IAC: Good Neighbor Authority Contracted NEPA

Committee members met with the Forest Service (FS) and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to discuss how Categorical Exclusion Analysis works under NEPA. Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) allows the FS and ODF to work together to increase the pace and scale of restoration. Using GNA increases the capacity to get work done, in this case the two agencies are piloting the first contracted Categorical Exclusions Analysis done on the Middle Fork Ranger District.

The contractor, Nature’s Capital LLC completed the analysis for Phase 1 of the Wall Creek GNA project. Specialists from the contracted team shared information on the existing forest conditions and proposed activities, while also reporting on specific findings on wildlife, aquatics, botany, and heritage resources.

After meaningful discussion, the group visited the project area to ask questions and better understand the current conditions within the project area. Overall, this was an excellent opportunity for members to learn about contracted NEPA under GNA.

You’re Invited to a Stewardship Contracting Workshop!

When?

April 12th, 2018 from 9:00am – 4:00pm

Why?

Stewardship contracting is one of the newer management tools used by the Willamette and other National Forests. Stewardship contracting is a useful tool which allows federal agencies to keep timber revenue local and be reinvested into local roads and service work. The USFS and South Santiam Watershed Council are partnering on this workshop to help contractors understand what stewardship contracting consists of, how the contracting process works, and how to write a successful stewardship bid proposal.

What?

Morning presentations will be followed by an afternoon field trip to visit the recently completed Rock Thin stewardship sale site and discuss implementation of stewardship contracts.  Lunch and field trip transportation provided.

Who?

Special presenter: Tim Daugherty from Idaho Forest Group LLC

Resource specialists:

• Mark Phillipp, Regional Stewardship Team Contracting Officer, US Forest Service

• David Bishop, Forester, Willamette National Forest, US Forest Service

Where?    

Best Western, 1100 Price Road SE, Albany, OR

For more information and to RSVP, contact: 

Jane Barth, Facilitator, at jbbarth@comcast.net or 541-760-4693

Please RSVP no later than April 2nd so we can plan meals, transportation, and workshop materials. Please indicate if you need any special accommodations.

And, please forward this invitation to others who would be interested in stewardship contracting.  Thank you!