GEOLOGY IN THE FOREST SERVICE

Geology in the Forest Service (FS) serves multiple purposes. The Minerals and Geology Management (MGM) program of the FS operates to facilitate needs of the public effectively by achieving its mission of "Caring for the Land and Serving People." The role of a Geologist in the FS is to administer mineral exploration, development and reclamation activities related to federal (government owned) and non-federal (privately-owned) mineral estates according to specific authorities, legislation, rules, and regulations. This information is needed for ecologically based planning and for implementing a wide range of FS land and resource management activities. This includes facilitating mining operations, cave management, mineral materials, geohazards, abandoned mine lands (AML), geothermal, etc. Through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Geologists with the FS provide a crucial role in facilitating the General Mining Law of 1872 working with other federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Geologists in the FS may also provide key roles in Wildland Fire Management with opportunities to assist with Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) and Resource Advising (READ) work. FS Geologists play a critical role in advancing the agency's mission of caring for the land and serving people by managing the nation's mineral resources and other geological resources.