Status of the Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan Under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

GAO commented on whether the Forest Service's Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan is a rule under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act. GAO noted that: (1) the Tongass Plan constitutes a rule that is subject to congressional review, since it would have a significant impact on non-agency parties; (2) the Plan is not subject to any of the statutory exceptions enumerated in 5 U.S.C. 804(3); and (3) if the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs determines the rule to be major, the effective date must be delayed for 60 days after the submission of the report to Congress.