Welcome to the FS Policy Report! Our goal is to provide weekly updates on Agency policy actions, including directives and regulations.

Recently issued directives:
FSH 2309.13 Chapter 50- O&M of Developed Recreation Sites (06/25/2021)
Revised Section 52.3 to add a sentence stating that a Pesticide-Use Proposal, FS-2100-2, must be submitted and approved before application of pesticides at developed recreation sites.

Directives published for public comment:
Proposed Directive: Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center Transportation
The Alaska Region is proposing a policy change to address challenges in managing commercial transportation to and from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (Visitor Center) during the cruise ship season (April – October). Visitation to the Visitor Center has increased to nearly 700,000 annual visitors as of 2018, with additional growth expected over the next several years. Existing facilities simply can’t accommodate the growing number of visitors. Increased use has affected resources and visitor safety and experiences. The proposed policy change would update a Forest Service Manual regional supplement. Under the proposed policy, the Forest Service may restrict commercial transport to special use permit holders only at the Visitor Center during the cruise season. This will enable the Forest Service to better manage and enforce authorized commercial transportation access and for law enforcement to cite unauthorized access.

The comment period for this proposed directive opened on June 24, 2021.

Comments can be provided for the proposed directive.

Regulatory actions:
No new regulatory actions were published from the period of 06/21/2021 to 06/28/2021.

Announcements:
There are no new announcements regarding upcoming events, but please continue to check this report weekly as new updates may be included in the future.

If you have questions or recommendations for Policy Report content that would be valuable to you and your colleagues, please contact Miranda Galadima (Miranda.galadima@usda.gov).