Letter from Legaliaison 9/1/88
PEOPLE FOR COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING
PO Box 27217 - Washington, DC 20038
202-462-0757
PO Box 6625 - Chicago, IL 60680
312-409-0018
12 April 1995
PCU // Freedom of Assembly Project
Mr. Jack Ward Thomas, Chief
USDA Forest Service / Room 4-NW
201 14th & Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20250
RE: USFS Proposed Rules --
Update Info, Senate Ag Appeal
Dear Chief Thomas:
You may recall our brief meeting at the 'Town Hall' in St.
Paul,
almost a year ago:
We shared our concerns over USFS policies toward free assembly on
Public Land,
with some facts that alarmed you. If you took any offense at our
candor,
please accept our apologies again, and understand that it comes
from seeing
real harms.
Enclosed is an 'Update' package on the proposed 'Group Use'
and 'Law
Enforcement' regulations, and how they impact the Bill of Rights
in the
National Forests.
This information has gone out to the incoming leadership in
several
Congressional committees, calling for bipartisan action to
redirect these
Forest Service policies. Our dialogues were especially
productive with
Senator Craig, now Chair of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee
on Forestry,
Conservation, and Rural Revitalization:
His staff asked that we follow up with focused ideas on the
issues raised
by these rulemakings, and what steps to take.
Our 2/14/95 response is also presented here: It speaks
directly to the
Constitutional costs of this regulatory scheme, and the situation
we now face.
Please give this position letter your careful review, with a sense of urgency...
The USFS "Unified Agenda" published in November, and the
"Forest Service
Reinvention" report released in December failed to respond to
public critique.
Since then OGC and RCRWM Staff have confirmed that the final
'Group Use'
rules will come out this Spring -- Federal Register publication
is imminent,
and time is short.
Why is the Forest Service proceeding with these unconstitutional
policies?
The Senate Committee also heard about some recent incidents--
the Fire at the Gathering in Wyoming, and the contining pattern
of law
enforcement abuses --
with deep concerns over how Forest Service authority has been
exercised.
Senator Craig's office asked for the details, and they are
forthcoming.
These issues warrant special inquiry... especially as they
reflect on the
intent of the proposed rules, and amplify our sense of alarm over
what is at
stake:
The outcome will define the future of Citizen
Rights and Stewardship on Public Land.
When you withdrew the 'Law Enforcement' proposal last May,
it was a good first step.
You should now intervene decisively to stop the 'Group Use'
rulemaking
and set a mandate for new policies of Consensus and Cooperation.
Thanks & Respects,
The PCU Volunteers / S.C.
Addison
Certified Mail # P 111 370 750
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