Regional Ecosystem Office
333 SW 1st
P.O. Box 3623
Portland, Oregon 97208-3623
Phone: 503-808-2165 FAX: 503-808-2163

                 Memorandum

Date:       January 21, 2000

To:           Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Members (See Distribution List)

From:      Curtis A. Loop, Acting Executive Director

Subject:   Agenda and Prework Material for the February 3 Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Meeting

Enclosed are the proposed agenda, agenda topic overviews, and status reports for the February Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) meeting. The IAC meeting will be held at the Downtown Embassy Suites, 319 SW Pine Street, Portland, Oregon 97204-2726 (Phone: 503-279-9000 and Fax: 503-497-9051). You may phone the hotel to make your reservations (request the government rate).

The IAC meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and is projected to adjourn by 3:15 p.m. We are currently scheduled to meet in the Gevurtz Ceremonial Room on the mezzanine. The IAC agenda includes the following topics:

We will have updates on a recommendation for an August combined IAC and PAC meeting; status of the Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Module; the FY 1999 Annual Accomplishment Reports; and the appeal of Judge Rothstein's ruling. Hot Topic items will be collected during the meeting and covered with the updates.

If you have questions or suggestions about the logistics or the meeting agenda, please contact Curt Loop (503-808-2172), Linda Kucera (503-808-2179), or your agency representative.

Enclosure

cc: Presenters, REO Representatives, RCERT, PAC DFOs

1478/lk

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Distribution List

California
Mary Nichols, California Resource Agency, State Representative
Maria Rea, California Resource Agency (Alternate)
Francie Sullivan, Representative of California Counties

Oregon
Paula Burgess, Assistant to the Governor for Natural Resources, Office of the Governor
Peter Green, Forest Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor (Alternate)
Rocky McVay, Representative of Oregon Counties

Washington
Craig Partridge, Federal Agency Liaison, State Representative
Karin Berkholtz, State Representative
Harvey Wolden, Representative of Washington Counties

Tribes
Greg Blomstrom, Planning Forester, CA Indian Forest & Fire Management Council
Mel Moon, Commissioner, NW Indian Fisheries Commission
Jim Anderson, Executive Director, NW Indian Fisheries Commission (Alternate)
Katie Krueger, Environmental Policy Analyst, Quileute Tribe
Gary Morishima, Technical Advisor, Intertribal Timber Council
Guy McMinds, Executive Office Advisor, Quinault Indian Nation (Alternate)
Eric Hanson, Associate Director, Wildlife Department, Yakama Indian Nation (Alternate)

Federal Agencies
Anne Badgley, Regional Director, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Michael Spear, California/Nevada Operations Office Manager, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Roger Blair, Branch Chief, Western Ecology Division, Environmental Protection Agency
Robert Lackey, Assoc. Director, Western Ecology Division, Environmental Protection Agency (Alternate)
John D. Buffington, Western Region Chief Biologist, BRD, U.S. Geological Survey
Michael Collopy, Center Director, Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey (Alternate)
Col. Randall J. Butler, District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Davis Moriuchi, Deputy District Commander, U.S. Corps of Engineers
Ken Feigner, Director, Forest and Salmon Group, Environmental Protection Agency
Harv Forsgren, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, R-6
Nancy Graybeal, Deputy Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, R-6
Brad Powell, Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, R-5
Roberta Moltzen, Deputy Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, R-5
Bob Graham, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Thomas J. Mills, Station Director, Forest Service, PNW
Stan Speaks, Area Director, Portland Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Dave Renwald, Wildlife Biologist, Portland Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs (Alternate)
Ron Jaeger, Area Director, Sacramento Area Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs
William Stelle, Jr., Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service
William Hogarth, Acting Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service (Alternate)
Rick Applegate, Assistant Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service (Alternate)
William Walters, Deputy Regional Director, National Park Service
Kathy Jope, Natural Resources Team Leader, National Park Service
Jim Shevock, Associate Regional Director, National Park Service (Alternate)
Elaine Zielinski, State Director, Oregon/Washington, Bureau of Land Management
Alfred Wright, Acting State Director, California, Bureau of Land Management (Alternate)
Paul Roush, Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Land Management, Arcata, CA

RCERT Ex Officio
Don Motanic, Technical Specialist, Intertribal Timber Council Updated 1/6/2000

 

IAC Meeting Potential Agenda Items
February 3, 2000 -- 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Downtown Embassy Suites

Time Potential Agenda Items Topic Purpose Presenter(s)
9:30
10 min.		 Welcome, Introductions, Certify the November Meeting Notes, Review the February Agenda Complete Official Business and Review the Agenda Elaine Zielinski
9:40
15 min.		 ONRC Action Litigation and the Settlement Agreement Information Briefing Sue Zike
9:55
45 min.		 Survey and Manage Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (S&M DSEIS) Briefing Information Briefing SEIS Team
10:40
20 min.		 Break
11:00
45 min.		 IAC Subgroup for the S&M DSEIS Report, Discuss, and Agree on Recommendation(s) IAC Subgroup
11:45
75 min.		 Lunch
1:00
35 min.		 Forest Service New National Forest Management Act (NFMA) Regulations Information Briefing and Discussion Lisa Freedman
1:35
35 min.		 President's Roadless Area Initiative Information Briefing and Discussion Lisa
2:10
35 min.		 Hot Topics and Updates

  • Recommendation for the August Combined IAC and PAC Meeting
  • Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Module Development
  • Annual Accomplishments Report
  • Appeal of Judge Rothstein's Ruling
 Information Sharing
Curt Loop

Dave Busch
Curt
NMFS

2:45
15 min.		 Public Comment Feedback/Input Elaine & Linda
3:00
15 min.		 Review Today's Agreements, Potential Agenda Items for the Next IAC Meeting, and Closing Comments Confirm Agreements, Potential Agenda Items for the Next Meeting, Close Elaine & Curt
3:15 Adjourn
 

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)
AGENDA TOPIC OVERVIEW

Meeting Date: February 3, 2000
REO Contact/Phone: Harold Belisle 503-808-2173 and Shawne Mohoric 503-808-2175
Topic: Survey and Manage (S&M) Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) Advice from the IAC
Issue Statement: Report by the IAC Subcommittee of their review of the S&M DSEIS.
Background: At the December 7, 1999 RIEC meeting, the RIEC directed the REO to facilitate a review and comment of the S&M DSEIS by IAC members. The RIEC was especially concerned that the non-federal members of the IAC are provided an opportunity to review the DSEIS and provide advice to the RIEC on selection of a course of action prior to preparation of a Record of Decision.

On December 17, the REO contacted the IAC and requested that an IAC subcommittee be established to respond to the RIEC request. Three of the non-federal IAC members agreed to form a subcommittee and work on this request. Background information was mailed to the subcommittee and a DSEIS briefing and workshop are scheduled for January 26.

Analysis and Options: The subcommittee will provide a status report on the review efforts and preliminary comments and recommendations to the IAC for consideration. The REO will facilitate finalizing IAC comments and advice to the RIEC after the full IAC has had the opportunity for involvement. The expectation is that IAC comments will be provided to the RIEC prior to the close (March 3) of the comment period.
Action Required: IAC Review & Discussion IAC Recommendation
 

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)
AGENDA TOPIC OVERVIEW

Meeting Date: February 3, 2000
Presenter: Lisa Freedman
REO Contact/Phone: Shawne Mohoric 503-808-2175
Topic: Forest Service Proposed New National Forest Management Act Regulations
Background: The proposed planning rule would rewrite the existing Forest Service regulations implementing the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). Elements of the proposed rule are based on the recommendations of a Committee of Scientists and 20 years of experience implementing forest planning. Elements of the proposed rule include:
  • Bases forest and grassland planning on the principles of ecological, economic, and social sustainability;
  • Requires the Forest Service to actively engage the public and our other federal, state, local, and tribal partners in the management of our national forests and grasslands;
  • Integrates science and scientists into the planning process and requires the Forest Service to focus on managing entire ecosystems rather than single species or outcomes; and,
  • Integrates planning and management activities more closely so that the Forest Service can respond to new information and opportunities in a timely manner.
Status/Actions: Last fall the Forest Service hosted a series of 23 town meetings across the country to discuss the proposed planning rule. The comment period for the proposed planning rule closes today.
Action Required: Information Briefing with Discussion
 

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)
AGENDA TOPIC OVERVIEW

Meeting Date: February 3, 2000
Presenter: Lisa Freedman
REO Contact/Phone: Shawne Mohoric 503-808-2175
Topic: President's Roadless Area Initiative
Background: In October 1999, President Clinton asked the Forest Service to begin an open public process to address how roadless areas have typically remained without roads because of inaccessibility, rugged terrain, low timber values, or environmental concerns. Addressing this issue is important because:
  • Prior to the President's announcement, the Forest Service received a large number of public comments asking the agency to provide additional protection for roadless areas;
  • Roadless areas often provide clean water, wildlife habitat, aesthetic values, recreational opportunities, and other important values; and,
  • The Forest Service would prefer to invest resources in projects that have broader public support, less cost, and fewer environmental impacts than building roads in roadless areas.

The Forest Service released a notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on October 19, 1999 and proposed a two-part process. Part one would restrict certain activities, such as new road construction, in inventoried roadless areas. Part two would establish national direction for managing inventoried roadless areas, and for determining whether and to what extent similar protections should be extended to uninventoried roadless areas. Both part one and part two would be implemented with extensive public involvement. Part two would be implemented through local forest planning.

Status/Actions: On December 20, 1999, the Forest Service concluded a comment period on the scope of the proposal. During this comment period, the agency hosted an unprecedented 190 regional and local public meetings and received more than 400,000 comments. The Forest Service is now preparing a draft EIS that will detail the agency's proposal and its likely effects. The agency plans to conduct another comment period and series of public meetings when it releases the draft EIS and a proposed rule in May 2000. The agency plans to release a final EIS and regulation before the end of 2000.
Action Required: Information Briefing with Discussion
 

Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC)

STATUS REPORT

Meeting Date: February 3, 2000 REO Contact/Phone: Dave Busch 503-808-2192
Topic: Effectiveness Monitoring of Aquatic and Riparian (A/R) Ecosystems
Background: On March 20, 1998, the Research Agency Executives provided direction to guide the Aquatic/Riparian Effectiveness Monitoring Plan (AREMP) workgroup in completing a draft monitoring plan that the agencies' would consider for implementation. This guidance utilized the recommendations provided by an IAC subgroup that had examined policy issues affecting plan development. After considering a complex array of factors relating to the plan's conceptual basis, scale of interest, sample design, indicators, protocols, analyses, and organizational options, the workgroup produced a draft for review by the Technical Sounding Board (TSB) that is providing advice during the plan development effort. Comments have been received from the majority of the TSB members. Some comments suggested substantive changes, however, the TSB was generally quite supportive of the approaches outlined in the AREMP draft. The workgroup is now editing the draft so that it can be sent out for scientific peer review. It is anticipated that the AREMP draft will be delivered to reviewers by the end of February. Following peer review, the workgroup projects that a draft will be ready for the Research Agency Executives to submit for IAC review and recommendation by mid-year.

Status/Update: The workgroup is functioning in a unified fashion to develop the plan and make preliminary implementation recommendations to the Monitoring Program Managers. With the recent RIEC decision to establish an Interagency Regional Monitoring Team (including a dedicated position for an A/R module lead) and FY 2000 funding of monitoring priorities, the completion of the AREMP and pilot implementation efforts are expected to be expedited.
 

Future IAC Meeting Planning

Possible May 2000 IAC Agenda Topics

Possible May 2000 IAC Status Reports