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Alaska Region powers up partners, meets new National Saw Policy requirements

July 18, 2017

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KETCHIKAN, Alaska - Forest Service instructors held a series of power and crosscut saw courses for partner and volunteer crews across the Tongass National Forest. The trainings were developed and conducted to ensure that cooperators met the July 23, 2017 deadline for compliance with the new National Saw Policy.

Forest Service instructors focused on delivering trainings to meet the new National Saw Policy objectives by optimizing critical skills, ensuring consistent safety procedures, and providing standardized evaluation and certifications. The trainings, highlighted in an online slideshow, were conducted by Tongass National Forest employees Rob Morganthaler, Robert Berney, Austin O’Brien, and Chris Budke.

By meeting the requirements of the new National Saw Policy, the Alaska Region and its partners are equipped to safely and successfully carry out cooperative trail and other forest management projects across Alaska Region.

Partners involved in the trainings included Trail Mix, Inc., a professional trail organization which works cooperatively with the Forest Service to expand operations and support trail projects on the Tongass and Chugach National Forests. Other cooperators involved in trainings included the Student Conservation Association and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/sustain/alaska-region-powers-partners-meets-new-national-saw-policy