Land Uses; Special Uses Requiring Authorization

The Department is revising regulations that govern the issuance and administration of special use authorizations on National Forest System lands to clarify categories of activities for which a special use authorization is required. In particular, this final rule clarifies requirements regarding the issuance of special use authorizations for activities involving National Forest System roads and trails. The revised regulations promote consistency in the special uses program, improve the agency's ability to resolve management issues by requiring permits in certain situations, and reduce the agency's administrative costs by eliminating the need to issue a Forest order to require a special use permit in certain situations and by providing the authorized officer with the discretion to waive the requirement for a special use authorization when issuance of a permit serves no management purpose. The final rule also adds definitions to part 251, revises definitions in part 261, and revises the heading of part 295 to ensure consistent terminology in all three parts.