Appropriate content is also critical because letters often enumerate our policies and, in many cases, is the best written record of past actions. To ensure proper and efficient handling of sensitive correspondence, the State Director's staff will coordinate responses. Any controlled correspondence received outside the State Director's office from Washington should be sent immediately to the State Director's Staff Assistant who then initiates the sequence of steps outlined below. In most cases, letters sent directly to Field Offices from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance should be answered in the field with a courtesy copy sent to the State Director's Staff Assistant. However, this does not preclude the need to communicate with the State Director or other appropriate State Office staff, prior to a response, when dealing with a particularly sensitive matter.
Prompt replies are also important.
Typically, we must respond to controlled correspondence within 10 days. Often the mandated time frame is even shorter. I realize that these extremely short deadlines can often place a lot pressure on those involved in developing our response. I also appreciate past efforts to meet this demand and simply ask that you continue your good work to accomplish this important task. The following procedures apply to all controlled correspondence and any other sensitive correspondence which the State Director deems to be deserving of special handling.