As we begin to cuss and discuss the NFMA directives let me attempt to spin the discussion from the get-go. We social scientists have been reworking our own directives, the 1970/1909.17 stuff.
We decided to trim back the Manual AND Handbook materials to almost nothing, leaving only something like:
“Address social and economic context for Forest Service assessments, plans, decisions, and so on. To the extent practicable and foreseeable, address the consequences of Forest Service action on the social and economic environment and the consequences of other social and economic action on forest lands, resources, and environments.”
We left that much since we were too chicken to delete the Manual and Handbook entirely. All else we have resolved to set up as an Internet “knowledge base” so that it will be easier to keep it current, keep it well vetted, and so on.
I'd like to learn more about this. When did "we" start working on our own directives? Who is coordinating the effort?
Posted by: Robert Potts | April 30, 2005 at 08:35 AM
"We" (the Forest Service) have always "worked on our directives." Drafts are prepared with a team(s) of WO, Regional, Forest folks, especially subject matter experts. They are then reviewed in draft, before being published, like this one, as "interim directive" for review before being made final directives.
What "we" (R4) are doing is simply commenting to the WO on the interim directive, along with the public through the Federal Register. We are consolidating comments from the Region (the week of June 6) to strengthen our voice. This is being coordinated by RO PAL (me, Glen Stein, Dave Iverson, Craig Morris).
The last time the 1920 Manual and 1909.12 Handbook have had major revision was with the 1982 Rule, so it has been some time.
Posted by: Joy Berg | May 02, 2005 at 10:51 AM