The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Interior Department issued field guidelines March 3 to help land managers begin implementing the Healthy Forests Initiative and the Health Forest Restoration Act of 2003.

The Interim Field Guide for Implementing the Healthy Forests Initiative and Healthy Forests Restoration Act addresses issues managers need to consider while reducing hazardous fuels and planning forest and rangeland restoration projects.

“This guide will help field managers conduct fuels reduction and restoration projects in a more effective and timely process,” said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman.

Specifically, projects that have already been deemed necessary by states, tribes and local communities will qualify for enhanced National Environmental Policy Act review if they occur on one or more of the following types of areas: at-risk communities in the wildland-urban interface, high-risk municipal watersheds; areas that provide habitat for threatened and endangered species, and areas that are susceptible to insect infestation or disease.

“Severe drought and overgrown areas have contributed to unhealthy forests, rangelands and some of the worst wildfire seasons we have ever had,” Interior Secretary Gale Norton said. “The field guide explains all the tools available to process urgently needed treatment projects that will help avoid catastrophic wildfires and save lives and property, while complying with environmental laws.”

Find the 56-page field guide online on the Forest Service Web site at www.fs.fed.us/projects/hfi/field-guide. For print copies, contact Rich Barrett at 202-205-1509 or e-mail rbarrett@fs.fed.us.