The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released its final rule implementing changes to its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations.
According to the USDA, the changes include new tools and flexibilities to make timely management decisions affecting infrastructure, permitting, and restoration of natural resources on its national forests and grasslands.
“The new categorical exclusions will ultimately improve our ability to maintain and repair the infrastructure people depend on to use and enjoy their national forests—such as roads, trails, campgrounds and other facilities,” said Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
“Today’s announcement represents decades of work by livestock producers who have told the Forest Service and other federal agencies for years that NEPA regulations need serious improvement,” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Natural Resources and the Public Lands Council Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover said in a released statement.
“This rule formalizes changes that will allow USFS to be better partners to ranchers and stakeholders who depend on healthy forests and grasslands. These are common-sense changes that add clarity by streamlining NEPA processes and ensuring that agencies are not spending time on unnecessary duplicative NEPA reviews.”
The changes will take effect immediately.
