Steering Committee Members
The USDA Forest Service recreation, geology, and watershed programs have key roles in cave and karst management, guiding the agency’s administration of those resources over 193 million acres to effectively achieve its mission of “Caring for the Land and Serving People.” The Forest Service has responsibility under the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 (FCRPA) to designate significant caves and to provide for their protection and preservation. Sensitive cave resources are protected, balancing surface resource management and cave use with the protection of cave values. Caves are natural laboratories for modern research and may contain paleontological resources, cultural resources, or sensitive wildlife. In order to protect these valuable resources, the Forest Service follows the FCRPA as it specifically exempts the disclosure of significant cave locations under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552).