The Record of Decision (ROD) for Survey and Manage (S&M) Species (ROD and Standards and Guidelines for Amendments to the Survey and Manage, Protection Buffer, and other Mitigation Measures Standards and Guidelines) provides several situations where specific projects may be exempted from the Standards and Guidelines. These provisions are varied, and are intended for very specific sets of conditions. The identification of non-high priority sites (Standards and Guidelines, Page 10) is one such example. The enclosed is a four-step process that allows the local land manager to identify non-high priority sites for Category C and D species on a case-by-case basis. This is an interim process until a Management Recommendation that identifies high priority sites is completed.

Please use this process. We will monitor its implementation and adjust the process as necessary. If you have questions please call me, Terry Brumley, at 503-808-2968, or your agency representative: Rob Huff, R6 Forest Service at 503-808-2661, Paula Crumpton, R5 Forest Service at 530-242-2242, or Cheryl McCaffrey, BLM at 503-952-6050.

Enclosure(5 pp)

OVERVIEWOF FOUR-STEP PROCESS FOR IDENTIFYING

CATEGORY C AND D NON-HIGH PRIORITY SITES

General Process

The Record of Decision (ROD) (January 11, 2001) allows managers to identify non-high priority sites for Category C and D species. Both categories are comprised of species considered to be "uncommon" and with direction to manage high priority sites. It is practical to conduct pre-disturbance surveys for Category C species. It is not practical to conduct pre-disturbance surveys for Category D species.

To identify a Category C or D species site as a Non-High Priority site (NHP), the four-step process listed on Survey & Manage Standards & Guidelines page 10 (see below) is to be followed and documented in the project NEPA determination. The NHP document (described in Step 3) is intended to be a concise and complete record of the process prepared by the originating administrative unit, no more than 5-7 pages in total length. The document provides the rationale and scientific evidence for designating sites as Non-High Priority. This guidance applies, on a case-by-case basis, to activities at the project level.

"Manage High-Priority Sites:High-priority sites will be managed according to the Management Recommendations for the species. Professional judgment, Appendix J2 in the Northwest Forest Plan Final SEIS, and appropriate literature will be used to guide individual site management for those species that do not have Management Recommendations.

Until a Management Recommendation is written addressing high-priority sites, either assume all sites are high priority, or local determination (and project NEPA documentation) of non-high priority sites may be made on a case-by-case basis with:

1) Guidance from the Interagency Survey and Manage Program Manager;
2) Local interagency concurrence (BLM, FS, USFWS):
3) Documented consideration of the condition of the species on other administrative units as identified by the Program Manager- typically adjacent units as well as others in the species range within the province: and,
4) Identification in ISMS.

The Survey and Manage Program Manager will involve appropriate taxa specialists".

Step 1. Guidance from the Interagency S&M Program Manager (PM)

The first step in the process consists of the BLM Field Manager/FS Line Officer originating the proposal ("Originating Manager") notifying the Survey and Manage Program Manager (PM) of their intent to proceed.
The PM assigns a taxa specialist (taxa lead, expert, team member, or other qualified individual), who will provide technical assistance to the originating office through out the process.
The originating office takes the lead in completing all four steps of the process.The Originating Manager is responsible for confirming that all steps of this process have been completed and will make the final determination of whether to proceed with the NHP site designation before signing the NEPA record, concluding the process.

Step 2. Local interagency concurrence (BLM, FS, FWS)

The Originating Manager will request written concurrence on the proposed NHP site designations from other BLM Field Managers, FS Line Officers, and FWS Field Office Managers in the local area that may potentially be

Attachment 1-1