Showing posts with label usfs. Show all posts

USFS – SHARED STEWARDSHIP = SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

Our land is in our hands

Shared Stewardship: Working Together to Protect Forests, Reduce Wildfire Risk, and Keep Access Open

There’s a hard truth about today’s forests: They don’t recognize boundary lines. Fire doesn’t stop at a fence. Insects don’t care who manages the land. And overgrown fuels don’t check a map before they burn. The ecosystem is one big, connected puzzle that requires more than a single-focused approach. The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is now emphasizing an approach to public land management that brings all the pieces of the puzzle together.

It’s called “Shared Stewardship,” and it matters now more than ever.

USFS/USDA NEPA Update - What It Means for Public Lands & Access

Bottom Line:

The National Environmental Policy Act process at USDA (which includes the U.S. Forest Service) just got a major overhaul aimed at speeding things up and cutting red tape.

Fuel Reduction on Public Lands

Fire Prevention with Direct Action Pile Burning

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

Depending on where you recreate and live and, of course, the weather, you may see this type of fuel reduction burning on federal lands this time of year. Usually, there will be signs along roadways where you can see the smoke so you don't report it (because it is controlled and conducted on purpose).

What you will see are piles of debris, logging slash, and timber stand improvement trimmings and thinning. They may have sat over the winter with a tarp on them to dry them out for a good burn day in spring or early summer, perhaps even in fall. This is all good for the forest.

The USDA Forest Service has undertaken a 10-year strategy to confront the wildfire crisis (especially in the West and particularly in CA). Speaking as someone who served for nearly 30 years in the wildland fire service and the same guy who wrote about how we are now in the Mega-Fire Generation, I am always happy to see more prescribed (controlled) burning in most forests of the West.

HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

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US FOREST SERVICE RETIREES SPEAK OUT FOR ACTION!

USDA Forest Service Retirees Call National Forest Policies Unsustainable!

The National Association of Forest Service Retirees (NAFSR) have called the USDA Forest Service policies and procedures for forest health and wildland fire suppression unsustainable! They have offered up a 10-point plan of actions to clarify and improve the current fire policy situation. In abbreviated form, it calls for:

1. More active management of forests and grasslands;

2. Reduced fuel loading and more prescribed fire;

3. Review and learning from past big fires like Yellowstone, 1988;

4. Clarification of fire policies concerning when to implement aggressive initial attack;

5. Fire leadership adequate training;

6. “Hot” fire reviews and more accountability;

7. Pursue adequate fire suppression funding;

8. Ensure all USFS employees have a role in fire emergencies;

9. Develop more leadership succession planning to replace experienced retirees;

10. Streamline environmental planning and reduce legislative conflicts.

For years I have felt, personally and professionally that our public lands have become tied down in bureaucracy and unnecessary legislative silliness and environmental radicalism. I see this report from an esteemed membership as encouragement for a better future for our public lands -- if someone listens.

Read the whole report here: http://www.delalbright.com/nafsr%20position%20paper.pdf

Del

Del Albright

Director of Operations, BlueRibbon Coalition www.sharetrails.org

Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon www.rubiconfriends.com

Environmental Affairs, CA4WDC www.cal4wheel.com

Find Del on Facebook here

Find BRC on Facebook here.

PERMIT PROCESS ON PUBLIC LAND - YOU NEED ONE!

YES YOU NEED A PERMIT ON PUBLIC LAND!

By Del Albright, Ambassador, BlueRibbon Coalition

Commercial, competitive or organized group events or activities ALL require a permit to be held on public land, and depending on the level of environmental review, REQUIRE at least 6 (six) and up to 12 (twelve) months to process.

Businesses and clubs/organizations need to pay particular attention to the permit process as it can sneak up on you quick! We’re talking BOTH public land agencies -- BLM and USFS. This blog will focus on the BLM permit process, but the USDA Forest Service (USFS) is about the same.

Depending on the scope of your activity or event, you might have to cover some healthy Cost Recovery to recover costs associated with monitoring, law enforcement, enviro-studies, inventories, travel, administration, etc. Again, the minimum time frame for submitting a COMPLETE permit application is SIX MONTHS ahead of time. Just figure on it and GET YOUR PERMIT started well ahead of time.

DO I NEED A PERMIT?

The Pre-application Interview Checklist for events on public land involving vehicular use typically includes the following questions:

· Are you charging a fee?

· Do you expect to make money on the event or is the fee to cover expenses?

· Will there be a competition?

· Will you advertise, have a public sign up page, take reservations?

· Will you mark a course?

· Will there be cash prizes?

If you answered yes to ANY of these, you NEED a permit. So yes, if you advertise on a website, have a sign up page (even if you are NOT charging a fee), you ARE advertising and must have a permit. I like to look at it in simple terms, you are using public land to your advantage or commercial gain, so get a permit.

You should note that if there will be any vending (selling on site), your permit just got more complicated (and will cost more).

These permits are called Special Recreation Permits (SRP’s) and depending on permit availability, are usually not hard to get; they just take planning well ahead of time!

Get your permit well in advance of your event – perhaps a YEAR before the activity would be a good target.

Here are some links for more research and information from my good land use buddy, John Stewart:

http://cfr.regstoday.com/43cfr2930.aspx

http://www.4x4voice.com/index.php/civics-101/52-permits-fees/149-what-is-a-special-recretion-permit

http://www.4x4voice.com/index.php/access-news/78-nrc-reports/349-nrc-report-october-2010

http://www.4x4wire.com/federal-page/blm-adjusts-special-recreation-permit-fees

http://www.4x4wire.com/thats-my-view/top-five-recreation-issues-2011

http://www.4x4voice.com/index.php/access-news/78-nrc-reports/353-nrc-report-december-2010

Del Albright

Ambassador, BlueRibbon Coalition www.sharetrails.org

Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon www.rubiconfriends.com

Environmental Affairs, CA4WDC www.cal4wheel.com

Find us on Facebook here

Contact Del at del@delalbright.com

Website: www.delalbright.com

Forest Service Waives Fees on Veterans Day

USDA Forest Service waives fees on Veterans Day

WASHINGTON, October 29, 2010 -- Upcoming Veterans Day, November 11, marks the fourth time this year that the U.S. Forest Service is offering national fee waivers on recreation sites.

"The Forest Service is working to ensure as many visitors as possible have the opportunity to experience the great outdoors and take advantage of the many recreational activities national forests have to offer," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "By waiving fees, everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy the wonder and rejuvenation of recreation on national forests and grasslands."

PERSONAL NOTE from Del: I'd like to think the feds were doing this to honor veterans and their families, but alas, NO, that is not the case. I'm disappointed to say the least. It's just a nice day to waive fees I guess. They've done it before on various holidays. There is no mention of our military personnel in their press release. Read more here: http://www.fs.fed.us/news/2010/releases/10/veterans.shtml.

While I appreciate the USDA Forest Service dumping fees for a day, I am disgusted they didn't at least honor our wounded, missing and gone military folks who have served this country and for whom this day is supposed to be dedicated.

Del

Tellico OHV Area Appeal Denied by USFS

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Greg Mumm, BlueRibbon Coalition
208-244-2112
Date: January 22, 2010

FOREST SERVICE DENY APPEAL ON TELLICO

POCATELLO, ID (January 22) - On January 15, 2010, Southern Region Deputy Regional Forester Jerome Thomas adopted the recommendation of the internal Appeal Reviewing Officer and denied the Upper Tellico OHV Area appeals submitted by the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association (SFWDA), United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA), and the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC). "We are disappointed but not surprised by this outcome," observed Jay Bird of the Rescue Tellico Committee and Past President of SFWDA. "This was a mandatory step in an ongoing process, and it would be unusual for an agency that has been for years locked in on the outcome of closing Tellico to reverse course at the last step of the administrative process," added Greg Mumm, BRC Executive Director. "We remain committed to restoring some form of meaningful vehicle recreation at Tellico, will carefully review the appeal decisions, and will take appropriate next steps," Mumm concluded.

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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org

CA - Please Support OHV Grants (letters needed now)

Support OHV Grants in CA (letters needed now)

Please support OHV Grants in CA right away. April 6th is an important deadline. Here's the short list of reasons why:

1. Without this OHV grant money, the USFS won't have any money to do many of the things we want done on our trails.

2. While not perfect and some not even all that good, the grants are a savior to many Forests and Districts. Trails could close without some grant money support in ill-funded Forests (and BLM Districts).

3. Grants are now front-loaded instead of the old way of theatrics at the last minute in Commission meetings. Front –loaded means OUR comments and support MAKE the difference in how a grant is perceived and/or granted. It’s in the analysis and review stage that we MUST tell the OHV Commission and State Parks staff that we support the grants (especially the ones we need and like including the Eldorado National Forest).

4. All the work that Don Amador and all the OHV user groups put into SB 742 (the new OHV Grant Program we fought so hard for), gave us the opportunity to take our OHV money away from non-OHV friendly Commissioners, and put it in the hands of State Parks OHV staff and us – you.

A short support letter is all you need to do. Let State Parks know we support grants on your Forest or BLM area. Here’s how you can read the grants in review right now:Go to this link, select Grants in the top box; then USFS in the Agency box, and then click in FIND. You’ll see the grants; then click on the paperclip to read the details:

http://134.186.25.134/user/ReviewProjects.aspx

Del

Superior National Forest Decision in Our Favor

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Hawthorne Phill Morud
Public Lands Director Past President
BlueRibbon Coalition ATV Association of Minnesota
208-237-1008 ext 102 218-686-2748
DATE: January 22, 2009

RECREATIONAL GROUPS PRAISE SUPERIOR FOREST DECISION

ST PAUL, MN (January 22) - Trail-based recreation enthusiasts are praising yesterday's court decision rejecting the Sierra Club's challenge to the 2004 Revised Superior National Forest Plan.

The All Terrain Vehicle Association of Minnesota (ATVAM), along with the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), both recreation advocacy groups, intervened in the case on the side of the Forest Service. The lawsuit included challenges to the analysis of potential impacts to the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area, as well as the accuracy of the road and trail inventory used by the Forest Service. The decision, penned by U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, ruled in favor of the Forest Service and concluded that the agency had not acted arbitrarily or capriciously in adopting the broad prescriptions of the Revised Forest Plan.

The Superior Forest released a formal Travel Management Plan in December 2008, which designates areas, roads and trails for vehicle travel. Under agency regulations, that decision is subject to administrative appeal by those participating in the decision making process, including the Sierra Club, ATVAM, BRC and many others.

"We are certainly pleased by this outcome," said Phill Morud of ATVAM. "Recreation is an increasingly dominant use of our National Forests and we feel this suit was an effort to delay and divert agency energy from active recreation management," Morud concluded.

"Thousands of visitors have a stake in effective management of the Superior, and with the dismissal of this suit hopefully we can all focus our attention on management of specific roads, trails, and areas of the Forest," added Brian Hawthorne, BRC Public Lands Policy Director.

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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. www.sharetrails.org