General Comments
Comment
Environmental Documentation Required for Rulemaking.
Three respondents commented that the proposed rule requires
documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental
impact statement. These respondents stated that the rule has
environmental impacts from anticipated litigation with large groups
like the Rainbow Family; that the rule must affect the environment
because otherwise the agency would not have issued it; and that the
rule might keep people out of the national forests and thereby have
a significant effect on the human environment.
Response
Section 31.1b of Forest Service Handbook 1909.15
categorically excludes from documentation in an EA or an EIS
``rules, regulations, or policies to establish Service-wide
administrative procedures, program processes or instructions.''
This regulation falls into this category of actions because the
rule establishes agency-wide administrative procedures for
authorization and use of National Forest System lands and because
no extraordinary circumstances exist which would require
preparation of an EA or an EIS.
Comment Summary
Listing of Comments
FS Regulation Page