Tell the Forest Service what you think!

The U.S. Forest Service seeks public comments on proposed updates and clarifications to federal regulations related to floating the upper segment of the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.   Existing regulations, which prohibit floating the Chattooga unless authorized by a permit, do not address the river sections within the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. Portions of the regulations also do not address the Sumter National Forest side of the river in South Carolina.  “Our proposed revisions will align our regulations with the agency’s 2012 decisions to allow floating on the upper segment of the Chattooga,” said Southern Regional Forester Tony Tooke. “We look forward to continuing to work with the public during the comment period and welcome feedback on our proposal.” The proposed changes would add language to the Code of Federal Regulations at 36 CFR 261.77 to include all portions of the wild and scenic river in the Nantahala, Sumter and Chattahoochee national forests. These proposed updates would also remove the list of specific locations where visitors can obtain permits and change the term “special use permit” to “special use authorization,” a more accurate descriptor. These updates will more closely align federal regulations with the decisions the Chattahoochee, Nantahala and Sumter national forests made on Jan. 31, 2012. These decisions allow floating above GA/SC Hwy. 28, specifically from below the confluence with Green Creek in North Carolina to the confluence with Lick Log Creek under certain permit restrictions. The proposal was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 19, 2016 and can be found at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2016/01/19/2016-00888/prohibitions-in-region-8-southern-region.  Members of the public may send written comments to Proposed Rule Amendment, c/o USDA Forest Service, R8 Planning, 1720 Peachtree Street NW, Suite 811N, Atlanta, GA 30309. Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or faxed to 404-347-5401.  The public may comment on the proposed changes until March 21, 2016.