Obama administration releases new national forest management rules

A proposed planning rule for managing national forests puts new emphasis on watershed health and recreation, but also strives to keep loggers in the woods, U.S. Forest Service officials said Thursday.

The national rule will guide local forest supervisors when they make their more specific forest management plans. Those plans govern where trees can be cut, the kinds of wildlife to watch out for, activities allowed in campgrounds and the backcountry, and how people can challenge forest decisions.

"The rule needs to take into consideration those multiple uses, be resilient to climate change over time, focus on restoration of forest health, reduce the threat of catastrophic fires and supply timber products to local mills," U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said during a conference call Thursday.

The meeting unveiled the final environmental impact statement on the proposed plan. After it's published in the Federal Register on Feb. 3, a final version of the rule will be selected by Vilsack within 30 days.

"We really appreciate that the agency is trying to get projects out more quickly and with less expense," said Keith Olson of the Montana Logging Association. "That really seems to be what they think they've accomplished with this. Our biggest concern is whenever you have this expensive a document, what it turns out to be is a blueprint for those who like to litigate. It goes beyond the scope of any planning document ever designed. We focus on simplicity and clarity, and our big concern is this goes exactly the opposite direction."

The new rule replaces guidelines the Forest Service has depended on since 1982. Many forests, including the Lolo National Forest based in Missoula, haven't updated their management plans since the late 1980s. The Kootenai National Forest issued a new forest plan in January, but it's based on the 1982 rule.

Read full text: The Missoulian