USDA Forest Service Seeks Comments on...Forest Conservation Activities

USDA ^ | June 12, 2012 | Staff

[Twotone]

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a proposed rule to streamline and shorten categories of environmental review for certain restoration projects on National Forests. The proposed rule will allow the Forest Service to more efficiently implement projects related to improving water flow and the restoration of land and habitat.

"We are gaining efficiencies that allow us to move more rapidly through the environmental review process while reducing the cost to the taxpayers of unnecessary documentation," said Harris Sherman, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. "These projects are really a win-win for the environment and the public and will result in positive environmental outcomes."

[Twotone]

Title abbreviated due to length: USDA Forest Service Seeks Comments on Efforts to Improve Efficiency of Forest Conservation Activities

The comment period is 60 days, closing August 13th. They want to shorten the period for review of restoration projects (like removing dams and removing roads). Attention all FReepers: get your comments in!

[Twotone]

I think this is one to ping to the Agenda 21 list...

[DManA]

Here’s my comment: you can keep Federal office buildings, Army bases, and national parks. Everything else turn back to the states. And disband the Forest Service.

[Dogbert41]

When we start treating trees like crops again, maybe our forests will stop burning up.

[mountainlion]

The Serria Club/forest service left conspired to release billions of pine beetles to kill million acres of trees. They reintroduced wolves in Yellowstone area to decimate the Elk. what are they going to do to us next?

[Twotone]

We have a new group here in Oregon: Give Us Our Land Back (giveusourlandback.org). They are starting a petition to force the Feds to release lands back to the counties. Every state needs to have a group like this working to force the release of federal lands.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind the Feds offering to sell them back to the states at a set rate, & then offering them up at public auction (if the states won’t buy) & using the income to pay down the debt. But we really do need to get them to release the land, in whatever way, & then there are a slew of Fed agencies that can bite the dust!