Comment on FR Doc # 2026-13281
AnonymousOpposeIndividual
Summary: A private citizen is opposing a rule change that would remove public comment requirements for changes to Forest Service Manuals and Handbooks. The commenter argues that these documents are critical for land management decisions and that public oversight is necessary to prevent poor land-use outcomes.
I’m writing to oppose this rule change, which would cut the public out of decisions about how the Forest Service manages the land we all rely on.
I want to see the Mark Twain National Forest protected for future generations so my grandkids can enjoy the hills and streams the way I do.
Forest Service Manuals and Handbooks set the rules for grazing allotments, timber sales, mining exploration, and land-use planning on the ground. They shouldn’t be treated as advisory texts.
Rolling back comment access on directive changes removes one of the only tools the public has to catch bad decisions before they’re locked in. Changes to a Forest Service Handbook can shape everything from mining review to trail access and the public deserves a say in that.
I’m asking the Forest Service to withdraw this proposal and keep directive changes, Manual and Handbook alike, open to public comment.