Policies and Authorities

The Forest Service Tribal Relations Program is directed by a number of policies, executive orders, and statutes.

Policies

U.S. Forest Service

• Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1500 - External Relations
• Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1509.13 - American Indian and Alaska Native Relations Handbook

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Departmental Regulation 1350-001, September 11, 2008 (PDF, 39 KB)
• Departmental Regulation 1340-007, March 14, 2008 (PDF, 597 KB)

Topic-Specific Policies

Tribal Forest Protection Act

• FSH 2409.19 - Renewable Resources Handbook, Chapter 60 - Stewardship Contracting, Amendment No. 2409.19-2008-7 (.doc, 86 KB)
• USDA Forest Service Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) Briefing Paper (PDF, 75 KB)
• Tribal Forest Protection Act Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 15 KB)

The Farm Bill

• Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-234, "The Farm Bill")
• Section 8003 (Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program) (PDF, 17 KB)
• Sections 8101 to 8107 (Subtitle B - Cultural and Heritage Cooperation Authority) (PDF, 28 KB)
• Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1500, External Relations, Chapter 1560, State, Tribal, County, and Local Agencies; Public and Private Organizations; Interim Directive No. 1560-2010-1 (.doc, 102 KB) - interim directive for implementing Sections 8103 and 8106 of the “2008 Farm Bill” regarding reburial sites on National Forest System land, reburial, and prohibition on disclosure.
• United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service 36 CFR Part 261, Prohibitions in Areas Designated by Order; Closure of National Forest System Lands To Protect Privacy of Tribal Activities - final rule implementing Sections 8102 and 8104 of the “2008 Farm Bill”.
• Forest Service Handbook (FSH), FSH 2409.18 - Timber Sale Preparation Handbook, Chapter 80 - Uses of Timber Other than Commercial Timber Sales, Special Forest Products - Forest Botanical Products, Interim Directive No. 2409.18-2011-1 (.doc, 77 KB) - interim directive for granting trees, portions of trees, or forest products to federally recognized Indian Tribes free of charge for non-commercial traditional and cultural purposes per Section 8105 of the “2008 Farm Bill”.

Ecological Restoration

• Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2000, National Forest Resource Management, Chapter 2020 - Ecological Restoration and Resilience, Interim Directive No. 2020-2011-1 (.doc, 114 KB) - interim directive for using ecological restoration to sustainably manage National Forest System lands.
• Consultation Documentation Form: PDF Format, 12 KB; Microsoft Word format, 28 KB
• Questions and Answers (PDF, 36 KB)

Direction Not Available Yet

• National Forest Planning Rule
• Roadless Rule

Authorities

Executive Orders

• Executive Order 13007 “Indian Sacred Sites” (PDF, 46 KB)
• Executive Order 13175 “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments” (PDF, 142 KB)
• Executive Memo, April 29, 1994 “Government-to-Government Relationship” (PDF, 55 KB)
• Executive Memo, September 23, 2004 “Government-to-Government Relationship” (PDF, 126 KB)

Statutes

• Farm Bill: Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-234) (PDF, 17 KB)
• Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-278, July 22, 2004) (PDF, 32 KB)
• Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) (Section 303 of Public Law 108-148, December 3, 2003) (PDF, 99 KB)
• National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (NIFRMA) (Public Law 101-630, November 28, 1990) (PDF, 59 KB)
• American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) (Public Law 103-344, October 6, 1994) (PDF, 21 KB)
• Archaeological Resources Protection Act (Public Law 96-95, October 31, 1979) (PDF, 242 KB)
• Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) (Public Law 101-601, November 16, 1990) (PDF, 190 KB)