The following message is from the Forest Service.
30-day public comment period August 17, 2020 – September 16, 2020
Summary of Action: The USDA Forest Service is requesting public input on a directive that establishes a definition for emergency closures of areas located on national forests or grasslands to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting. This change is part of a larger suite of updates to agency directives that would implement the John D. Dingell Jr. Act (Dingell Jr. Act).
Why Do We Need to Change This Directive? The Forest Service is updating its directives as outlined in the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to facilitate access to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on national forests and grasslands. These updates include a greater role for public participation, codify the national practice on Federal lands of “open unless closed” to hunting, fishing or recreational shooting into policy, and establish a process to temporarily or permanently close areas. They also include adding a definition for emergency closures, which is needed to ensure that the Forest Service has clear and transparent guidelines for closing an area to these recreational activities.
What We Are Changing: The Forest Service will be establishing a definition for an emergency closure, so that preventative measures can be taken to minimize impacts prior to an emergency situation, such as:
• Wildfire prevention
Anticipated Results/Outcomes:
The Forest Service values public participation. Communications from the public regarding this project, including commenters’ names and contact information, will become part of the public record. Comments, including anonymous comments, will be accepted at any time. However, comments posted after the close of a designated comment period may not be able to be given full consideration.
Your comments are requested by 9/16/2020.
Documents
- Proposed Directive FSH 5309.11 Chapter 30
- HFS Closures_1-Page Summary_Cara Site_08172020_v4.docx
- FRN-8-17-2020.pdf
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