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The Forest Service issued proposed planning directives on February 27, 2013 (RIN # 0596-AD06), which would provide guidance to agency staff to implement the recently revised land management planning regulation at 36 CFR 219 (RIN 0596-AC94) (the 2012 Planning Rule), which was effective May 9, 2012. A 60-day period (extended for an additional 15 days) for the public to comment on the proposed directives concluded on May 24, 2013. The proposed directives have been revised, based on public comment, and the Agency seeks to publish a Notice of Availability of the final Directives.

The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires that the Forest Service develop land management plans for each unit of the National Forest System, and the agency maintain regulations (Planning Rule) that guide the development and content of such plans. In addition to formal regulations, the Agency uses its system of directives to provide more detailed guidance on how to meet the requirements of the Planning Rule.