Background
The Northwest Forest Plan (NFP) seeks to "achieve a balanced and comprehensive policy that recognizes the importance of the forest and timber to the economy and jobs in the region . . . [and] preserve our precious old-growth forests" (President Clinton, April 2, 1993). To achieve this balance, the Record of Decision established land use allocations and standards and guidelines for management actions. The Survey and Manage (S&M) and Protection Buffer Standards and Guidelines in the NFP were developed to improve the likelihood of maintaining viable populations of rare or little known species thought to be associated with late-successional or old-growth forests. The agencies have developed survey protocols and management recommendations for most of these species and have begun pre-project, extensive, and general regional surveys. Beginning in FY 1999, pre-project surveys are required for an additional 80 S&M and Protection Buffer species. However, surveys are not technically feasible at this time for 33 of these species because: (1) the species is impossible to identify in the field; (2) it can only be identified in the field by a few experts; or (3) multi-year surveys are required to determine species absence.

A two-phase action plan (detailed in Attachment 1) has been developed to deal with this situation. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) OR/WA State Director and Forest Service Region 6 Regional Forester have scheduled a joint conference call (503-326-7661) with BLM District Managers (OR) and BLM Field Office Managers (NorCAL), Forest Supervisors (Regions 5 and 6), and Fish and Wildlife Field Offices within the range of the NFP for September 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The purpose of this call is to discuss this strategy, clarify priorities, and answer questions.

District and Field Managers and Forest Supervisors will be asked to contact local Congressional representatives and key constituent groups following the conference call. Talking points for briefing those groups are attached (Attachment 2). A scoping letter to be mailed out under the Forest Supervisor or District Manager signatures is also included (Attachment 3).

Proposed Action - Phase I
The Regional Interagency Executive Committee proposes that the survey schedule be delayed one year for the 33 species of mollusks, mosses, and fungi for which surveys are not technically feasible (Attachment 4). Efforts to address the feasibility of surveying for these 33 species would be initiated. In addition, ongoing work to finish protocols and management recommendations would be accelerated. In the meantime, pre-project surveys would be completed for the 47 species for which surveys are feasible (Attachment 4).

The proposed schedule change will be analyzed and public input solicited through an Environmental Assessment. If adopted, the schedule change would be implemented as plan maintenance by BLM and as a non-significant amendment by the Forest Service. The Environmental Assessment and decision process is expected to take about six months. Until a decision on a schedule change for the 33 species is reached, no projects would be implemented in FY 1999 within the range and habitat of these species.

Proposed Action - Phase II
The agencies will also begin work on evaluating the need for long-term changes to S&M and Protection Buffer Standards and Guidelines. Elements of the long-term changes could include: (1) changing the status of those species which are still "not technically feasible to survey" so that more general surveys, rather than pre-project surveys, would be required; (2) moving species among S&M components or removing species from particular components including adding protection for those less secure than originally thought in the NFP or removing from some components those species found to be more secure; (3) merging the S&M and Protection Buffer requirements; (4) clarifying the way species are to be evaluated and moved among S&M components, added, or dropped from this standard and guideline in the future; and (5) strengthening the adaptive management aspects of this program. This analysis will be done through appropriate environmental analysis, with multiple opportunities for public involvement. We will share additional information on the long-term effort as it becomes available.

Structure
To guide the successful completion of tasks, an interagency oversight team will be appointed to lead this project and ensure that we meet our commitments. This group will specify the resources needed from Districts, Forests, and other agency offices to maximize work accomplishments and meet the agreed upon deadlines. This group will have our full support in pulling together these essential resources. We expect our agency line officers to cooperate fully in this effort by providing the requested resources in a timely manner.

Authenticated by
Maggie Weaver
Management Asst.

Attachments [Please see the document text above for hyperlinks to the four respective Appendices]

Distribution:

1202/ly