Back-country airstrips.—The Committee notes that backcountry
airstrips are an appropriate use of certain National Forest System
(NFS) lands that can provide enhanced access for a variety of legitimate
activities. The Committee encourages the Forest Service to
support, through cooperative relationships with pilots and other interested
user groups, the operation and maintenance of appropriate,
existing backcountry airstrips as part of a balanced, safe,
and efficient forest transportation system. The Committee urges
VerDate Mar 15 2010 07:11 Jul 20, 2011 Jkt 067352 PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR151.XXX HR151 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with REPORTS
93
the Forest Service to evaluate whether it is appropriate to establish
additional backcountry airstrips on NFS lands as part of the land
management planning process and consistent with applicable Federal
Aviation Administration regulations (49 U.S.C. 1349). Further,
the Committee directs the Forest Service to provide within 90 days (changed to one year)
upon enactment of this Act, an inventory of backcountry airstrips
presently under Forest Service jurisdiction; a detailed description,
including examples of the management, conservation, recreational,
and public safety and security benefits and uses of existing airstrips;
a description of any existing conflicts that presently hinder
or may hinder operational use of any such airstrips in the future;
a description of the primitive or wilderness values of the area in
the vicinity of the airstrips, including environmental and habitat
values that may be affected by the airstrip and its use; and an accounting
of operation and maintenance costs incurred by the Forest
Service in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 related to the present inventory
of backcountry airstrips.
We have a golden opportunity to help and support the USFS in there endeavor to comply with the 2012 appropriations bill, (there funding) I urge you to help identify back country airstrips and support the RAF and the Forest service in the restoration of them and potential locations for new ones.
