Administration of the Forest Development Transportation System; Prohibitions; Use of Motor Vehicles Off Forest Service Roads

This final National Forest System Road Management rule revises regulations concerning the management, use, and maintenance of the National Forest Transportation System. Consistent with changes in public demand and use of National Forest System resources and the need to better manage funds available for road construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and decommissioning, the final rule removes the emphasis on transportation development and adds a requirement for science-based transportation analysis. In concert with the revision of National Forest System roads administrative direction published elsewhere in today’s Federal Register, the intended effect of this final rule is to help ensure that additions to the National Forest System network of roads are those deemed essential for resource management and use; that, construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of roads minimize adverse environmental impacts; and, finally, that unneeded roads are decommissioned and restoration of ecological processes are initiated.