Members of Congress Urge USDA and DOI to Initiate Formal Rulemaking in Effort to Protect Old Growth Forests, Rural County Representatives of California Reports

April 17, 2023

April 17, 2023 - The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) reports on April 12th, a group of 28 members of Congress sent a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary, Tom Vilsack, and Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary, Deb Haaland, urging the departments to undertake a formal rulemaking to protect mature and old-growth forests.

In April 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order 14072, recognizing mature and old-growth forests as vital to the resilience of communities across the nation. The Order directed USDA and DOI to define, identify, and complete an inventory of mature and old-growth forests on federal lands by April 22, 2023.

The April 12 letter recognizes the efforts of the two agencies to meet that approaching deadline; however, lawmakers are requesting immediate action to protect existing mature and old-growth forests from further loss.

In addition to the request for a formal rulemaking, members are asking the agencies to issue interim guidance while the rulemaking process is underway. California delegation members Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-44, Los Angeles), Mark DeSaulnier (D-10, Concord), Jared Huffman (D-2, Marina), Mike Levine (D-49, San Juan Capistrano), Doris Matsui (D-7, Sacramento), and Katie Porter (D-47, Irvine) signed on to the letter.


By:  Sierra Sun Times Staff
Source: Sierra Sun Times