Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Forest Resources, Environmental Impact Assessment and Public Land and Resources Committees
Present a “Quick Teleconference” program
Excluding Forest Plans Under NEPA – A New Forest Service Directive Adds a Categorical Exclusion (CE) for Forest-Planning Decisions
Program Information
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Central Time
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Mountain Time / 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time
Program Overview:
The Forest Service has revised its procedures for complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. Pursuant to a final directive published in the Federal Register, 71 Fed. Reg. 75481 (Dec. 15, 2006), the Forest Service has added, for forest-planning decisions, a new categorical exclusion (CE) – a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the environment and, therefore, do not normally require further analysis and documentation in either an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement. The new CE applies to agency decisions to develop, amend, or revise land management plans for national forests.
Educational Objectives:
- Alert Section members and others to new Forest Service directive exempting plans under NEPA.
- Provide a forum for discussion and debate of legal issues presented by new forest-plan CE.
- Inform practitioners and policymakers about emerging issues with national forest management.
Faculty:
Moderator:
James Ustasiewski, Senior Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the General Counsel, Juneau, AK
Panelists:
Jim Angell, Managing Attorney, Earthjustice, Denver, CO
Daniel Mandelker, Professor, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, MO
William R. “Chip” Murray, Natural Resources Counsel, American Forest & Paper Association, Washington, DC
David Tenny, Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
This program will not offer CLE credit.
ConferTel Teleconference (Individual dial-in)
If you wish to participate by telephone please register online.
Online registration is encouraged for immediate confirmation and billing receipt. You may also complete this form and fax it to (760) 931-0079. Once your registration and payment have been processed, you will receive a confirmation with the toll-free telephone number and security PIN number.
The registration fee covers the cost of the phone connection; you are encouraged to have others listen to the program with you. Registration cannot be confirmed until ConferTel receives check or Purchase Order.
*The Section has secured ConferTel to provide conferencing services, including registration, conferencing and payment. Please make checks payable to ConferTel. Questions regarding the teleconference can be directed to ConferTel at (866) 930-4500.
Cancellation Policy:
Paid registrants who are unable to call in to the conference may request a refund less a $30 administrative fee. Substitutions are acceptable.
Late Registration Notice: Please register early, we cannot guarantee late registrations (day of event).
Forest Service Navigation
Questions?
Do you have a question that you would like the panel to address? Please email your question to Jim Ustasiewski at Jim.ustasiewski@ogc.usda.gov by February 5, 2007 at noon Eastern Time and the panel will make every effort to address your inquiry. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions of the panel live at the conclusion of the program.
