I thought that this was a great interview by The Hotshot Wakeup with Frank Carroll, also the discussion following, which features some TSW regulars. FWIW, I don’t agree with Frank about: Loper-Bright, and the idea that we can return to the old days of forest management, though I’d like to see more utilization of material ... Read more ..read more

In case you didn’t read the comments i the previous post, Joe Reddan had some experiences to share that I think are worth hearing.  I’m actually seeing three areas of concern that the next Admin could consider addressing or at least host some kind of open discussion or process about: (1) Transparency, including making it ... Read more ..read more

Wouldn’t it be great if we could use that list to get suggestions for improvements from all employees? With content analysis by whomever volunteers, or perhaps the FS would give us a grant? Or we could sub to one of the Keystones… Here’s Andy’s response: Mason & Chad, As you may know, FSEEE has the ... Read more ..read more

Challenges: I would also argue that one reason the agency is stagnating is due to the administrative burden from a pile of well intentioned but ultimately expensive and time consuming mandates, both from executive orders and from policy. The FS is forced to practice the most heavily scrutinized forest management on planet earth. Carbon studies, climate change studies, ... Read more ..read more

The USDA Forest Service will be releasing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for an amendment to the land management plans in the Northwest Forest Plan area. This important document outlines proposals to address challenges like increased wildfires that impact communities and forests, economic sustainability, and a changing climate across 19.4 million acres in Northern ... Read more ..read more

An article from Marketplace, which produces a business-oriented program for NPR ..read more

Here’s the response (note, it came within a month, so that’s very responsive!) *********** Dear Dr. Friedman: Thank you for your letter of October 8, 2024, cosigned by your colleagues, to U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, regarding the Forest Service online employee directory. Chief Moore has asked me to respond. The ... Read more ..read more

I’d like to start by giving a shout-out to the Coconino National Forest.  When I called them, a real person answered the phone at the SO.  She put me directly in touch with a public affairs person.   They also volunteered to answer folks’ questions about the project, so please put your questions in the comments.  ... Read more ..read more

Copies of the National Baptist Convention Master Agreement and Coconino SPA was sent to me out of concern about church and state.   The Feds do give many grants to religious organizations (such as the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, for example).  It seems to me that those grants are usually given to organizations that are ... Read more ..read more

Coincidentally I ran across this piece about improving government by Francis Fukuyama this morning. It’s written as a letter to Elon Musk. There is another type of deregulation that needs to occur, however, if the government is to be made more efficient. People blame the bureaucracy for over-regulating the private sector, but the bureaucracy itself ... Read more ..read more