Projects & Policies
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act
Public Law 110-343 reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools Act for four fiscal years, 2008 through 2011. The purposes of the Act are to stabilize payments to county schools and roads; invest in the land and create employment opportunities; and improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for national forests.
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Forest Certification
National Forest System (NFS) Certification Study: An Evaluation of the Application of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Standards on Five National Forest System Management Units is now available. This report, produced for the Forest Service, documents the study in which third-party auditors evaluated current forest management practices on five study national forest units with standards set by two certification programs, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The report summarizes and discusses the five third-party evaluations and captures lessons learned through a review of participant experiences.
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Schedule of Proposed Actions
The Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) is published in January, April, July, and October. It contains a list of proposed actions that will soon begin or are currently undergoing environmental analysis and documentation. It provides information so that you can become aware of and indicate your interest in specific proposals. We encourage your early and ongoing involvement in any proposals of interest to you.
To learn more about SOPA and to view SOPA reports, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/sopa/
Off-Highway Vehicles
In November 2005, the Forest Service published a new travel management rule governing motor vehicle use on national forests and grasslands. Under the final rule, each national forest or ranger district will designate those roads, trails, and areas open to motor vehicle use by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. As designation is complete on a national forest or ranger district, motor vehicle use off of the designated system will be prohibited. To learn more about the travel management program, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/recreation/programs/ohv.
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000
On October 30, 2000, Congress signed Public
Law 106-393. This law is called the "Secure Rural School
and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000" and commonly
known as Payments
to States. The purpose of the Act is to stabilize payments to
counties that help support roads and schools, provide projects that
enhance forest ecosystem health and provide employment opportunities,
and to improve cooperative relationships among Federal land management
agencies and those who use and care about the lands the agencies
manage.
Living Memorials Project
With the overwhelming desire to honor and memorialize the tragic
losses that occurred on September 11, 2001 the USDA Forest Service
was asked by the United States Congress to create the “Living
Memorials Project.” To date, fifty projects have been supported
in the Northeast and we have developed a complimentary program of
technical support for groups throughout the country. This initiative
invokes the resonating power of trees to bring people together and
create lasting, living memorials to the victims of terrorism, their
families, communities, and the nation. The humble intent of this
initiative is to offer the resonating power of trees to bring people
together and to create living memorials to foster healing.
Protecting Air Quality
Related
The Forest Service co-authored the FLAG
Report. This report provides guidance which aids land managers,
state permitting authorities, industry and others to better protect
forest resources from the adverse effects of air pollution. Visibility
is one of these key resources.
Process Predicament Report
The Process
Predicament: (PDF 608KB) How Statutory, Regulatory, and Administrative
Factors Affect National Forest Management.
Also:
Appendix A (PDF 298KB)
Appendix B (PDF 787KB)
Appendix C (PDF 423KB)
(Note: PDF format, requires Adobe
Acrobat to view).
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