http://www.fs.fed.us/ National news from the U.S. Forest Service en-us http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/12/monahan.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/12/monahan.shtml USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today the appointment of Ruth Monahan as acting Regional Forester for the Alaska Region. Press Office 2009-12-29 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the USDA Forest Service is beginning an open, collaborative process to create and implement a modern planning rule to address current and future needs of the National Forest System, including restoring forests, protecting watersheds, addressing climate change, sustaining local economies, improving collaboration, and working across landscapes. Press Office 2009-12-17 http://www.fs.fed.us/index.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/index.shtml U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today that the Forest Service is inviting comments on a proposed new policy for the acceptance of Interagency Passes at concession-operated campgrounds and day use recreation sites on National Forests and Grasslands. Press Office 2009-12-04 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of $900,000 in Federal Urban and Community Forestry cost-share grants to ten organizations funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. Press Office 2009-10-28 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/09/station-fire.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/09/station-fire.shtml U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell announced today the agency's decision to initiate an interagency review of the suppression efforts of the Station Fire on the Angeles National Forest in the Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest Service in southern California. Press Office 2009-09-30 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/09/public-lands-day.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/09/public-lands-day.shtml The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service will join the public and roll up their sleeves for the largest hands-on nationwide volunteer effort to improve America's public lands. Press Office 2009-09-26 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for forest health protection projects. Press Office 2009-09-09 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/09/weldon.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/09/weldon.shtml U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell announced the appointment of Leslie Weldon as Regional Forester of the Northern Region of the Forest Service. Press Office 2009-09-09 In his first major speech regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, Vilsack set forth a new direction for conservation, management, and restoration of these natural treasures. Press Office 2009-08-14 The celebration featured a bilingual reading of the Smokey Bear Story to local pre-school children. Press Office 2009-08-10 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that Tom Tidwell will serve as the new Chief for the U.S. Forest Service. Press Office 2009-06-17 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/06/outdoors.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/06/outdoors.shtml In an effort to reconnect kids with nature and attract new diverse communities to outdoor activities, the USDA Forest Service has partnered with state, local and federal land management agencies to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day ('GO Day') on June 13. Press Office 2009-06-12 Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for Wood-To-Energy and biomass utilization. Press Office 2009-06-11 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for roads maintenance and decommissioning and associated watershed restoration. Press Office 2009-06-02 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/05/conserve.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/05/conserve.shtml Since 1990, The Forest Legacy Program has worked with States and Partners to Conserve Almost 1.8 Million Acres of Open Space. Press Office 2009-05-18 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for invasive species projects. In total, there are 19 projects, funded at over $38 million, in 14 states. Press Office 2009-05-14 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $224 million today for 110 hazardous fuels reduction and ecosystem improvement projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Press Office 2009-05-05 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced USDA will be delivering its first actions implementing the $28 billion provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Press Office 2009-03-19 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/01/srs.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/01/srs.shtml Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer today announced that the Forest Service is distributing more than $477 million to 41 states and Puerto Rico for improvements to public schools, roads and stewardship projects. Press Office 2009-01-15 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/01/energy.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/01/energy.shtml USDA Undersecretary Mark Rey has signed a Record of Decision (ROD) amending 38 National Forest Land Management Plans to identify locations of corridors suitable for future energy transmission infrastructure across Forest Service land. Press Office 2009-01-14 http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/01/exec_lead_change.pdf http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2009/releases/01/exec_lead_change.pdf Hank Kashdan has been named associate chief for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Chief Abigail Kimbell announced today. Kashdan, who had been serving as deputy chief for business operations, will be the Forest Service's highest ranking executive after Kimbell. Press Office 2009-01-07