Urgent Call to Rescind the 2005 Travel Management Rule & Prioritize Local Communities

Dear Chief Schultz & Deputy Chief French

The time has come to re-evaluate and rescind the 2005 Travel Management Rule, a policy that has failed to serve the best interests of the American people—particularly those who depend on our national forests for their livelihoods, subsistence,  recreation, and cultural heritage. The Forest Service’s mission is to care for the land and serve people, yet this rule has placed unnecessary restrictions on access and economic opportunities, undermining the vitality of rural communities and failing to promote active, sustainable forest management.

New leadership within the Forest Service presents an opportunity to set a different course—one that values local input, open access, and the economic well-being of those who depend on these lands. As Chief Schultz has emphasized, leadership means listening, fostering respectful dialogue, and empowering those on the ground to make decisions that align with the broader goals of the agency, while meeting the needs of the local communities. The Forest Service was built on a foundation of decentralized decision-making, and it must return to that principle by trusting the expertise of local communities to actively participate in the management of our public lands.

For too long, years of fire suppression and declining timber harvests have resulted in dangerous fuel buildup, contributing to catastrophic wildfires that threaten lives and property. The restrictive policies set forth by the Travel Management Rule have hindered logging contractors, truck drivers, and land managers from efficiently accessing and managing these forests. Without them, our ability to reduce fire risk, maintain healthy forests, and ensure sustainable resource use is severely impaired. As Chief Schultz has noted, the backbone of forest management relies on these individuals, and we must support them rather than impose barriers that make their work impossible.

Furthermore, the economic backbone of many rural communities relies on multiple-use access to our public lands. From responsible timber harvesting to outdoor recreation, these opportunities must not be arbitrarily limited by outdated policies. Our national forests must be managed to ensure they remain assets to local economies rather than barriers to prosperity. Chief Schultz has been clear that stewardship requires a balanced approach—one that considers not only the health of the land but also the well-being of those who depend on it, the current direction of the forest plan does not do that.

The failure of the Forest Service to collaborate meaningfully with local communities has been made especially evident in Eastern Oregon, where the agency has chosen to reuse a previously withdrawn draft plan rather than engaging in a transparent, locally driven process. This decision undermines the trust and input of the very people who rely on these lands and demonstrates a blatant disregard for public engagement. Furthermore, the agency has failed to include even its own local staff in critical decision-making, further distancing policy from practical, on-the-ground realities. This lack of collaboration directly contradicts the leadership philosophy of Chief Schultz, who has emphasized the importance of listening, learning, and respecting local expertise.

The severity of these restrictions is starkly illustrated in the attached map. The left side of the image represents the current inventory of national forest lands, showing designated wilderness in green, potential wilderness areas in gold, and general forest areas in gray. However, the right side of the image, enhanced by FAFA, reveals the true impact of proposed travel management restrictions. Under these changes, more than 95% of the forest—shaded in red—will be closed to motorized use. These excessive restrictions will drastically limit access for responsible recreation, forest management, and economic activities that sustain local communities. This map is a clear visual representation of the increasing disconnect between Forest Service policies and the needs of the people who rely on these lands.

We urge you to take immediate action to rescind the 2005 Travel Management Rule and replace it with policies that recognize the importance of active forest management, local decision-making, and responsible access. The future of our forests—and the communities that rely on them—depends on a bold shift away from restrictive, top-down regulations and toward a collaborative approach that values both conservation and economic vitality.

Respectfully,

Don George

President - Forest Access For All