[Title 36 CFR 219.7]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 36 - PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY]
[Chapter II - FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE]
[Part 219 - PLANNING]
[Subpart A - National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning]
[Sec. 219.7 - Plan decisions.]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


36PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY22002-07-012002-07-01false219.7Sec. 219.7PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTYFOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREPLANNINGNational Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning
Sec. 219.7  Plan decisions.

    Plan decisions guide or limit uses of National Forest System 
resources and provide the basis for future agency action. Plan decisions 
link the requirements of laws, regulations, Executive Orders, policies, 
and the Forest Service national strategic plan to specific national 
forests and grasslands. While plan decisions generally do not commit 
resources to a site-specific action, plan decisions provide a framework 
for authorizing site-specific actions that may commit resources. In 
making decisions, the responsible official should seek to manage 
National Forest System resources in a combination that best serves the 
public interest without impairment of the productivity of the land 
consistent with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960. Plan 
decisions may apply to all or part of a plan

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area. Paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section describe the decisions 
in a plan.
    (a) Desired resource conditions. These plan decisions define the 
resource conditions sought within all or portions of the plan area. 
Desired resource conditions may include, but are not limited to, the 
desired watershed and ecological conditions and aquatic and terrestrial 
habitat characteristics.
    (b) Objectives. These plan decisions are concise statements 
describing measurable results intended to contribute to sustainability 
(Sec. 219.19), including a desired level of uses, values, products, and 
services, assuming current or likely budgets and considering other 
spending levels as appropriate. Objectives include an estimate of the 
time and resources needed for their completion.
    (c) Standards. These plan decisions are the requirements and 
limitations for land uses and management actions necessary for the 
achievement of desired conditions and objectives and compliance with 
applicable laws, regulations, Executive Orders, and policies. Standards 
include, but are not limited to:
    (1) Limitations on even-aged timber harvest methods;
    (2) Maximum size openings from timber harvest;
    (3) Methods for achieving aesthetic objectives by blending the 
boundaries of vegetation treatments; and
    (4) Other requirements to achieve multiple-use of the national 
forests and grasslands.
    (d) Designation of suitable land uses. These plan decisions identify 
lands within the National Forest System that are or are not suitable for 
specific uses (Sec. 219.26), including, but not limited to: the 
transportation system; livestock grazing; special designations as 
described in Sec. 219.27; and lands where timber production is an 
objective (Sec. 219.28).
    (e) Monitoring strategy. A monitoring strategy is required by each 
plan as described in Sec. 219.11(a).