Why are permits required for noncommercial group uses?
As a steward of the National Forests, the Forest Service has a duty to minimize resource impacts on National Forest System lands. Large group gatherings in the National Forests have significant adverse impacts on Forest resources, public health and safety, and the agency s ability to allocate space in the face of increasing constraints on the use of National Forest System land. A permit system allows the agency to address these problems more expeditiously, more effectively, and more equitably. These adverse impacts include: • The spread of disease; • Pollution from inadequate site clean-up; • Soil compaction from inadequate site restoration; • Damage to archaeological sites; and • Traffic congestion. Top • Why do you define a group as 75 or more people? Why not 15 or 50? Originally, the regulation proposed that a permit be required for 25 or more people. Based on public comment and the Forest Service s experience with all types of noncommercial group uses on National Forest System land
