The Forest Planning Rule

Planning Rule Overview

The USDA Forest Service began in 2010 an open, collaborative process to create and implement a modern planning rule to address current and future needs of the 155 national forests and 20 grasslands in the National Forest System. The Planning Rule provides the overall framework for individual forests and grasslands to use in developing, amending and revising land management plans.

A new planning rule must be responsive to the challenges of restoring forests, protecting watersheds, addressing climate change, sustaining local economies, improving collaboration and working across landscapes. The rule must meet the requirements of the National Forest Management Act of 1976. The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to develop the new planning rule.

"Our National Forests and Grasslands are great natural treasures that we must conserve and restore for the benefit of future generations," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Developing a new planning rule provides the opportunity to manage national forests and grasslands for the benefit of water resources, the climate and local communities."

Input Needed for the Proposed Planning Rule

The Forest Service is using Public Forums to increase public understanding of the proposed planning rule and provide an opportunity to ask questions and dialogue with other stakeholders. Information on the proposed planning rule and draft environmental impact statement will be presented.

While the public forums will assist attendees in better understanding the proposed rule and in making more informed comments on the proposed rule, we will not be taking public comments on the proposed rule at the forums. Nor will the agency be recording the forums for inclusion in the rulemaking record. As with any rulemaking, attendees wishing to provide comments for the record will need to submit them in writing. This will insure clarity in defining the public comment record and allow interested parties to view the record of public comments in the manner customarily provided in notice and comment rulemaking.

For additional information on the Proposed Planning Rule, visit the Forest Service National website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule

Public Comments

The proposed planning rule was published in the February 14, 2011, Federal Register, kicking off a 90 day public comment period ending on May 16, 2011. To be considered, written comments need to be submitted electronically at http://www.govcomments.com/ or http://www.regulations.gov, or sent in hard copy to Forest Service Planning DEIS, C/O Bear West Company, 132 E 500 S, Bountiful, UT 84010, or sent via FAX to 801-397-1605. Please identify your written comments by including "planning rule" on the cover sheet or the first page. Comments are available for public inspection at http://contentanalysisgroup.com/fsrd/.

2010 Roundtable Outcomes

Summary report of the perspectives shared at the meeting that identify key themes of public opinion on the planning rule, including major areas of additional consideration, agreement, and disagreement. The rule writing and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) team will receive the report to sharpen the issues and in developing alternatives for consideration. The input will also be used to help shape the design for the third and final National Roundtable.

Visit www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule to participate in our web-based planning rule blog and to learn more.