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

RECENTLY ISSUED DIRECTIVES

The following new directives were published during the period of 07/25/2022 to 07/29/2022.

Forest Service Handbook 2409.15 – Timber Sale Administration Handbook
Chapter 20 - Measuring and Accounting for Included Timber

GAO-18-593 “FEDERAL TIMBER SALES: Forest Service and BLM Should Review Their Regulations and Policies Related to Timber Export and Substitution” sites the Agency for non-compliance with the monthly surveillance requirement in FSH 2409.15, chapter 20. No Forest Service region with export surveillance requirements is completing the reviews monthly and the need to surveille has reduced significantly since the 1990s.

In response to the GAO audit recommendation, the directive changes surveillance frequency from a monthly to quarterly requirement that better matches risk associated with export activities and is more achievable by the Forest Service.

DIRECTIVES PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

No new directives were published for public comment from the period of 07/25/2022 to 07/29/2022.

REGULATORY ACTIONS

No new regulatory actions were published from the period of 07/25/2022 to 07/29/2022.

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 Melinda Zimmerman (Melinda.zimmerman@usda.gov).