the Western Governor's Association and the National Association of counties in reestablishing their commitment to enhance the health of forests, grasslands and prairies and protect communities from wildland fires. Press Office 2006-12-07 http://www.doi.gov/news/06_News_Releases/061205.html http://www.doi.gov/news/06_News_Releases/061205.html WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2006-Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett and Under Secretary of Agriculture Mark Rey today announced a new interagency recreation pass that will benefit visitors to national public lands. The new pass, authorized by the Congress in 2004, combines the benefits of existing recreation passes from five federal agencies into one comprehensive pass, the "America the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass." Press Office 2006-12-06 ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, Nov. 1, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that the Forest Service is undertaking the most significant change to its business practices since its founding in 1905 by centralizing many of its business operations, including human capital management, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Press Office 2006-11-01 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/09/public-lands-day.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/09/public-lands-day.shtml WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service invites the public to roll up their sleeves and join the largest, annual coast-to-coast, day-long volunteer restoration activity on America's public lands in recognition of National Public Lands Day (NPLD). Press Office 2006-09-28 WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2006-The U. S. Departments of Agriculture and the Interior today announced the establishment of a new public advisory committee structure to provide recommendations concerning recreation fee proposals for public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Press Office 2006-09-22 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/09/northern-research.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/09/northern-research.shtml WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2006-U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today announced the creation of the Northern Research Station located in Newtown Square, Penn. Press Office 2006-09-22 DENVER, Sept. 5, 2006-U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Mark Rey, U. S. Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett and Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth joined Regional Forester Rick Cables and Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Russell George for an aerial tour of the beetle invested areas of Grand and Summit counties and a media briefing in the State Capitol's Legislative Services Building today. Press Office 2006-09-05 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/08/open-space.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/08/open-space.shtml WASHINGTON, August 24, 2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service today announced a new publication which highlights the importance of open space, explores how growth trends in rural America are changing our forests, and offers ideas for balancing growth and conservation. Press Office 2006-08-24 WASHINGTON, August 16, 2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service will convene the third meeting of the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee on August 30-31, 2006. The purpose of the meeting is to provide advice and recommendations to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on implementing the State Petitions for Inventoried Roadless Area Management Rule. Press Office 2006-08-16 WASHINGTON, July 5, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the selection of six members to USDA's National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). There are four new members and two are reappointed. Their terms begin immediately. Press Office 2006-07-05 WASHINGTON, June 28, 2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service today announced $200,000 in financial assistance to the state of Arizona for developing a petition to the Secretary of Agriculture regarding the management of inventoried roadless areas in the state. Press Office 2006-06-28 WASHINGTON, June 21, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today approved petitions from North Carolina Governor Mike Easley, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to develop state-specific rules for managing roadless areas in the three states. Press Office 2006-06-21 WASHINGTON, June 16, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced National Grasslands Week, June 18-24, to spotlight the beauty and historical importance of the 20 national grasslands in 12 western states managed by the USDA Forest Service. Heidi Valetkevitch 2006-06-19 http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/releases/pages/2006/pr060609_energy.htm http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/releases/pages/2006/pr060609_energy.htm The four Federal agencies preparing to designate energy corridors on Federal lands in 11 Western States for electricity transmission and oil, natural gas and hydrogen pipelines today released a map showing preliminary corridors. The informational map was developed using comments received during a public scoping period in the Fall of 2005, and offers an update on progress in the identification of potential corridors and an opportunity for public comment on work to-date. Press Office 2006-06-09 WASHINGTON, May 23, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today awarded more than $790,000 in federal cost-share grants to 12 organizations for use with urban and community forestry projects nationwide. Heidi Valetkevitch 2006-05-23 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/05/conservation.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/05/conservation.shtml WASHINGTON, May 16, 2006-U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service today launched its new and improved Junior Forest Ranger (JFR) program by enrolling nearly 100 fifth-grade students from Denver's Ellis Elementary School into the conservation education program. Press Office 2006-05-16 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/05/recreation.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/05/recreation.shtml WASHINGTON, May 2, 2006-USDA Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today announced Jim Bedwell as the national director of recreation and heritage resources. Press Office 2006-05-02 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/05/wilderness.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/05/wilderness.shtml WASHINGTON, May 1, 2006-USDA Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today named Christopher Brown as the national director of the Forest Service's wilderness and wild and scenic rivers program. Press Office 2006-05-01 WASHINGTON, April 27, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that the USDA Forest Service is awarding more than $1 million in 19 matching grants to spur innovation and research of hardwood forest products and to encourage the use of a wider variety of forest resources. Heidi Valetkevitch 2006-04-27 MISSOULA, Montana, Apr. 24, 2006-Agriculture Under Secretary Thomas Dorr today announced nearly $4.2 million in grants to 18 small enterprises to develop innovative uses for woody biomass in national forests as sources of renewable energy and new products. Heidi Valetkevitch 2006-04-24 WASHINGTON, Mar. 29, 2006-Agriculture Under Secretary Mark Rey today announced that the public will have another month to comment on a list of forest lands that would be available for sale in a proposal to provide funding to extend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 fSRSg. Press Office 2006-03-29 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/03/recreation-residences.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/03/recreation-residences.shtml WASHINGTON, Mar. 23, 2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service today announced new regulations that will provide a more consistent and balanced approach for managing the 14,500 recreation residences in national forests. Press Office 2006-03-23 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/srs-federal-register.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/srs-federal-register.shtml WASHINGTON, Feb. 28, 2006-U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service today announced the start of a public comment period on a list of forest lands that would be available for sale as a proposal to provide funding to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (SRS) Press Office 2006-02-28 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/special-use.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/special-use.shtml WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service today announced a new rule governing fees for new and existing special use permits on national forests and grasslands-to bring the program more in line with good business practices and provide a higher level of customer service to applicants and permit holders. Press Office 2006-02-21 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/eav-reaves.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/eav-reaves.shtml WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 2006-USDA Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth today announced Dr. Bov Eav as the director of the Pacific Northwest Research Station ( Portland , Ore. ) and Dr. Jim Reaves as associate deputy chief of research and development for the national headquarters. Press Office 2006-02-09 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/grazing-fee.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/02/grazing-fee.shtml WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2006-The Federal grazing fee for Western public lands managed by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management will be $1.56 per animal unit month (AUM) in 2006, down from $1.79 in 2005. Press Office 2006-02-02 WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today marked the designation of the first tropical wilderness in the Western Hemisphere, the El Toro Wilderness, part of the Caribbean National Forest in Puerto Rico. Dan Jiron 2006-01-19 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/01/service-contracts.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2006/releases/01/service-contracts.shtml WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2006-U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service today announced new language to its service contracts that explicitly requires contractors to provide their employees with safety clothing and equipment. Press Office 2006-01-05