FS Permit Has Been Signed By Unknown Individual

I have received word from a reliable source that a yet unknown person has signed a formal Forest Service Special Use Permit for the New Mexico Annual Gathering. This continues the ongoing debate concerning the validity of any individual signing a permit in the name of the Rainbow Family. As a collection of individuals who operate by Consensus, no council has ever approved the signing of a permit. In the past Special Use Permits have been signed by individuals as mediators with the Forest Service on developing an Operational Plan for the Gathering, however this year the FS has been firm in demanding a formal permit signing.

"As we discussed in previous meetings, it will be necessary for
someone who plans to attend the Gathering to sign the non-commercial
group use permit for it to take effect under our interpretation of
the regulations. This permit is required by law, and is intended to
protect the health and safety of the attendees, and to protect the
environmental and archeological resources of the public lands to be
used for the Gathering under the permit. We are already in contact
with more than one individual planning to attend this year's
Gathering who would prefer for us to issue a permit without requiring
a signature from an attendee, but are willing to sign the permit in
his/her capacity as an individual contact person should we so
require. Accordingly, since we have already identified more than one
person willing to sign, we are planning for the 2009 National Rainbow
Family Gathering to be a legally permitted event. "

Sincerely,
(sg) Gilbert Zepeda
(for) Corbin L. Newman, JR.
Regional Forester

The signing of this permit in no way will restrict the FS Law Enforcement Agents (Incident Command Team) from harassing individuals attending the Gathering.