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112th Congress Hearing Archives

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forest and Public Lands Oversight Hearing on "Forest Service Regulatory Roadblocks to Productive Land Use and Recreation: Proposed Planning Rule, Special-use Permits, and Travel Management"

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 | 10:00 AM 1324 Longworth House Office Building
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS AND PUBLIC LANDS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
10:00 a.m.

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:





  • "Forest Service Regulatory Roadblocks to Productive Land Use and Recreation: Proposed Planning Rule, Special-use Permits, and Travel Management"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Rob Bishop
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Tom Tidwell
Chief
U.S. Forest Service
United States Department of Agriculture

Margaret Soulen-Hinson
President
American Sheep Industry Association
Public Lands Council
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Scott Horngren
American Forest Resource Council
Federal Forest Resource Coalition
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Greg Mumm
Executive Director
Blue Ribbon Coalition
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Dr. Ron Stewart
National Association of Forest Service Retirees
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Panel II

Demar Dahl
Chairman
Elko County Board of Commissioners
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Glenn Porzak
National Ski Areas Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Dr. Mike Dombeck
Former Chief
U.S. Forest Service
United States Department of Agriculture
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Garrett VeneKlasen
Public Lands Coordinator
New Mexico Trout Unlimited
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

This hearing will focus on three regulatory actions currently being undertaken by the Forest Service that have, or will, greatly affect management, multiple-use and access across the 193 million acres of federal land that the agency manages. Decades of increasing land-use regulations and policies, as well as the leadership of the current Administration, have nearly brought multiple-use of federal forest land to a standstill through declining timber harvests, grazing and reductions in recreational access to the detriment of surrounding communities and users. Specifically this hearing will focus on three topics; the proposed Forest Service Planning Rule, conditions being placed on special use permits, and the 2005 Travel Management Rule.