Welcome to the Forest Service Policy Report, which provides updates on agency policy actions, including directives, regulations, Federal Register notices and information collections.  

RECENTLY ISSUED DIRECTIVES

FSH 6509.11k Chapter 40 (12/18/2025)

• Revises section 48 to reflect new procedures for the Uniform Program.

FSM 6700 Zero Code (02/04/2026)  

• Makes minor editorial changes throughout the chapter on the Safety and Health Program.

FSM 6700 Chapter 10 (02/04/2026)

• Revises chapter in its entirety and adds applicable direction previously in FSH 6709.12, chapter 10. Expands language highlighting employee involvement in the safety culture, including expectations for mutual accountability, active participation in safety programs, and contributions without fear of reprisal.  

FSM 6700 Chapter 20 (02/04/2026)

• Revises chapter 6720 in its entirety, recodes and formats with current direction where needed. Adds language that broadens direction to include eliminating hazards where possible, prioritizing a hierarchy of controls to manage risks (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment).

FSM 6700 Chapter 30 (02/04/2026)

• Changes chapter 6730 title from “Accident Reporting and Investigation” to “Accident or Incident Reporting and Investigation” and sets forth direction. Updates codes and captions throughout.

FSM 6700 Chapter 40 (02/04/2026)

• Changes chapter 6740 title from “Radiation Safety” to “Ionizing Radiation Safety” and sets forth direction. Revises the chapter in its entirety.

FSM 6700 Chapter 50 (02/04/2026)

• Establishes code, caption, and sets forth direction previously set out under chapter 60. Changes the chapter code from “6760” to “6750” to better align with directives formatting. Revises chapter content in its entirety.

FSM 6700 Chapter 60 (02/04/2026)

• Removes codes, captions, and direction previously set out under FSM 6700, chapter 60 to FSM 6700, chapter 50. Changes the chapter code from “6760” to “6750”. Reserves code for use at a future date.

FSM 7100 Chapter 40 (02/02/2026)

• This amendment changes the name of the chapter from “Chapter 7140—Geometronics” to “Chapter 7140—Geospatial” to be consistent with the Forest Service file code system. Replaces “geometronics” with “geospatial” throughout the chapter, and updates the chapter in its entirety.  

FSM 6600 Chapter 80 (03/19/2026)

• Technical edits were made to this directive to comply with Executive Order 14168 (issued Jan. 20, 2025).

FSH 1909.15 Chapters 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 & 70 (03/26/2026)  

• Removes the entire FSH 1909.15, National Environmental Policy Act Handbook, from the Directive System.

FSH 5109.34 Chapter 10 (04/12/2026)  

• The content was reorganized and updated throughout to develop an administratively determined pay plan to be implemented jointly with the Department of the Interior per Secretary’s Memo 1078-017 (4)(b)(v) implementing Executive Order 14308 Section 3 (a)(i).  

FSM 5100 Chapter 80 (04/17/2026)

• Updates references to the correct chapters for the National Interagency Standards for Resource Mobilization (sections 5181.1, 5181.2, 5182.2, and 5183.1). Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSH 2709.11 Chapter 10 (04/28/2026)

• Clarifies guidance on who may sign a special use authorization for a limited partnership. Establishes guidance on the use of exculpatory agreements. Additional changes may be found within the digest.  

FSH 2709.11 Chapter 30 (04/28/2026)

• Makes technical corrections throughout the chapter to remove the word “commercial” from “commercial filming.” Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSH 2709.11 Chapter 50 (04/28/2026)

• Adds clauses B-13, Acknowledgment of Risk and Waiver of Liability Forms and Other Exculpatory Agreements, A-26 Land Use Fee Election and Calculation—Outfitting and Guiding, A-27 Land Use Fee Election and Calculation—Recreation Events, C-32 Surrender of Unused Service Days, C-33 Monitoring for Permit Compliance, C-34 Use Allocation Review and Adjustment. Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSH 2709.14 Chapter 50 (04/28/2026)

• Removes direction related to needs assessments. Removes needs assessment as a condition of issuing a new permit. Increases the term length of temporary permits to a maximum of two years. Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSM 2300 Zero Code (04/28/2026)

• Adds Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act (16 USC 8411) to the Authority section.

FSM 2300 Chapter 40 (04/28/2026)

• Throughout the chapter, clerical updates were made for technical accuracy. Also capitalized “Authorized Officer” and added “Grassland Supervisors” to reference where appropriate in addition to Forest Supervisors. Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSM 2700 Chapter 10 (04/28/2026)

• Removes the word “commercial” from “commercial filming” to align with the EXPLORE Act (Pub. L. 118-234), and clarifies that proposed uses other than noncommercial group use are included. Adds direction on uses that do not require a permit due to nominal effects. Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSM 2700 Chapter 20 (04/28/2026)

• Makes technical corrections throughout the chapter to remove the word “commercial” from “commercial filming” to align with the EXPLORE Act (Pub. L. 118-234). Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSM 2700 Zero Code (04/28/2026)

• Makes editorial and technical changes throughout chapter. Additional changes may be found within the digest.

FSH 2209.13 Chapter 50 (04/30/2026)

• Changes the previous names of this chapter from “Other Permits” (8/3/1992) and “Grazing with Tribal Treaty Rights” (7/19/2005) to “Tribal Reserved Grazing Rights and Non-Reserved Grazing Use” because this chapter is now focused on the exercising of federally recognized Tribal rights to graze as reserved in a treaty, executive order, statute, or other means, as well as grazing use made by Tribes or Tribal members when reserved rights do not apply. All other previously included content (for example, cow camps, special uses, etc.) has been removed. Additional changes may be found within the digest.

REGULATORY UPDATES

228 E—Oil and Gas Resources—Final Rule (01/28/2026)

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture has finalized revisions to its regulations governing federal oil and gas resources within the National Forest System. The department made these revisions to update and modernize its existing regulations. In addition, conforming technical amendments to other parts of the Code of Federal Regulations affected by this rule are also being updated. The regulations revise the process for analyzing whether the USDA Forest Service will consent to making certain lands available for oil and gas leasing by the Bureau of Land Management. The regulations also clarify requirements for conducting lease operations and revise procedures concerning monitoring operator compliance with all applicable terms and conditions of leasing. The revised regulations apply to operations on both existing and future leases.

218 Project Level Pre-decisional Administrative Review Process—Proposed Rule (02/06/2026)

• The Forest Service is proposing to amend its Project-Level Pre-decisional Administrative Review Process regulations. These regulations establish the process by which the public may file objections seeking administrative review for projects and activities implementing land management plans on national forests. The Forest Service is amending these regulations to consolidate and streamline processes, increase efficiency and better align with the agency's statutory obligations and recent rescissions and revisions to National Environmental Policy Act regulations.

Locatable Minerals—Proposed Rule (02/20/2026)

• The Forest Service is proposing to revise its regulations governing occupancy and use of the surface of National Forest System lands in connection with prospecting, exploration, development, mining, processing, and reclamation and reasonable incident uses authorized by U.S. mining laws and the Organic Administration Act of 1897. Regulatory revisions are needed to improve the efficiency and transparency of Forest Service regulation of locatable mineral operations conducted on National Forest System lands under the mining laws, and to minimize, to the fullest extent practicable, adverse impacts on surface resources. In addition, the revisions will support federal policy to secure reliable and sustainable supplies of strategic and critical minerals in the United States.

Commercial Film Permitting—Final Rule (03/19/2026)

• The Forest Service has issued this final rule to update its special uses regulations on filming and still photography to be consistent with the new requirements in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act. The technical revisions includes adding a statutory reference to the EXPLORE Act and updating terminology and definitions to be consistent with the act.

Ski Area Definitions—Final Rule (03/25/2026)

• The Forest Service has issued a final rule revising the definition of a ski area in its special use regulations. The revised definition aligns more closely with the Forest Service's statutory authority for ski area administration and reduces burden on the agency and special use permit holders.

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