Action Alert: Support President Bush’s Healthy Forest Initiative

In response to the threat of wildfires and the declining health of the nation’s forests, President Bush has announced a new initiative to develop a common sense approach to forest management. Currently, over 190 million acres of national forests alone are under threat of wildfire or blight. The Healthy Forests Initiative seeks to promote healthy forests through better oversight and management practices. The administration’s Healthy Forests Initiative takes a much more sensible approach to forest management, based on principles supported by science and forestry. The plan would streamline administrative processes that have paralyzed forest management in the United States. A series of regulations to implement the needed reforms have been released for comment. The deadline for comments on this particular proposal is February 18, 2003, so please send your comments by e-mail as soon as possible. Please show your support for the Healthy Forests Initiative by forwarding your comments to the Forest Service at 215appeals@fs.fed.us.

For background on the need for forest management reforms, see:

http://www.freedomworks.org/informed/issues_template.php/1207.htm

For information on the president’s Healthy Forest Initiative, see:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthyforests/

For a copy of the proposed rule, “Notice Comment, and Appeal Procedures for Projects and Activities on National Forest Lands,” see:

http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/12.09.02%20215%20Appeals%20Rule%20.doc

Again, please show your support for the Healthy Forests Initiative by forwarding your comments to the Forest Service at 215appeals@fs.fed.us

Sample Language:

I am writing in support of the Forest Service’s proposed rule, “Notice Comment, and Appeal Procedures for Projects and Activities on National Forest Lands.” (Federal Register, vol. 67, no. 243, p. 77451). The proposed rule would reduce the complexity of the current appeals process and promote public participation earlier in the process. It also facilitates the use of electronic copies and simplifies the procedural and administrative processes involved. As part of the Healthy Forests Initiative, the proposed rule contributes to more efficient and effective management of our nation’ forests and promotes practices that will reduce the dangers of catastrophic wildfires and blight.