National Forests: Administration of Outfitter and Guide Policies at the Gallatin Forest
RCED-90-163
Published: Aug 22, 1990. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed: (1) the Forest Service's oversight of outfitters' use of the Gallatin National Forest in Montana; and (2) alleged Forest Service favoritism toward certain outfitters.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | In order to ensure that the public demand for recreation opportunities in the Gallatin forest, including outfitter-guided visits, is met within the forest's capabilities, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Chief, Forest Service, to conduct such studies as may be necessary to determine the level of recreational activities the forest can sustain. |
The Forest Service plans no further action on this recommendation, citing its opinion that its forest planning process adequately addresses outfitter and guide activities.
|
| Department of Agriculture | Because the Forest Service has no plan to establish a procedure for assessing forests' capabilities to sustain recreational activities, even though the public demand for those activities is increasing, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Chief, Forest Service, to identify those forests where recreational activity is substantial and to conduct any additional studies that may be needed at those forests to adequately determine their recreational capabilities. |
The Forest Service plans no further action on this recommendation, citing its opinion that its forest planning process adequately addresses outfitter and guide activities.
|
| Department of Agriculture | In order to ensure that acts of preferential treatment, or the appearance of such acts, do not occur in the administration of the outfitter permitting program, the Secretary of Agriculture should direct the Chief, Forest Service, to develop internal control procedures for use at all national forests to routinely identify and remedy possible conflict-of-interest situations at the forest and ranger district levels. |
The Forest Service plans no further action on this recommendation, citing its opinion that the Forest Service Code of Conduct prohibits conflict-of-interest situations.
|
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Conflict of interestsConservationData collectionForest managementLicensesManagement information systemsNational forestsNational recreation areasOutdoor recreationProgram management