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Regional Ecosystem Office Phone: 503-808-2165 FAX: 503-808-2163
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| Memorandum | |
| Date: | February 2, 2002 |
| To: | Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Members (see Distribution List) |
| From: | Stephen J. Odell, Executive Director |
| Subject: | Agenda and Pre-work Materials for February 2002 IAC Meeting |
Enclosed please find a proposed agenda and supporting pre-work materials for the meeting of the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC) scheduled for February 7, 2002, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Mt. Hood Conference Room, at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, located at 8235 N.E. Airport Way in Portland (503-281-2500). Please note that the scheduled starting time for the meeting has been moved up by a half-an-hour, to 10:00 a.m., from the originally announced time.
In reviewing the proposed agenda you will see that the vast majority of the upcoming meeting will, similar to our last meeting, be devoted to discussion of the Future of the Northwest Forest Plan, with a particular focus on receiving input and views from the non-Federal members of the committee on how to improve the performance of the NWFP in meeting all of its objectives. Toward this end, you will find enclosed a considerable assortment of materials that provide perspectives from a variety of different sources on how best to achieve such improvements, including the comments of IAC member Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, which asked that its comments be shared with all committee members. Please take the time to review the enclosed materials before the meeting if you can, for they are designed to provide you with a useful backdrop and facilitate a more informed and robust discussion of the issues.
If you have questions about the meeting or enclosed materials, please do not hesitate to contact me or REO Management Analyst Kath Collier (503-808-2179). I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Enclosures:
• Proposed Agenda and Prework for February 2002 IAC meeting
• November 2001 IAC Meeting Notes
• Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Comments on Proposed NFP Amendments (Dec. 17, 2001)
• "Administrative Tools to Fix the Northwest Forest Plan" white paper
• Letter from Dr. David Perry, et al. to the RIEC (Sept. 4, 2001) and RIEC's response (Nov. 30, 2001)
• Letter from Sen. Smith to CEQ Chairman Connaughton (Jan. 11, 2002)
• Letter from Rep. Inslee, et al. to Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth (Nov. 15, 2001)
• Letter from Rep. DeFazio to Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (Apr. 14, 2000)
• Executive Summary, "Environmental Issues in Pacific Northwest Forest Management" (NAS 2000)
• Complaint, Douglas Timber Operators v. Secretary of Agriculture, Civil No. 01-6378-AA (D. Or.)
cc: Presenters, REO, PAC DFOs
1701/kc
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Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Distribution List
California
Mary Nichols, CA Resource Agency, State Representative
Maria Rea, CA Resource Agency (Alternate)
Francie Sullivan, Representative of CA Counties
John Wolley, CA Counties (Alt)
Oregon
Peter Green, Forest Policy Advisor, State Representative
Lance Clark, Resource Analyst, State Rep. (Alternate)
Rocky McVay, Representative of Oregon Counties
Washington
Robert Nichols, Senior Exe. Policy Assistant, State Rep.
Karin Berkholtz, State Representative (Alternate)
Albert McKee, Representative of WA Counties
Tribes
Merv George Jr., Tech. Spec., CA Indian Forest & Fire Mgmt Council
David Herrera, Fisheries Mgr, NW Indian Fisheries Commission
Bruce Davies, Policy Analyst, NW Indian Fisheries Com. (Alt)
Jim Anderson, Exec. Director, NW Indian Fisheries Com. (Alt)
Katie Krueger, Envir. Policy Analyst, Quileute Tribe (Alt)
George Smith, Intertribal Timber Council
Theodora Strong, Yakama Nation (Alt)
Gary Morishima, Intertribal Timber Council (Alt)
Federal Agencies
Anne Badgley, Regional Dir, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Steve Thompson, Acting CA/NV Op Office Mgr, FWS
Col. Randall J. Butler, Dist Engr, U.S. Army Corps of Engrs
Davis Moriuchi, Dep Dist Commander, U.S. Corps of Engrs
Art Eck, Deputy Regional Director, National Park Service
Kathy Jope, Natural Resources Team Leader, NPS
Jim Shevock, Associate Regional Director, NPS (Alt)
Harv Forsgren, Regional Forester, Forest Service, R-6
Nancy Graybeal, Deputy Regional Forester, FS, R-6
Jack Blackwell, Regional Forester, FS, R-5
Bernie Weingardt, Deputy Regional Forester, FS , R-5
Bob Graham, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Anne Kinsinger, Regional Biologist, USGS Western Region
Ronald E. Kirby, Director, USGS Ecosystem Science Center
Robert Lohn, Reg Adm, National Marine Fisheries Service
Mike Crouse, Acting Asst. Reg Adm, NMFS (Alt)
Thomas J. Mills, Station Director, Forest Service, PNW
Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, Western Ecology Division, EPA
Robert Lackey, Western Ecology Division, EPA (Alt)
Dave Powers, Environmental Protection Agency
Stan Speaks, Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Dave Renwald, Portland Area Office, BIA (Alt)
Ron Jaeger, Area Director, Sacramento Area Office, BIA
Elaine Zielinski, State Director, OR/WA, Bureau of Land Mmgt
Ed Shepard, Deputy State Director, OR/WA, BLM
Michael Pool, State Director, CA, BLM (Alt)
Paul Roush, Wildlife Biologist, BLM, Arcata, CA
Updated 01/20/2002
Intergovernmental Advisory Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 7, 2002 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Mt. Hood Conference Room - Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel
DRAFT PROPOSED AGENDA
| Time | Potential Agenda Topics | Purpose | Presenter |
| 10:00 | Preliminary Matters
• Welcome & Introductions |
Logistics | Harv Forsgren
Steve Odell |
| 10:10 | Future Direction of Northwest
Forest Plan - Round 2
• Overview of ongoing RIEC process
& views on present course of
Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP)
implementation |
Provide Background for Discussions to follow |
Harv Forsgren Steve Odell |
| 11:00 | Break | ||
| 11:10 | Future Direction of Northwest
Forest Plan - Round 2 (continued)
• Small Group Discussions focused on identifying 5-7 most valuable potential changes to improve NFP implementation |
Feedback | Steve Odell
Kath Collier |
| 12:30 | Lunch (Lunch-by-the-number) | ||
| 1:30 | Opportunity for Public Comment | Feedback | Public |
| 1:45 | Future Direction of Northwest
Forest Plan - Round 2 (continued)
• Small Group Reporting and
Recording of Bullets |
Group Feedback | Steve Odell
Kath Collier |
| 2:45 | Break | ||
| 3:00 | Future Direction of Northwest
Forest Plan - Round 2 (continued)
• Regional Executives' Synthesis &
Reflecting Back non-Federal Input |
Advice | Harv Forsgren
Steve Odell |
| 3:30 | Hot Topics
• Update on NFP-related litigation |
Information Update | Steve Odell
Jon Martin |
| 3:45 | Opportunity for Questions on Status Reports | Clarification | REO Reps |
| 3:50 | Meeting Close-out - Review of Progress & Decisions made during meeting, Meeting Critique, & Closing Comments | Recap
Housekeeping |
Harv Forsgren
Kath Collier |
| 4:00 | Adjournment | Formal Closure | Harv Forsgren |
Status Reports:
• Survey & Manage Management Recommendation revisions to accommodate National Fire Plan projects
• Umpqua Land Exchange Project
Topic for Bonus Questions: U.S. Presidents (in honor of Presidents' Day on February 18)
AGENDA TOPIC OVERVIEW
| Presenter/Sponsor/REO Contact/Phone: Steve Odell (503-808-2166) |
| Topic: Future Direction of the Northwest Forest Plan - Round 2 |
| Issue Statement: To gather input and advice from non-Federal IAC members regarding the future direction of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) and to discuss their highest priorities for potential changes to improve the plan's performance in meeting all of its objectives |
| Background: At the November 2001 IAC meeting, participants discussed a number of key issues related to three areas of NWFP implementation: the Aquatic Conservation Strategy, the cumulative procedural requirements and processes attendant to implementation, and the interrelationship between the conservation and commodity output strategies underlying the NWFP. The results of these discussions will be displayed at the February meeting, along with key NWFP issues and proposals that have been put forward by other groups and public officials, as a basis for continuing discussions and more focused attention on particular changes that might be made to improve upon the present course of NWFP implementation. |
| Analysis and Options: There will be a brief overview of the ongoing RIEC process focused on methods to improve the performance of the NWFP, a review of key elements identified at the November 2001 IAC meeting, wrapping up with a discussion of views from a variety of other sources on the same subject. The IAC will then break up into small facilitated discussion groups that will look at key elements previously identified at the November IAC meeting, as well as those extracted from the "views from other quarters." The small groups will be asked to identify five to seven potential changes to improve upon the present course of NWFP implementation that the group would consider to be of the greatest importance. A brief presentation by each small group will follow. A plenary discussion and synthesis of small group input will follow with an opportunity provided to discuss potential next steps. The goal of this exercise is to enable the Federal regional executives the opportunity to receive non-Federal IAC input as to the highest priority issues, concerns, and opportunities for improving the implementation of the NWFP in meeting all of its fundamental objectives. |
| Organizational/Funding Implications: Potentially significant, depending on the ultimate outcome of discussions and policymakers' decisions on the future direction of the NWFP. |
| Action Required: X
IAC Discussion & Input IAC Recommendation
RIEC Decision Other: |
STATUS REPORT
STATUS REPORT
During the week of July 16, 2001, public scoping meetings for the EIS were held in the potentially affected local areas of Reedsport,
Roseburg, Drain, and Eugene. About 150 people attended these meetings, and scoping was completed in early August. The objective of the
meetings was to have the public identify important issues which could be used to help frame the range of alternatives to be considered in the
EIS. Preliminary issues focus on how land exchanges may affect recreational and commercial access, vegetation age and species distribution,
endangered species, economic opportunities, and local government revenues. The Foundation has released its model to the public and continues to meet with interested parties to describe the model and the project. The
Foundation has also assembled a team of consultants to prepare an EIS. Under the current schedule, the ULEP draft EIS is expected to be
published in late summer 2002, and the final EIS is slated for completion in 2003. The ULEP anticipates advising the RIEC of the proposed action prior to publication of the draft EIS. To the extent the proposed action may
involve modifications to standards and guidelines or Land Allocations established by the NWFP Record of Decision, a need for additional
coordination with the RIEC and REO is anticipated. If it is needed, such
coordination must occur in a timely manner to meet the ULEP's
congressionally mandated schedule.
REO Contact/Phone: Ken Denton (503-808-2175) Topic: Revising Survey and Manage Management Recommendations to facilitate the fuels treatment objectives of the National Fire
Plan Background: The recently adopted NWFP amendments to the
Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines (S&M S&Gs) describe
Management Recommendations (MRs) as documents describing the habitat parameters that will provide for persistence of the species at
known sites. The S&M S&Gs go on to say that, in high-fire frequency areas such as east of the Cascades or in the Klamath Province,
Management Recommendations should give specific consideration to the acceptability of fuel treatments to reduce the risk of future large-scale or high-intensity fire, "even if it entails some risk to individual site occupancy."
The National Fire Plan is a well-funded initiative emphasizing, as its first priority, reducing fuel levels around at-risk communities in the
urban-wildland interface. The objectives of the National Fire Plan and the management direction for conservation of Survey and Manage
species sites often apply to the same areas, which can create a management challenge. Revising the MRs is expected to aid in the design of
urgent fuels treatment projects around at-risk communities while continuing to meet the NWFP's species persistence objectives.Status/Update: Before the recently adopted amendment to the S&M S&Gs, about 260 MRs were already written. The agencies queried the
administrative units to find out which S&M species they were finding, or expected to find, in sufficient numbers that might inhibit the
accomplishment of fuels treatment objectives. A total of 40 of the 346 S&M species were identified. With the help of taxa specialists, the
agencies are now in the process of revising MRs for these 40 species to provide more flexibility for fuel treatments around known sites.
Nearly half of the applicable MRs - those for bryophytes, lichens, vascular plants and the red tree vole - are expected to have revised versions
in final draft in about two weeks and will go out for final agency review and eventual use in the field. Another quarter currently contain
excellent modifications but significant writing remains; it's hoped these will follow the first group by no more than 4 to 6 weeks. Efforts on
the remaining quarter generally are expected to cease, meaning that project planners will continue to use existing MRs for these species; for
many of these, either the species is so rare that additional flexibility is not practicable or necessary, or so common that existing direction is
thought to have enough flexibility already.
REO Contact/Phone: Debbie Pietrzak (503-808-6006) Agency Staff Contact/Phone: Patrick Geehan (503-952-6446) Topic: Umpqua Land Exchange Project (ULEP) Background: The FY2001 Interior Department appropriations bill contained language directing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to
cooperate with the Foundation for Voluntary Land Exchanges (an Oregon non-profit corporation) in the preparation of an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze potential large Federal/private land exchanges that could lead to both increased ecological and economic
outcomes in the lower Umpqua basin. Congress also directed the use of a spatially explicit vegetation/ecological dynamics model developed
by scientists from Oregon State University. In addition, the Congress directed completion of biological opinions and Habitat Conservation
Plans (HCPs) under the Endangered Species Act. The final EIS, biological opinions, and draft HCPs are to be completed by December 31,
2002, and any land exchanges and final HCPs are to be accomplished by June 15, 2003. The Congress appropriated $4.3 million for the
Foundation to carry out most of the work, although significant decisions will be made by affected Federal agencies. The BLM is the lead
Federal agency working on the ULEP. Status/Update: