USDA FOREST SERVICE NEWS RELEASE

Release No. FS-0525

Contact: Press Office, (202) 205-1134

FOREST SERVICE RELEASES ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTION FOR NEW PLANNING RULE
Instructions will guide forest and grassland managers in carrying out new
rule

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2005-The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest
Service today issued the proposed administrative policy for implementing
its new planning regulation, which governs the 155 national forests and 20
grasslands. The public will have 90 days to comment on the policy.

The interim "National Forest System Land Management Planning Directives," a
summary of which will be published in the Federal Register in the next
several days, can be found in the Forest Service Manual and the Forest
Service Handbook, essentially internal "how to" guidebooks. The directives
detail procedural requirements and responsibilities for forest and
grassland managers to implement the new planning rule, which became
effective Jan. 5.

"This policy direction will provide consistent overall guidance to our line
officers as they begin to revise their forest plans using the new planning
rule," said Forest Service Associate Chief Sally Collins. "These
instructions are essential for realizing the vision outlined in the new
rule-to provide future generations with healthier forests, cleaner air and
water, and more abundant wildlife while sustaining a variety of forest
uses."

The policy includes guidance on how to develop an Environmental Management
System tool to improve performance and accountability, afford the public
with improved public participation opportunities, provide for species
protection by taking into account the best available science, and develop
guidelines on forest activities, such as hazardous fuels reduction.

--Chapter 20 of the handbook outlines how planning documents are used to
develop an Environmental Management System following
internationally-accepted standards. It also shows how planning documents
will be used to help conduct comprehensive, independent audits of the
Forest Service's work.

--Chapter 30 of the handbook details the public participation,
collaboration, consultation, and notification process and describes each
party's responsibilities and relationships in these processes. It also
provides guidance for the pre-decisional objection process.

--Chapter 40 of the handbook describes plans for sustainability while
taking into account the best available science. It also states how to
analyze for ecosystem and species diversity as well as how to identify
species-of-concern and species-of-interest.

--Chapter 60 of the handbook gives guidance on timber and forest vegetation
resource planning, including for guidance identifying lands suitable as
well as not suitable for timber production.

Forty-two forests will revise their forest plans in the next several years;
several units are slated to begin this year. The new rule and the proposed
directives are available at www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma.

The directives are effective immediately, but may only be in effect for up
to 18 months. Written comments on the directives may be sent to: USDA
Forest Service Content Analysis Team, ATTN: Planning Directives, P.O. Box
22777, Salt Lake City, UT 84122. Send faxed comments to 801-517-1015 or
e-mailed comments to planningdirectives@fs.fed.us or through
www.regulations.gov.

The final planning directives, which will take into account public comments
received during the 90-day comment period, will be released within 18
months.