The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and the Interior have issued field guidelines to help land managers begin implementing the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 and the president's Healthy Forests Initiative.

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

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,
• Habitats for threatened and endangered species, and
• Areas susceptible to insect infestation or disease epidemics.

The act was passed by Congress Nov. 21 and signed into law on Dec. 3. The measure authorizes $760 million for fuels mitigation projects on 20 million acres of federal land. At least 50% of those funds must be spent in the wildland-urban interface.

The law also expedites environmental reviews of fuels treatment projects and requires the USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management to fully maintain or contribute to the restoration of old-growth trees. It encourages communities to adopt wildland fire protection plans by giving priority to funding requests from communities with plans.

The 56-page field guide is posted at www.fs.fed.us/projects/hfi/field-guide. For print copies, call Rich Barrett of the Forest Service at 202-205-1509 or e-mail rbarrett@fs.fed.us.