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 The process begun by Chief Bosworth in early 2002, and now known as "Recreation Site Facility Master Planning" (RS-FMP) , has already resulted in the US Forest Service generating dozens of "Proposed 5-year Program(s) of Work" which collectively call for the closing, decommissioning and privatizing hundreds upon hundreds of recreation sites and facilities. The process had been on track to shutter, demolish and/or reduce the season of operation for thousands of recreation facilities from coast to coast. The process is geared to concentrating access into relatively few, crowded and expensive to visit, facilities. The process calls for doing away with those special places in the forest were one could enjoy uncrowded, minimally developed, camping. The process is one of transforming the great outdoors into a place where recreation is sold to paying customers and where the quest for making a buck off recreation dominates.
As a direct consequence of the work of Western Slope NoFee Coalition (WSNFC), Wild Wilderness and a few other organizations and individuals, that process has been temporarily derailed. Pasted below is a NEWS RELEASE issued this morning by the US Forest Service Washington Office. I will give the outgoing Chief of the Forest Service the courtesy of spinning his new plans in his own words (see below). I just add that he is not telling the complete truth . I encourage you to visit the websites of WSNFC and Wild Wilderness to learn the rest of the story.
One other point. We have won only a temporary reprieve. It's up to those who enjoys camping and recreating upon our National Forests to turn this reprieve into a true victory.
Scott
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From: "
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Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 10:10 AM
Release No. 0628
Contact: Joe Walsh, Press Office (202) 205-1134
FOREST SERVICE CONVENES TEAM TO BROADEN PUBLIC’S INVOLVEMENT IN RECREATION SITE FACILITY MASTER PLANNING
WASHINGTON, January 26, 2007—USDA Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth
has tapped a National Review Team to gauge the effectiveness of citizen
participation in the Recreation Site Facility Master Planning process.
“Our aim is to raise the standard for participation and strengthen our
work with the public so we can collectively determine the needs for
forest recreation facilities and meet future demands,” Bosworth said
this week in a letter to Regional Foresters. “The ultimate goal is to
improve recreation opportunities and experiences on national forests.”
Responding to increased public attention on the Recreation Sites
Facility Master planning effort, Bosworth charged the national team to
conduct a thorough review and make recommendations by April 2. The
team’s findings and recommendations will form the basis for broadening
the current citizen involvement process.
“As one of my last acts as Chief, I want to again emphasize the
importance of recreation to the American people and to our quality of
life. Our goal is to provide sustainable, well-managed outdoor
recreation for the health and well-being of individuals, families and
communities,” said Chief Bosworth. Chief Bosworth recently announced
his plans to retire.
Recreation Site Facility Master Planning is not a decision process.
Rather, it is an analysis tool, to encourage dialogue on the changing
demands for recreation facilities on national forests and what options
may exist to respond to those changes. Open dialogue with communities
is an essential aspect in each step of the process.
Deputy Regional Forester Beth Pendleton, of the Pacific Southwest
Region, will lead the national review team. The team will assess public
participation activities, methods, products and results from a diverse
cross section of the national forests. The team is expected to
interview a selection of citizens who have expressed interest in the
Recreation Facility Master Planning process.
During the Review Team’s examination of public involvement, national
forests will not make any decisions based on the Recreation Site
Facility Master Planning analysis.
“The Forest Service has a long, proud tradition of offering recreation
opportunities, honoring the attachments people have to the special
places we manage. Executed properly, this process will help us live up
to that tradition,” said Chief Bosworth.
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- Privatization 
