The
Lookout
Information,
Observations and Comments from the
National Association
of
Sustaining the Heritage
____________________________________________________________________________________
This
is our first attempt at producing an Internet newsletter, so please
bear with
us as we work through the wonders of Microsoft Word and its magic
buttons.
Another change is a flexible publishing schedule. Our intent is to send
a
newsletter out when significant news about the national forests, the
Forest
Service or forest management occurs. This may be easier said than done,
but
we'll give it a try.
Currently
the NAFSR issue basket is overflowing with items that NAFSR is paying
attention
to, including the transition to a new Administration, the continuing
problem of
fire suppression financing, the overall Forest Service budget, federal
fire
policy, national economic stimulus, forest fuels reduction and GAO's
soon to be
released study of the pros and cons of moving the Forest Service to the
Department of Interior.
However,
before touching on such issues, we would like to point you to a web
site in
Region 9 that is a pleasure to read and reaffirms that even with all of
the
challenges to the Forest Service, the tradition of working with people
to
improve forest management and people's well being is still a vital part
of the
Outfit. http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ssrs/
with the simple name "Success Stories" chronicles the activities of
Forest Service people in Region 9 working with their neighbors and
people from
urban areas to reinforce "Caring for the Land and Serving People." Take a look at the R-9 site, and know that
similar activities and involvement take place in every region and unit
of the
Forest Service.
Transition:
NAFSR
members have worked hard to brief members of the Obama transition team
about
the major issues facing the national forests and Forest Service. This communications effort involved personal
contacts, and briefings conducted with other organizations sharing
NAFSR's
beliefs and concerns. It is too early to know how successful contacts
have
been, but there are positive indicators the
New
Administration has heard at least some of the issues described in the
various
briefings. (See website FSX.org/Letters and Reports for “What We
Believe----“
NAFSR’s basic briefing paper)
Recently Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack outlined his priorities for the Department, included the following about the Forest Service:
"
Restoring
the mission of the
We
see this as an encouraging indicator he is aware of some of the Forest
Service's major challenges.
Here are updates on other significant NAFSR activities.
Fire
Suppression Funds:
The
problem of finding a better way to pay for fire suppression is still
not
resolved. However, as noted by the Secretary, top administrators are
aware of
the problem. Recently Chair George Leonard attended a meeting in
The Congressional focus on an economic stimulus
package
has over shadowed the annual budget process, but not the importance of
a long
term adequate funding of Forest Service programs. George is spending
considerable time making contacts with staff and Congressional members
emphasizing the need for adequate and stable funding for Forest Service
missions. (See FSX website: Reports and Letters-- Proposed FY 2009
Fire
Policy:
For several years’
retirees, local communities, elected officials, organizations and
citizens have
been expressing increasing concern about the growing number of mega
fires and
the damage they cause to natural resources, property and the threat the
fires
pose to human life and health. There is also uneasiness about federal
wildland
fire policy that provides for the use of wildfires to accomplish
resource
management objectives.
Most people accept
the use of fire as a management tool, but a growing number, including
many
members of NAFSR, believe the uses of unplanned ignitions need more
analysis,
planning and public involvement before being undertaken as an
operational fire
management tool.
The increasing
concerns about wildfires has lead NAFSR Exec. Officer, Darrel Kenops to
form a
Fire Committee chaired by retired Deputy Chief Al West. While the full
committee is formed, Al assisted by Jim Golden, Gordon Schmidt and
Steve
Eubanks, are developing a fire problem
statement
paper. This paper will guide NAFSR future actions to help the Forest
Service work through critical fire issues. The paper should be ready
for full
committee and membership review by early spring.
Other individuals
and organizations are also looking at wildland fire management issues.
A group
of wildland fire retirees in Trinity
County , California
In
Economic Stimulus:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009″ or Stimulus Bill passed by the House January 28, 2009, promises $1.5 billion for forest improvement and maintenance. It still requires Senate action and Presidential signature. Here is a summary of House funding for Forest Service projects:
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE (INCLUDING TRANSFER OF
FUNDS)
For an additional amount for ‘‘Capital Improvement and Maintenance’’,
$650,000,000, for
reconstruction, capital improvement, decommissioning, and maintenance
of forest roads, bridges and trails; alternative energy technologies,
energy
efficiency enhancements and deferred maintenance at Federal facilities;
and for
remediation of abandoned mine sites, removal of fish passage barriers,
and
other critical habitat, forest improvement and watershed enhancement
projects
on Federal lands and waters:
Provided, That funds may be transferred to ‘‘National Forest System’’:
Provided
further, That the amount set aside from this appropriation pursuant to
section 1106
of this Act shall be not more than 5 percent instead of the percentage
specified in such section.
WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT (INCLUDING TRANSFERS OF FUNDS)
For an additional amount for ‘‘Wildland Fire Management’’,
$850,000,000, of
which $300,000,000 is for hazardous fuels reduction, forest health,
wood to
energy grants and rehabilitation and restoration activities
on Federal
lands, and of
which $550,000,000 is for State fire assistance hazardous fuels
projects,
volunteer fire assistance, cooperative forest health projects, city
forest
enhancements, and wood to energy grants on State and private lands:
Provided, That amounts in this paragraph may be transferred to ‘‘State
and
Private Forestry’’ and ‘‘National Forest System’’:
Provided further, That the amount set aside from this appropriation
pursuant to
section 1106
of this Act shall be not more than 5 percent instead of the percentage
specified in such
section.
The Forest Service is preparing for the
opportunities and
momentous workload that this legislation will create.
More details as we receive them.
GAO’s
Study of Organizational Change for the Forest
Service:
Last summer the Government Accountability Office was directed to look at the implications of moving the Forest Service to the Department of Interior by Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA). The report is expected to be released sometime in February 2009. We have very unofficial information the report will make no recommendations, but present an analysis of pros and cons of such a move.
McGuire Award:
An
important reminder from Stan Tixier, Chair of the McGuire Award
Committee:
At
the Forest Service Retirees Reunion in
As
you are well aware, Forest Service Retirees will gather again
in
NAFSR
regional representatives are the people responsible for
stimulating, receiving and forwarding nominations to the Awards
committee. The
committee is not able to instigate awards but rather we are dependant
on the
regional reps to submit nominations. So far, all the awards presented
have come
from R2, R6, R8 and one from R5 and another a joint award with FS
Research.
There are a lot of worthy recipients out there if they can be
identified and nominated.
I hope to hear from some of you soon. If you need a copy of the John R.
McGuire
Award charter and criteria, please let me know.
Thanks,
- Stan Tixier.
Don’t
Forget the
Reunion in
THE
LOOKOUT: Editors: John
Marker, Darrel Kenops
Contact:
John Marker, JF37M@AOL.com Phone: 541-352-6154 or 6681 Hwy 35,