Release No. = 0620.09

=20

Contact:

Forest Service Press = Office (202)=20 205-1134

USDA FOREST=20 SERVICE LAUNCHES COLLABORATIVE PROCESS = FOR NEW=20 PLANNING RULE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2009-Agriculture = Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced = that the=20 USDA Forest Service is beginning an = open,=20 collaborative process to create and = implement a=20 modern planning rule to address current = and=20 future needs of the National Forest = System,=20 including restoring forests, protecting=20 watersheds, addressing climate change,=20 sustaining local economies, improving=20 collaboration, and working across = landscapes.=20 The Forest Service will publish a notice = of=20 intent (NOI) in the Federal Register = tomorrow,=20 December 18, to prepare an environmental = impact=20 statement (EIS) to develop a new = planning rule=20 that will provide a framework for = management of=20 national forests and grasslands.

"Our National Forests and Grasslands = are=20 great natural treasures that we must = conserve=20 and restore for the benefit of future=20 generations," said Secretary Vilsack.=20 "Developing a new planning rule provides = the=20 opportunity to manage national forests = and=20 grasslands for the benefit of water = resources,=20 the climate and local communities."

The Forest Service is seeking public=20 involvement in developing a new = direction for=20 local land managers. A 60-day comment = period on=20 the NOI will begin upon publication in = the=20 Federal Register on Friday, December 18, = 2009.=20 Comments will be used to shape the focus = of the=20 collaborative dialogue and creation of a = proposed rule.

To begin the conversation, the Forest = Service=20 has included in the NOI a set of = potential=20 principles that could guide development = of a new=20 planning rule. The potential principles = include=20 an emphasis on restoration, = conservation, and=20 the improved resilience of ecosystems; = watershed=20 health; climate change response; species = diversity and wildlife habitat; = sustainable=20 National Forest System lands; proactive=20 collaboration; and working across = landscapes.=20

The Forest Service will use = state-of-the-art=20 new media tools in conjunction with = face-to-face=20 interaction to facilitate wide public=20 participation throughout the nation. = Please=20 visit www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule to=20 participate in our web-based planning = rule blog,=20 and to learn more.

The 2000 planning rule, which allows = the=20 Forest Service to use provisions of the = 1982=20 planning rule, is currently the rule = that is=20 legally in effect. As an interim = measure, the=20 Department will republish in the Federal = Register the 2000 planning rule as = amended in=20 order to make it available to the public = in the=20 Code of Federal Regulations. This action = will=20 facilitate its use by forests and = grasslands in=20 the National Forest System to revise and = amend=20 plans while a new rule is being = developed.

The mission of the USDA Forest = Service is to=20 sustain the health, diversity, and = productivity=20 of the nation's forests and grasslands = to meet=20 the needs of present and future = generations. The=20 agency manages the 193 million acres of = National=20 Forest System land, provides stewardship = assistance to non-federal forest = landowners, and=20 maintains the largest forestry research=20 organization in the world.

USDA is an equal opportunity = provider,=20 employer and lender. To file a complaint = of=20 discrimination, write: USDA, Director, = Office of=20 Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, = SW,=20 Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) = 795-3272=20 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). =