Federal Forest Federal Forest Resource CoalitionResource Coalition

Bill Imbergamo, Executive DirectorBill Imbergamo, Executive Director

FFRC in 2013FFRC in 2013 Added new members in Wisconsin, Added new members in Wisconsin,

Pennsylvania, Utah.Pennsylvania, Utah. Michigan Members Increased Michigan Members Increased

Commitment 300%Commitment 300% Added first County Government Added first County Government

MembersMembers Now have presence in 32 StatesNow have presence in 32 States

FFRC Continues to GrowFFRC Continues to Grow

FFRC Continues to GrowFFRC Continues to Grow

Expanded PAC to multi-candidate statusExpanded PAC to multi-candidate status OFW Staffing increased commitment OFW Staffing increased commitment

from Legislative Teamfrom Legislative Team Developing new website and strategic Developing new website and strategic

communications plancommunications plan

Forest Service Timber Sales vs. Total Acres of Wildfire, Forest Service Timber Sales vs. Total Acres of Wildfire, Since 1990:Since 1990:

Much of the National Forest System is Much of the National Forest System is off limits to Management Alreadyoff limits to Management Already

18.1% is designated Wilderness18.1% is designated Wilderness 31.9% is in Roadless Areas31.9% is in Roadless Areas 25.3% is “Suited for Timber Production”25.3% is “Suited for Timber Production”

Working to make that designation meaningful.Working to make that designation meaningful.

Federal Forest Resource Coalition

Growth has drastically exceeded removals for the last 3 Growth has drastically exceeded removals for the last 3 decades:decades:

Forests and Wood Products Forests and Wood Products Sequester CO2 Sequester CO2

Wildland Fires Release CO2Wildland Fires Release CO2

Decreasing Investments in Forest Infrastructure have Decreasing Investments in Forest Infrastructure have lead to a $6 Billion Deferred Maintenance Backlog:lead to a $6 Billion Deferred Maintenance Backlog:

Over the last 5 years, NFS sold 38% of the Allowable Sale Over the last 5 years, NFS sold 38% of the Allowable Sale Quantity called for in existing Forest Plans.Quantity called for in existing Forest Plans.

Fiscal Year: Timber Sold (BBF): % of Aggregate ASQ:

2013 2.611 38.1%

2012 2.644 38.5%

2011 2.536 36.9%

2010 2.597 37.8%

2009 2.507 37.5%

2013: A Year of Running in Place:2013: A Year of Running in Place: Timber output stable in spite of 5%

Sequester to NFS budget. USDA predicted output would fall to 2.2

BBF (turned out to be wrong) USFS left 400 MBF on the table because USFS left 400 MBF on the table because

of appeals, litigationof appeals, litigation Would have INCREASED outputs by Would have INCREASED outputs by

15%15%

2013: A Year of Running in Place2013: A Year of Running in Place Government shutdown created Government shutdown created

unnecessary disruptionsunnecessary disruptions $600 million in fire borrowing starting in $600 million in fire borrowing starting in

August.August. Supplementals and CR’s ultimately Supplementals and CR’s ultimately

repaid all 2012 and 2013 fire borrowingrepaid all 2012 and 2013 fire borrowing

2013: A Year of Running in Place:2013: A Year of Running in Place:Some things DID get done:Objection Process for all Projects done under EA’s and EIS’sHouse moved a reform bill (HR 1526)FFRC testified in both the House and Senate on ReformAdministration still refuses to engage

2014: A Return to Regular Order?2014: A Return to Regular Order?2014 Omnibus Spending Bill:Good Neighbor Authority Expanded; CE Projects Exempted from AppealsFS directed to track payments to litigants under the Equal Access to Justice Act.Restored sequester cuts to timber and added $150 million to hazardous fuels

2014: A Return to Regular Order?2014: A Return to Regular Order?Farm Bill: Is this the year?Farm Bill: Is this the year?Reauthorization of Stewardship Reauthorization of Stewardship Contracting with Fire Liability FixContracting with Fire Liability FixExpanded forest health authority with 3,000 Expanded forest health authority with 3,000 acre discretionary Categorical Exclusionacre discretionary Categorical ExclusionExpansion of Designation by DescriptionExpansion of Designation by DescriptionExemption for Forest Roads?Exemption for Forest Roads?

Musical Chairs in Congress:Musical Chairs in Congress:House Approps Subcommittee on House Approps Subcommittee on InteriorInterior::

New Chairman (Ken Calvert, R-CA, New Chairman (Ken Calvert, R-CA, Riverside)Riverside)

New Ranking Member in 2014 (Probably New Ranking Member in 2014 (Probably Betty McCollum, D-MN, St. Paul)Betty McCollum, D-MN, St. Paul)

Musical Chairs in Congress:Musical Chairs in Congress:House Natural Resources CommitteeHouse Natural Resources Committee::

New Ranking Member (Rep. Peter New Ranking Member (Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR Eugene)DeFazio, D-OR Eugene)

Majority Committee Staff departed in Majority Committee Staff departed in January.January.

Musical Chairs in Congress:Musical Chairs in Congress:Senate Energy & Natural ResourcesSenate Energy & Natural Resources::

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to take the Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) to take the reigns in Februaryreigns in February

Sen. Ron Wyden is retaining his seat while Sen. Ron Wyden is retaining his seat while taking the gavel at Financetaking the gavel at Finance

Musical Chairs in Congress:Musical Chairs in Congress:Other Prominent DeparturesOther Prominent Departures::

Sen. James Coburn (R-OK)Sen. James Coburn (R-OK)

Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

Rep. George Miller (D-CA)Rep. George Miller (D-CA)

Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL)Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL)

Prospects on BudgetProspects on Budget Omnibus sets up nearly 9 months of Omnibus sets up nearly 9 months of

appropriations stabilityappropriations stability We expect the Administration’s budget to We expect the Administration’s budget to

be late again this year.be late again this year. House and Senate have largely gone House and Senate have largely gone

“down the middle” on the Forest Service “down the middle” on the Forest Service BudgetBudget

Prospects on BudgetProspects on BudgetCongress has:Congress has:Not expanded IRR beyond pilot statusNot expanded IRR beyond pilot statusNot agreed with Admin’s proposed Not agreed with Admin’s proposed increases in land acquisitionincreases in land acquisitionKept timber funding level while cutting Kept timber funding level while cutting other programsother programsAllowed CI&M backlog to balloon from $5 Allowed CI&M backlog to balloon from $5 billion in 2008 to over $6 billion todaybillion in 2008 to over $6 billion today

Prospects for Fundamental Prospects for Fundamental ReformReform

FFRC Proposal calls for “trust” approach FFRC Proposal calls for “trust” approach some portion of the NFSsome portion of the NFS

Reduced requirements for analysis, limits Reduced requirements for analysis, limits on appeals and litigationon appeals and litigation

Trust model with strong fiduciary Trust model with strong fiduciary responsibilityresponsibility

Pressing for Fundamental Pressing for Fundamental ReformReform

One more Senate Hearing next Week One more Senate Hearing next Week (Feb 6(Feb 6thth, FFRC will testify), FFRC will testify)

Once Landrieu takes the reigns, we’ll see Once Landrieu takes the reigns, we’ll see how much appetite there is for reformhow much appetite there is for reform

Apparent that leadership will come from Apparent that leadership will come from Sen. Barrasso (R-WY)Sen. Barrasso (R-WY)

Pressing for Fundamental ReformPressing for Fundamental ReformBarrasso Draft:Barrasso Draft:7.5 million “suitable” acres designated as “Forest Management Emphasis Areas”FS must conduct harvest on these over 15 years (16% of suitable base, 3.8% of the NFS). 100 page EA; proposed action and 1 alternative, limits on cumulative effects analysis, FS conducts their own ESA consultation.Projects subject to objection process and binding arbitration, rather than litigation.

Fire Borrowing:Fire Borrowing:FLAME Act has FLAMED Out:FLAME Act has FLAMED Out:subjected to overhead, redirection to “deficit subjected to overhead, redirection to “deficit reduction,” treated as part of 10-year average.reduction,” treated as part of 10-year average.First 3 years after enactment were “slow” fire First 3 years after enactment were “slow” fire years, funds were stolen in the name of fiscal years, funds were stolen in the name of fiscal probityprobitySlightly over $1 billion in Fire borrowing since Slightly over $1 billion in Fire borrowing since 2012.2012.

Fire Borrowing:Fire Borrowing:Wildfire Disaster Act (S. 1875)

•Creates a “budget cap exemption” for firefighting expenses beyond 75% of the 10-year average.•FS required to submit a budget proposal that requests this funding level. •Beyond this the agency accesses mandated funds the same as FEMA.•FFRC working with a broad coalition to support enactment.

Prospects for Success?Prospects for Success? Instability and brinksmanship cratered Instability and brinksmanship cratered

Congressional approval ratings in 2013Congressional approval ratings in 2013 Competitive Election in 2014 raises the Competitive Election in 2014 raises the

prospects of action in 2015, so current prospects of action in 2015, so current leaders may try to control events by leaders may try to control events by moving now.moving now.

Improved chances for Farm Bill and Improved chances for Farm Bill and “regular order”-like approach to Approps“regular order”-like approach to Approps

Prospects for Success?Prospects for Success? Focusing on Senate to help “encourage” Focusing on Senate to help “encourage”

administration to engage constructivelyadministration to engage constructively Preparing to engage heavily in Preparing to engage heavily in

rulemaking processes.rulemaking processes. Onward!Onward!