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Council hears Forest Service guidance on lapse in appropriations; staff report BLM public‑lands rule rescinded
Summary
The council reviewed a Forest Service national memo on a lapse in appropriations that keeps some recreation staff working and allows partner agreements to continue; the BLM's conservation-lease public‑lands rule was rescinded, a change welcomed by some local representatives.
Speaker 5 summarized a Washington Office Forest Service memo issued during a lapse in appropriations (dated Oct. 3) that describes a "lapse in appropriations" and directs that employees who support developed recreation continue work, volunteer-hosting continue under existing agreements, outfitter agreements continue, and partner contracts under funded agreements proceed; work requiring environmental compliance may be paused.
The board discussed local implications and whether the district office had received the national memo. Tiffany (State Parks) described steps state parks are taking to maintain facilities locally while federal staffing is limited.
Separately, Speaker 10 reported the BLM's public-lands rule — which would have enabled conservation leases held by NGOs, conservation districts or wildlife agencies — was rescinded in mid-September. He said the rescission addresses local concerns about uncertain lease requirements and potential administrative costs for agencies that might hold conservation leases.
