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SUMMER 2006 39 Years of Conservation Action R E P O R T Bryan Armel, the forest planner for the Shoshone, agrees that the new rule has What Do You Want made things challenging, but he is opti- mistic about the process. from Your “This is a change,” Armel says. “In the past it was easy to figure out what steps to take next because we knew the procedure. National Forest? Now we have to figure out how to do this as we go along. It’s like anything new. “But I think the new rule looks positive at this stage. It’s more strategic and doesn’t get into too much detail, which has the potential benefit of allowing us to get through the process and begin implement- ing changes more quickly.” The Forest Service Wants Avery Absolon tries her hand at fishing with her father Peter in the southern to Know. Wind River Mountains. Ann Armbrecht The Forest Service calls this new plan- Bridger-Teton and Shoshone 2005, the United States Forest Service ning process a “paradigm shift.” Plans will National Forests Undergo Forest adopted a new planning rule that has now be “more strategic and less prescriptive Plan Revisions changed just about everything. in nature than under the 1982 planning “The Forest Service told us to take any- rule.” The new final rule for national forest by Molly Absolon thing we knew about forest planning and planning, published in the Federal Register eventeen of us gathered in the pitch it,” says Kevin Hurley, a wildlife biolo- on January 5, 2005, announced its intended Monarch Room of the Pronghorn gist with the Wyoming Game and Fish effects are to “streamline and improve the SMotel in Lander last May to talk Department in Cody. Hurley is one of the planning process by making plans more about forest planning. The room felt empty. department’s representatives on the adaptable to changes in social, economic It’s hard to draw people in for a discussion Shoshone Government Cooperators Work and environmental conditions; to strengthen on our national forests when the sun is shin- Group. He participated in the last round of the role of science in planning; to strength- ing and the very wild lands under discussion forest planning for the Shoshone back in the en collaborative relationships with the pub- beckoning. But there we sat. Talking. mid-1980s. lic and other governmental entities; and to Both the Bridger-Teton and the Shoshone “The new process is hard for me,” Hurley reaffirm the principles of sustainable man- National Forests are rewriting their forest continues. “We’re still on the outer fringes agement consistent with the Multiple-Use plans—visionary documents designed to of this thing working our way toward the Sustained-Yield Act and other authorities.” guide management decisions for the next center. I’m ready to get to the meat and What this actually means on the ground 10-15 years. And while forest plan revisions potatoes of it, to get my hands around what is subject to debate. According to some, are nothing new, this process is. In January we are trying to accomplish.” flexibility will enable the continued on page 3 Enough Is Enough Around Wyoming People E andek No Drilling in the Page 8 Page 10 D Bridger-Teton Page 7 I S John F N I DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Executive Director Mark Preiss ’ve been on the road lately, in Wilson, Casper, Established in 1967, the Wyoming Rock Springs, and to Seattle and the Outdoor Council (WOC) is the state’s Northwest, visiting with our members and oldest and largest independent statewide I conservation organization. Our mission supporters, and participating in the Dimensions is to protect Wyoming’s environment and of Regional Leadership Yellowstone Business quality of life for future generations. Partnership and Greater Yellowstone Power of Frontline Report is the quarterly news- Place joint conference. letter of WOC and is provided as a benefit Through these conversations—across borders of membership. Letters to the editor and articles by members are welcome. and disciplines—it is clear that folks are beginning to engage to develop new solutions to the issues facing Wyoming, the environment, and the Greater Yellowstone area. The time is right to create new alliances that build bridges across political allegiances and For more information contact: integrate economics, social and environmental concerns. WOC, 262 Lincoln, Lander, WY 82520 This convergence of common values is evidenced in my conversations with (307) 332-7031 (phone) (307) 332-6899 (fax) respected leaders in the foundation community, in discussions with state leaders, and [email protected] most recently in my conversations at the Dimensions of Regional Leadership confer- ence. The Wyoming Outdoor Council’s new three-year strategic plan anticipated this Board of Directors opportunity, and firmly articulates our determination to play a leading role in devel- Jim States, Saratoga oping and fostering its powerful vision. The future sustainability of Wyoming and the President region depends on innovative partnerships, and it also depends on our ability to help Scott Kane, Lander facilitate and build the capacity of this emerging coalition of voices. Vice President Our air quality campaign, my participation in the Leadership Wyoming program Susan Lasher, Worland Treasurer beginning in August, our renewables efforts working with Western Resource Advocates, Terry Rasmussen, Casper our participation as committee members on the Western Governors’ Association Secretary Energy Task Force, and our work helping convene a meeting of the Wyoming conserva- Tom Bell, Lander tion community in order to increase our own effectiveness and capacity building are Emeritus but a few examples of this emerging transformative and dynamic thinking. Joyce Evans, Saratoga My face-to-face conversations continue to leave me optimistic that together we can Barbara Oakleaf, Lander build a “stewardship of wildness,” as John Turner discussed during his keynote speech at Barbara Parsons, Rawlins the Dimensions of Regional Leadership conference, that understands and empowers a Sandy Shuptrine, Jackson Anthony Stevens, Wilson blending and binding together of the common values of economic, social and environ- mental health. I want to share an excerpt from the opening session of the conference. Staff Molly Absolon Communications Director There is a false dissonance between social and environmental. Nonprofit, for Michele Barlow profit, no difference. Nonprofits under-perform economically, for-profits Director of Government Affairs and under-perform socially, environmentally. Our focus moving ahead must be Conservation Education “upon leveraged relationships that maximize total value. We need new leaders Andy Blair to develop new ways of doing business. Keynote speech — “Leading Toward Community Outreach Coordinator Kathy Sanderson Sustainable Capitalism,” Jed Emerson, senior fellow with the Generation Foundation Administrative Assistant Bonnie Hof bauer What I find encouraging as we move forward” is the confluence of trends, the Office Manager interest and energy around new ways of thinking, of getting back to our roots, from Steve Jones many disciplines and perspectives. We call it common sense, but sometimes it takes Director of Air and Water Quality time to regain our senses. In the current national dynamics, I believe we’ve been Lisa Dardy McGee Director of National Parks and Forests given the wake-up call, and an opportunity to build strong and lasting relationships to Laurie Milford do it right locally, knowing our efforts will have far broader implications. Back in Development Director 1967, the Wyoming Outdoor Coordinating Council, as we were once called, was estab- Bruce Pendery lished for that very purpose. It’s good to be home, back to our roots. Director of Public Lands I’ll keep you posted and engaged. Meredith Taylor Wildlife Program Coordinator Happy Trails, Mark Mark Preiss, Executive Director Anne Austin, Frontline Designer 2 Frontline Report Wyoming Outdoor Council Spring 2006 COVER STORY continued from cover Forest Service to adapt to changing conditions and demands; to on the Shoshone WYOMING OUTDOOR others it has the potential of creating a plan so vague it has no Government Cooperators COUNCIL’S ROLE meaning. Work Group. “I feel as if our The Wyoming Outdoor Council comments are noted and is working to influence the forest What’s different? our input considered. But planning process in ways that pro- One of the biggest changes is that forest plans no longer I’m not sure where it’s tect our water, air, wildlife and wild require analysis of multiple alternatives under the National going. I’m concerned that places. We are also seeking to Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Plans can be developed and this is a way for the govern- keep people informed so that revised from a single alternative instead. Analysis of multiple ment to go through the you—or anyone else who knows alternatives will be conducted on a project-by-project basis—say backdoor to get around and loves these forests—know how a specific timber sale—when that project comes on line. In theo- process in the name of ry this sounds good, but it makes many nervous. expediting things. and when to be involved. The new rule also means that the public cannot appeal forest “We’re working on a plans. There is an “objection” period before the plan is finalized plan that is supposed to be during which the Forest Service will hear concerns. But it is not flexible. But I worry that it seems like an easy way out. Look at clear what weight an objection will hold or how it will be what happened with the Jack Morrow Hills. They worked with addressed in the final plan. cooperators and took input from the public and then in the final “I’m not completely comfortable that a planning document plan the Bureau of Land Management blew by what people want- doesn’t require environmental analysis,” says Jen Lamb, the pub- ed,” Dutcher adds.

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