OCR Text |
Show Forest Service seeks Public Comment The Forest Service is asking for public comment by June 15 on proposed new regulations defining some of the agency's public participation par-ticipation procedures. Regional Forestor Vern Hamre said the National Forest Management Act of 1976 requires public participation par-ticipation procedures be established which will give the public, state and local governments and federal . agencies adequate notice and opportunity to comment on the development of standards, criteria and guidelines for Forest Service programs. The guidelines apply to Forest Service programs in research, state and private forestry a and the national forest system, Hamre said. Public participation in land management planning is not addressed in these regulations. This is covered under other proposed regulations soon to be published. The Forest Service uses a variety of standards, criteria and guidelines in carrying out a wide range of activities. For example, there are standards for maintaining heavy equipment, equip-ment, determining ski area use rates, controlling timber stand improvement quality and many other activities. "We realize," Hamre said, "that some program standards by their nature are of limited importance to the public, while others will attract . a great deal of interest. What these regulations will do is help us determine what standards are significant and how the pubKc will be informed and given opportunity to comment com-ment on proposed standards." stan-dards." Comments should be sent ot Chief, Forest Service, P.O. Box 2417, Washington, D.C., 20013 by June 15. All written comments will be available for public review in room 3250 South AGriculture building, 12th and Independence AVe., SW, Washington, D.C., from 8 ' a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. |