Forest Land Enhancement Program

The Department is adopting an interim final rule to establish a new subpart C in part 230 of Title 36 Code of the Federal Regulations that sets forth procedures for administration of the new Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP), which was authorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill). The intended effect of this interim final rule is to encourage the long-term sustainability of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) lands in the United States by assisting landowners, through State foresters, in more actively managing their forest lands and related resources through the use of State, Federal, and private sector resource management expertise, financial assistance, and educational programs. Public comment is invited and will be considered in the development of the final rule. The Forest Service specifically invites public comment on the process for distributing FLEP funds, including the national allocation factors.