The Budget Link

The initial annual cost of implementing the RMP is reflected in the Presidents' Fiscal Year 1995 budget, approximately $24,100,000 for the Medford District. However, there is not yet a clear understanding of what the management needs and costs of the ecosystem management approach will be, so future year budget estimates may differ as experience is gained in implementing the RMP. Timber sale levels and associated programs will be reduced if annual funding is not sufficient to support the relevant actions assumed in the plan, including mitigation and monitoring. The extent of the reduction will be based on the principle of program balance as envisioned in the plan. For example, if funding in a given year is sufficient only to support half of the planned annual investments in pre-commercial thinning on lands allocated to timber production, the otherwise anticipated timber sale volume for that year would be reduced by half of the portion of the declared probable sale quantity (PSQ) attributable to pre-commercial thinning. If, in subsequent years, budget levels permit BLM to eliminate the backlog of unfunded investments that have accumulated, timber sale levels will be adjusted upward to the extent that the work can be accomplished. If subsequent budget levels create a cumulative shortfall over a few years, the PSQ will be adjusted downward.

This principle will apply similarly to management of roads and other facilities. If maintenance of such facilities is not adequately funded, some of them may be closed to scale back management commitments to the level that is budgeted.