The intent of this report is to update employees on agency policy actions, including national directives, regulations and information collections.

REGULATORY UPDATES

• Forest Service Directives Modernization Proposed Rule (July 1, 2026)

  • On July 1, 2026, the Forest Service published a proposed rule to amend regulations governing the Forest Service Directive System. Specifically, the proposed changes would refine and streamline the scope of notice and comment requirements for the formulation of standards, criteria and guidelines applicable to Forest Service programs and associated agency procedures. These amendments would enhance agency employees’ discretion to allow innovation in program implementation to account for the unique ecological conditions of affected landscapes and changing social and economic needs. The comment period closed on July 31, 2026. The Policy Office is currently analyzing comments and working with Natural Resources and Environment and Forest Service leadership to respond to the comments and prepare a final rule that is planned to publish in the fall.

• Proposed Rule on Rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (August 20, 2026)

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture published a proposed rule on August 20, 2026, for a 30-day public comment period. Accompanying the publication of the proposed rule is a draft environmental impact statement and cost-benefit analysis. The proposed rule proposes to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (2001 Roadless Rule), which established broad prohibitions on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting within inventoried roadless areas on National Forest System lands. The intent of this proposed action is to reduce regulatory burden and return decision making for the management of inventoried roadless areas to the land management planning process at the individual national forest level. Rescission of the national-level prohibitions provides responsible officials with flexibility to better guide management of National Forest System lands and respond to changing local resource conditions. The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, as amended by the National Forest Management Act of 1976, and the associated land management planning processes and plans are the appropriate and effective mechanisms to guide sustainable, integrated management of the resources within the plan areas in the context of the broader landscape, giving due consideration to the relative values of the various resources in particular areas. The USDA invites public comments on this proposed rule, the associated draft environmental impact statement, and cost benefit analysis, which are being published simultaneously. Comments must be received in writing by midnight Sept. 21, 2026.

• Notice of Intent: Travel Management (August 24, 2026)

  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture is initiating an environmental impact statement and rulemaking to revise the Forest Service's travel management regulations, 36 CFR part 212. The proposed action would establish a uniform national policy favoring increased access while simplifying regulatory requirements and preserving local decision-making. The proposed access rule would establish a national policy with a presumption that existing roads, trails, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points on National Forest System lands are open to appropriate public use unless closure or restriction is required by applicable law, valid existing rights or another governing instrument, or supported by specific, documented and justifiable reasons based on science-based resource conditions, public safety, conflicts among uses, or maintenance and administrative capacity. Commonly available public data sets, including aerial imagery, may be used as evidence that a physical route or airfield exists or existed at a time relevant under the definition adopted in the proposed rule, but would not by themselves establish that the feature is part of the forest transportation system, that the Forest Service has jurisdiction or sufficient legal access, or that it is open to a particular public use. The proposed access rule would require annual review of all trails, roads, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes and points that are closed or highly restricted. The proposed access rule would establish processes and conditions for limited off-route motor vehicle use and other motorized equipment for, among other things, downed big-game retrieval, firewood collection and dispersed camping, and for designating areas for over-snow and other motorized recreation. 

INFORMATION COLLECTIONS

• Information Collection 0596-0087 Commercial Use of the Woodsy Owl Symbol has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (Expiration 08/31/2029). This collection requires commercial licensees who use the Woodsy Owl symbol or slogan for profit on products like t-shirts, mugs, stickers, toys, or in media to submit quarterly reports of sales quantities and values. The Forest Service uses this data to calculate royalty fees, ensure sales targets are met, and verify that commercial use supports environmental messaging and maintains Woodsy Owl’s role as a national conservation symbol.

• Information Collection 0596-0010 Forest Industries Post Data Collection Systems has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (Expiration 08/31/2029). This collection gathers data from wood using companies about how much timber they consume; helping the Forest Service track how wood resources are being used across both public and private lands. The results give industry professionals and resource planners a better understanding of current and future wood demand so they can monitor trends and make informed decisions.

OTHER UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

There are no additional updates at this time. If you have questions or recommendations for Policy Report content that would be valuable to you and your colleagues, please contact Miranda Galadima.