Notes are now available on the Forest Service planning rule website for the third national roundtable meeting on a new Forest Service planning rule. The May 11-12 meeting in Rockville, Maryland was designed to focus on six topics that the rule writing team “identified as needing additional public input”. In the summary notes, there are no consensus viewpoints on issues including species viability; the inclusion of forest restoration as a rule requirement; balancing local, regional, and national interests; making findings about “best available science”; and writing flexible, adaptable plans vs. plans with strong consistent standards. An appendix to the report contains some specific recommendations for the rule writing team that were submitted during the meeting from the 111 participants.
A fourth national roundtable has tentatively been set for July 29 and 30 in Washington D.C. to review specific rule language that is now being developed. More details will be posted on the planning rule website.