Hoosier National Forest, which oversees Charles C. Deam Wilderness, is proposing some Draconian new camping rules for the Wilderness. That’s bad, but there’s worse. The change will also allow them to arbitrarily change the rules in the future without any way to prevent it. We have to stop this!

TL,DR

  • Currently, camping rules are laid out in the Forest Plan for Hoosier National Forest.
  • Changes to the Forest Plan have to go through public comment and objection periods. The Forest Service is obliged to consider these when modifying the Plan.
  • The proposal will remove camping rules from the Forest Plan, and move them to Forest Orders.
  • Unlike the Forest Plan, Forest Orders are not subject to public comment or objection. They’re simply handed down by the Forest Service. There are absolutely no checks and balances involved.
  • They will be able to change the rules anytime they want, in any way they want, for any reason they want. And there won’t be a damned thing you can do about it.

Let Me Draw You A Picture

The proposal includes their first take at a new rule (that we won’t be able to do anything about). And it’s a stinker. They want to ban camping, except in a few designated spots, within a half mile of Lake Monroe.

I colored a map to show how much of the Wilderness will be under the ban.

The red part is the ban area. That’s a lot of the Wilderness.

Now remember, that’s just the beginning. This is the part they thought was palatable enough to mention right away.

What will their next proposal be? Perhaps a permit system? Maybe an outright ban on backpacking? If this proposal walks, they can order anything they want.

See the Whole Proposal

You can read the entire proposal here or here.

The Time to Object is now!

The comment period is currently open. Commenting is actually quite difficult – you have to send an email to a specific address, with a specific subject line, and an explanation of what you object to.

To make it easier for the public to comment, I have made a little link that will populate the address and subject line for you. Just click this link.

What Should I Say?

Here’s what they want included:

Objections must be in writing and must include the following: 1) objector’s name and mailing address, and telephone number or email address if available; 2) signature or other verification of authorship upon request; 3) identification of the lead objector when multiple objectors are listed;4) name of the plan amendment being objected to and the name and title of the responsible official; 5) a statement of the issues and/or parts of the plan amendment to which the objection applies; 6) a concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how the proposed plan decision may be improved; and if applicable, how the plan amendment is inconsistent with law,regulation or policy; and 7) a statement demonstrating the link between prior substantive formal comments attributed to the objector and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunity for formal comment.

Legal notice of objections

That seems like a lot. Here’s what I wrote.

To Whom it may Concern,

I wish to object to the proposed forest plan amendment regarding camping regulations at Hoosier National Forest.  Forest Supervisor Michael Chaveas is the responsible official.  I object to the proposal it its entirety.


My objection is that by removing camping regulations from the Forest Plan and implementing them as Forest Orders, you will remove all mechanisms for public comment and objection to future camping regulations.  Given that the National Forests are public lands, funded with public monies, the public has every right to provide input on their administration.

While the Forest Service certainly needs camping regulations to properly protect the public lands, those regulations could continue to be implemented in the Forest Plan, which would allow for public oversight without any undue hardship for the Forest Service.

Current camping regulations, vigorously enforced, would more than suffice to protect the public lands while still providing public oversight of Forest Service rule-making.

Yours sincerely,

Walter Hoel

<mailing address redacted, but included in the email>

Please help us stand up to this power grab. It’s really our last chance to keep the Forest Service from implementing any rule they want at any time. I hope you’ll agree that’s not acceptable.