The Planning Rule continues to guide stewards of national forests and grasslands in developing, revising or amending land management plans.

The committee is comprised of 21 members, who represent geographically diverse locations and communities and a range of public interests in management of National Forest System lands. The previous committee's membership expired in June 2014. The new committee members were selected from the candidates who responded to the secretary's request for nominations in March 2014.

The initial Planning Rule committee presented its first set of recommendations for the implementation of the 2012 Planning Rule in November 2013 to USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, supporting strengthened collaboration, improved planning efficiencies and more informed decision making. These recommendations are intended to deepen the level of stakeholder collaboration in forest planning, as well as a focus on adaptive management, monitoring, wilderness, climate change, intergovernmental relations, species protection and water resources.

"The recommendations provided by the FACA Committee are critical to the successful implementation of the Planning Rule," said Tidwell. "We value their commitment to land management planning that promotes healthy, resilient, diverse and productive national forests and grasslands."

"Members of the Planning Rule advisory committee help us strengthen ecological, social, economic and cultural sustainability objectives," said Vilsack. "The rule will allow the creation of management plans that will protect and restore National Forest System lands in order to sustain communities and protect natural resources."  FG

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Federal advisory committee members and their constituencies are as follows:

  • Public at-large:
    • Howard Raymond Vaughan; Montgomery, Alabama
    • Vickie Roberts; Shelton Roberts Propertie; Winona, Mississippi
  • American Indian Tribes:
    • William Barquin; Kootenai Tribe of Idaho; Portland, Oregon
  • Commercial or recreational hunting and fishing:
    • Daniel Dessecker; Ruffed Grouse Society; Rice Lake, Wisconsin
  • Conservation organizations or watershed associations:
    • Christopher Topi; The Nature Conservancy; Vienna, Virginia
    • Angela Sondenaa; Nez Perce Tribe; Newport, Oregon
    • Susan Jane Brown; Blue Mountain Forest Partners; Portland, Oregon
  • County or local elected officials:
    • Joan May; San Miguel County Commissioner; Telluride, Colorado
    • Robert Cope; Lemhi County Commissioner; Salmon, Idaho
  • Developed outdoor or commercial recreation:
    • Russell Ehnes; National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council; Great Falls, Montana
  • Dispersed recreation:
    • Adam Cramer; Outdoor Alliance; Bethesda, Maryland
  • Energy and mineral development:
    • Greg Schaefer; Arch Coal Inc.; Gillette, Wyoming
  • National, regional or local environmental organizations:
    • Mike Anderson; The Wilderness Society; Seattle, Washington
    • Peter Nelson; Defenders of Wildlife; Missoula, Montana
  • Private landowners/grazing:
    • James Magagna; Wyoming Stock Growers Association; Rock Springs, Wyoming
    • Lorenzo Valdez; Youngsville Cattlemen Association; Fairview, New Mexico
  • Scientific community:
    • Martin Nie; University of Montana; Missoula, Montana
  • State-elected officials:
    • Rodney Stokes; Michigan Department of Natural Resources; East Lansing, Michigan
  • Timber industry:
    • Tom Troxel; Intermountain Timber Association; Rapid City, South Dakota
    • Lindsay Warness; Boise Cascade Company; La Grande, Oregon
  • Youth:
    • Candice Price; Urban American Outdoors; Kansas City, Missouri

—From USDA news release