25. What recourse does a grazing permittee have to appeal 

 decisions made by forest officers regarding reductions in 

 stocking or other adjustments in management with which 

 the permittee does not agree? 



Under existing regulations, the permittee has two avenues of 

 appeal: ( 1 ) He may appeal the decision of the local forest officer 

 in turn to the forest supervisor and the regional forester; or (2) 

 he may have his case reviewed by the appropriate advisory board. 

 If he disagrees with the recommendations of the advisory board, 

 he can, within 20 days, file with the chairman of the board a 

 statement covering the points on which he dissents. The entire 

 record is then forwarded to the regional forester for decision. 

 If he disagrees with the decision of the regional forester under 

 either procedure, he can carry his appeal to the Chief of the Forest 

 Service, and finally to the Secretary of Agriculture. 



The avenues of appeal available to permittees are adequate to 

 insure fair treatment. Appeals reaching the Secretary of Agricul- 

 ture are reviewed by members of his staff, and independent 

 decisions are reached. 



Another opportunity for permittees to appeal is afforded by 

 the National Forest Board of Review, established May 10, 1948, 

 by the Secretary of Agriculture. It is composed of private citizens 

 whose duties are to advise the Secretary concerning problems 

 arising in connection with the public use of the national forests 

 and other land administered by the Forest Service. Among other 

 things, the board may be called upon to advise the Secretary of 

 Agriculture on the disposition of appeals to the Secretary by forest 

 users, including the livestock interests, from decisions by the Chief 

 of the Forest Service. The joint committee of the two national 

 stockmen's associations has agreed that this board should consider 

 important matters of policy and not individual appeal cases unless 

 these involve important policy matters. 



Members of the Board appointed in 1948 are Dr. Jonathan 

 Forman, of Columbus, Ohio; Prof. Gilmour B. MacDonald, 

 former head of the Department of Forestry, Iowa State College, 

 Ames, Iowa; and Dr. Roland Roger Renne, president of Montana 

 State College, Bozeman, Mont. 



The advisory group is appointed on the basis of personal compe- 

 tence and not as the representatives of any groups or organizations 

 interested in the use of national-forest land. Members must have 

 no financial interest in the use of this land. 



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