Outdoor Alliance Speaks Out Against New Forest Planning Rule
Posted on: Tuesday, 22 April 2008, 18:00 CDT
WASHINGTON, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday the US Forest Service introduced its new National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule that will govern the creation and revision of forest plans. Forest plans dictate the types of activities that individual National Forests will allow and support for 15-year periods.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080115/NETU092LOGO )
The Outdoor Alliance, a national coalition representing the interests of America's climbers, hikers, paddlers, mountain bikers and backcountry skiers, does not support this new planning rule. The rule dodges the informed decision-making required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), particularly with regard to forest planning decisions being grounded in sound science, and also places too much discretion with local Forest Service officials. Of critical concern, the new rule also denies the public an opportunity for meaningful participation or appeal.
The Outdoor Alliance weighed-in during the comment period for the rule in October 2007 and also testified before Congress in June 2007 regarding the importance of robust and informed public involvement in the forest planning process. The new rule is less protective of the places and experiences that the human-powered community cherishes, and greatly attenuates public involvement in what should be an informed and thoughtful public process.
For the many people who hike, bike, boat, climb, ski, and snowshoe in National Forests, rigorous and open forest planning is of vital concern. The Outdoor Alliance believes that forest plans do trigger very real impacts on the landscape and that the public should be allowed to analyze and comment on these plans. We believe that forest plans should go through full review under NEPA, and be based on sound scientific information. Outdoor Alliance will continue seeking responsible forest planning.
Outdoor Alliance is a coalition of Access Fund, American Canoe Association, American Hiking Society, American Whitewater, International Mountain Bicycling Association and Winter Wildlands Alliance, six national member-based outdoor organizations focused on conservation and stewardship of public lands and waters through sustainable, human-powered outdoor recreation.
Outdoor Alliance
CONTACT: Kevin Colburn of Outdoor Alliance, +1-828-712-4825,kevin@amwhitewater.org
Web site: http://outdooralliance.net/
Source: PRNewswire
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