Forest Planning Update

Below is the message sent out from the Forest Service Region 5 office.  It officially confirms what we have been reporting.  The Lake Tahoe Basin Plan Revision will continue using 1982 planning rule procedures; the revision of the Modoc National Forest Plan will continue; and the Giant Sequoia National Monument Plan will continue and essentially amend the Sequoia Forest Plan as it currently exists.

The Forest Service is dealing with their travel management plans and waiting for court decisions relating to the Sierra Nevada Framework and Southern California plans, they will proceed with the Sierra Nevada bio-regional assessment of the conditions and trends of forest resources once they have more information on those two issues.

Notwithstanding the Forest Service’s hesitance to give a definite timeline for the  Forest Plan revisions, they have expressed interest in continuing to develop and improve relationships and consultation with Tribes on the planning process.   In that effort IDRS has adjusted the schedule for its Cross-Cultural Communications Workshop for February/March 2010 (instead of the originally projected November dates).  We have one workshop scheduled for February 2-4, 2010 in Tuolumne, CA. We are working to finalize preparations for a second workshop closer to the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests.  We will update you when that location and date is definite.

The Tuolumne Band of Mi-Wuk has graciously offered to host the February 2-4, 2010 workshop in their tribal hall.  Please contact Stephanie Lucero (916) 505-0177 to reserve a space in the workshop.  We are inviting all tribes within the Sierra Nevada to participate, but space is limited so please contact us if you are interested in attending.

COMPLETE FOREST SERVICE NEWS ALERT

It has been awhile since many of you have heard from us and we have been getting a lot of questions regarding the status of Forest Plan Revisions in California.  As you may recall, we began work on a number of projects last summer including:

• Moving forward with an aggressive Regional Forest Plan Revision schedule for the Sierra Nevada Forests, the northern California Forests and southern California;
• Moving ahead with Plan Revisions for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Modoc National Forest, and amending the Forest Plan for the Sequoia National Forest;
• Developing a public participation strategy for the revision of the Inyo National Forest;
• Developing a public participation strategy for the Sierra Nevada bio-regional assessment of resource conditions and trends.

Since July 2009 much has happened that is affecting our ability to move ahead with Forest Plan Revisions in California including:

• The 2008 Planning Rule was enjoined by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and the 2000 Planning Rule, with transition language for the use of the 1982 Planning Rule procedures, was reinstated.
• Travel Management Subpart B process is approaching conclusion, with the same staff and resources that would be involved in Forest Plan Revision.
• There is concern that Travel Management Subpart A be addressed prior to Forest Plan Revisions.  Forests have been asked to complete an assessment that will help determine schedule and process for complying with Travel Management Subpart A requirements.  The Forest assessments have been completed and are currently being evaluated in the Regional Office.
• Court remedy hearings for Sierra Nevada Framework and the Southern California Forest Plans have not been completed and court orders will likely have a bearing on Forest Plan Revision process and schedule.

What this means is that the Regional Office is in the process of sorting all of this information out so that we can more accurately determine when the various projects including, Forest Plan Revision, can be completed.  In the meantime, the Region has tentatively decided to:

• Complete the Lake Tahoe Basin Plan Revision using 1982 planning rule procedures;
• Continue the revision of the Modoc National Forest Plan;
• Complete the Plan for the Giant Sequoia National Monument which would amend the Forest Plan.
• We plan to move ahead with the Sierra Nevada bio-regional assessment of the conditions and trends of forest resources, however we do not expect to initiate that effort until we know the status of Travel Management and the court remedy hearings.

 

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New Momentum on Climate Change Bill

After a brief respite, Climate change legislation has come back onto Washington’s radar (eclipsed for a time by health care reform legislation). As U.N. negotiators prepare to gather in Denmark for negotiations on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the Obama administration,  Senate and House have been working to finalize a U.S. climate bill.

The Obama administration has been meeting with conservationists, women’s  groups, veterans and now the business industry in an attempt to gauge stakeholders concerns and garner support for their initiatives.  According to Michael Burnham (Senior reporter for E&E publications; see  “Climate: White House Wooing Business Execs on Cap and Trade,” published on Greenwire.com 10/28/2009).  The Obama Administration will be meeting with hunters and fishers as well as health care officials to ensure all stakeholders in the climate debate are contacted.

The Obama administration is holding the first ever Government to Government conference with federally recognized Tribes, it will be interesting to see just how much (if at all) climate change is brought into those discussions.  One question to ask is whether the Obama administration will meet with tribal groups and governments as part of their discussions with stakeholders regarding climate change.

Climate change affects native nations in very specific and significant ways.  Tribal trust lands and even tribally owned lands house many of the natural resources in the United States.  Not to mention the tribal ancestral lands that are the United States.   Many native communities rely on the same natural resources that are the first to suffer from climate change for maintaining their spiritual and cultural practices.  Not to mention the effects climate change has had on tribal economics.

While there are differing opinions on the extent that climate change has affected forest fires, most agree that it has contributed to the catastrophic fires that have run rampant over the last decade.  There are plenty of examples of how these fires have affected tribal nations.   At least 10 tribes were affected by the catastrophic wildfires that San Diego in 2003.  The White Mountain Apache Tribe is  still recovering from the effects of the Rodeo-Chedeski fire.

Alaskan villages are being forced to relocate due to melting coastal ice shelves and frozen sub-soils, which act as natural barriers to protect the village against summer deluges from ocean storm surges.  Parts of Alaska are now 4 degrees than they were 30 years ago.  Permafrost is melting,  hunters/travelers falling through thin sea ice, and spruce beetles are decimating forest areas.

With the Obama administration looking to alternative energy sources, discussions are surfacing regarding the use of nuclear energy.  Native nations are still dealing with the aftermath of nuclear power in the United States.  The Navajo Nation has suffered significant health problems as a result of mining on their lands.  The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, Wanapum, and Yakama Indian Nation are still working with the federal government to clean up the Hanford site in Washington.  Home to nine plutonium production facilities during the 1960’s to the 1980’s, Hanford is now is considered one of the world’s largest environmental clean-up sites.

Hopefully the Obama administration, in addition to realizing the importance of government-to-government relations with federal recognized tribes  will recognize tribal nations and organizations as important stakeholders to consult in the climate change legislation and in preparation for the negotiations in Copenhagen.

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Sequoia Monument Plan News

For those of you following the Sequoia Monument Plan.  Here is the latest information:

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)and Draft Management Plan will be published for public review and comment in March 2010. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), the Record of Decision (ROD), and a stand-alone Plan is expected to be published in July 2010.

There will be a 90 day commenting period on the draft.

The Draft EIS should be published in the federal registry.

There is a commenting portal set up by the Forest for those with internet access.  You can access the portal here.

As for the travel management plan, the Final Environmental Impact Statement was published on October 8, 2009. There is a 30 day commenting period.

you can access the document on the right hand column here.

Below is the information provided by the forest service on commenting and obtaining the document.

How to comment on the document

If you commented on the DEIS, it is not necessary send those comments again.

All comments on the Motorized Travel Management Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), including those submitted electronically, must be received by November 9, 2009.  Hand delivered comments must be received at the Forest Supervisor’s office no later than 4:30 p.m. on this date.  Please send comments to: Travel Management, Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, 1839 S. Newcomb Street, Porterville, CA  93257.

Electronic copies should be e-mailed to: comments-pacificsouthwest-sequoia@fs.fed.us, Subject: Travel Management.

How to obtain copies of the documents

For those who commented on the Draft EIS, a CD copy of the Final EIS will be mailed to them.  To request a copy of the Final EIS, please contact Forest Headquarters, Sequoia National Forest at (559) 784.1500.  The FEIS and maps can also be viewed and downloaded from the Sequoia’s website at:www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/projects/ohv_route_designation_strategy/index.html.  The file sizes of the maps are quite large.  If high-speed internet is not available please contact us and request a CD.

Future public meetings will be scheduled after Forest Supervisor Terrell signs the Record of Decision. Please contact Chris Sanders at (559) 784.1500 for more information about the meetings or with any special needs related to accessibility.

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Tribal Nations Conference

The first ever Tribal Nations Conference with the President of the United States is scheduled for November 5, 2009.  It  was announced on October 12, 2009 (A.K.A. Columbus Day).  Tribal leaders from all Federally Recognized Tribes were invited to attend.   Unlike the listening sessions of select tribal leaders that occurred in August, this is intended to be a real of discussion of  issues.  It is assumed that discussions will focus on self-determination, self-governance, self-reliance,  and consultation to name a few.

There are so many issues facing native nations today (both for federally recognized and non-recognized Tribes), it is likely that these discussions can only really deal with the larger issues outlined above.  However, I hope that these discussions will lay the ground work for further and more in-depth dialogue with the Obama administration.

According to the October 16, 2009 article in Indian Country Today the summit (or at least parts of the summit will be streamed online at mytribetv.com).

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IDRS at NCAI

Many of us at IDRS will be attending the NCAI Conference this week.  Please check out our booth.

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Julia Parker Featured on CNN

As many of you probably already know, CNN played a story last week about Julia Parker and her work at Yosemite National Park.  check it out here.

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