Minutes from SW
Idaho Resource Advisory Committee Meeting
In
attendance:
SW
Idaho RAC Members/Replacements: Phil Davis (Chairperson), Tom
Glass, Barry Ross, John Cramer, Bob Baker, Ed Mansfield, Dale Hanson, Lois Van
Hoover, David Whaley, John Gebhards
Designated
Federal Officer:
Randy Swick
Others: Nate Helm (Sen. Larry Craig’s office), Boyd
Hartwig (Payette National Forest), Russ Manwaring, (West Central Highlands
RC&D), Mike McGee (Council Ranger District), Tom Hass (Cascade Ranger
District), Walt Rogers (District Ranger, Lowman Ranger District), Gabe Dumm
(Lowman Ranger District), Melissa Yenko (Emmett Ranger District), Robert Smith
(Emmett Ranger District), Jill Osborn (Forest Service, Assistant Heritage
Program Leader).
ü Chairperson Phil Davis called the meeting to order
at 10:45 a.m. DFO Randy
Swick indicated that a quorum was present for conducting routine business but
not for purposes of recommending proposed projects to the Forest Supervisor. Additional
members soon arrived and DFO Swick indicated a quorum was present for
recommending projects to the Forest Supervisor.
ü
Chair Phil
Davis asked if anyone had corrections or additions to the November 19,
2003 minutes. No
corrections were noted.
A motion to approve the minutes from the November 19, 2003 RAC meeting was made by Ed Mansfield and seconded by Dale Hanson.
Motion carried unanimously.
ü
DFO Randy
Swick provided an update on the Monthly Meeting Expense Report, inclusive of
all meetings in CY 2003 through November 19, 2003. The report
includes travel and per diem costs for RAC members, and associated meeting
expenses.
A motion to approve
expenditures from the November 19, 2003 RAC meeting was made by
David Whaley and seconded by Ed Mansfield.
Motion carried unanimously.
ü DFO Swick provided a Title II funding balance
update. He said the RAC had
approximately 1.2 million dollars remaining to allocate for the current fiscal
year.
ü DFO Swick gave an update on the FY’04 project log,
including project proposals received since the November 19, 2003 RAC
meeting. He also shared a letter from
Steven Jones of the Mountain Home Highway District, requesting an extension on
their two approved Title II funded projects from FY’03. Swick indicated the funds are multi-year and
still on account. No concerns regarding
an extension of time frame for the projects were raised.
ü Chair Davis read a letter of resignation from RAC member Gale
Hogan. Chair Davis extended his appreciation for the contributions
Gale had made to the committee. Gale was
a member of sub group C. Chair Davis indicated, Dale Hanson, the designated replacement
for sub group C was present. Dale agreed
to serve as a member of sub group C. The
replacement for sub group C will be vacant.
ü DFO Swick reviewed the current vacancies within the
RAC. Sub group B has a vacant
historic/cultural interest position, and no identified replacement. Sub group C is now without a
replacement. Swick indicated he had
pursued replacing these positions with Statewide RAC coordinator Andy
Brunelle. Andy indicated the current
terms of all RAC members would expire at the end of this year. He was hoping to defer any further appointments
until that point. Chair Davis indicated his concern with maintaining quorum at
meetings and asked DFO Swick to pursue the situation further, particularly in
light of Gale’s resignation.
ü
Chair Davis facilitated the annual
selection of the RAC Chair. The floor
was opened for nominations. Lois Van
Hoover nominated Phil Davis to serve another term as RAC Chair.
A motion to close nominations and
retain Phil Davis as Chair was made by Tom Glass and seconded by Bob
Baker. The motion carried unanimously.
ü
Chair Davis opened nominations for
Vice Chair. Bob Baker nominated David Whaley
for vice chair of the RAC.
A motion to close nominations and
select David Whaley as vice chair was made by John Cramer and seconded by Barry
Ross. The motion carried unanimously.
ü Chair Davis advised the RAC of a recent news story in the
McCall Star-News concerning ELWood Industries/Forest Concepts and two
associated RAC projects. He said he thought the news story was factually
incomplete. Forest Concepts was accusing the Forest Service of payment delays
affecting their ability to maintain operations.
Chair Davis had discussed the issues with representatives of the City of Cascade, the project sponsor, and DFO Swick, and was
satisfied with their account. He asked
DFO Swick to update the RAC on the two projects.
DFO Swick indicated Forest Concepts completed the design and other
project agreement requirements for the South Fork Trail Rehab project in August
and he received a letter from the City of Cascade in September indicating the project was ready for
implementation. Forest Supervisor Dick
Smith approved the project in October.
According to Mike Stewart with the City of Cascade, Forest Concepts presented their first billing for
product to the City for reimbursement in late November. The City proceeded to pay Forest Concepts and
seek reimbursement from the Forest Service.
Swick indicated the only delay he was aware of was that the Washington
Office of the Forest Service did have a glitch at the fiscal year change over
(Oct 1) precluding local Forests from accessing Title II funds. However the glitch was resolved in early
December. He also pointed out the
discrepancy between the funding the City of Cascade requested for the project on behalf of Forest
Concepts and the final billing based on summer field reviews and design
adjustments by Forest Concepts. The
original funding request and RAC recommended funding was $12,000. The final billing was $2,600.
The Stibnite Demo Project presented at the June, 2003 RAC meeting stated
the planned implementation date was summer of 2004. No specific site had been identified for the
demo, design work had not been completed, and the proponent was still working
with the Krassel District on needed compliance reviews. DFO Swick had reviewed the project status
with Forest Supervisor Mark Madrid, and the project agreement was pending based
on the preceding information needs. The
sponsor, the City of Cascade, had informed Forest Concepts that they should not produce any product
until spring of ’04. No payments can be
made until billings or invoices are submitted for reimbursement. Swick also noted that the RAC recommended
Title II funding of $7,000 based on the application, but recent information
supplied by the Krassel Ranger District, on behalf of the City of Cascade and Forest Concepts, indicates the actual cost
will likely be significantly less.
Bob Baker asked what would happen to the balance of the funds that were
approved but not used for the project.
DFO Swick said that they would remain on account for re-allocation by
the RAC. He also indicated the sponsor
could amend their original application and request the funds for other
purpose. Dale Hanson asked who owned
Forest Concepts/Elwood industries. Chair
Davis said Steve Thorsen was the owner. David Whaley asked if project sponsors could
use remaining project funds without RAC approval. DFO Swick said the funds could only be used
within the scope of the project agreement, and any proposal beyond that would
require RAC review and Forest Supervisor approval.
ü Chair Davis informed the RAC of the National RAC Training
scheduled for March 25 in Reno, and the NFCSC Conference on March 26-28 also in Reno. Further
details will be provided later in the meeting.
ü Bob Baker provided a notebook with photo highlights
of the Mountain Home Ranger District YCC program and project accomplishments
from last summer. The RAC recommended
Title II funding to support this youth employment program. The notebook was passed around to RAC members
and well received.
ü Chair Phil Davis
initiated the Form Part 1 and Form Part 2 review of projects. The reviews were conducted in accord with the
RAC’s operating guidelines for project proposal screening and evaluation.
Project Log #: 04004
Project Name: Deadwood Thin
Project Sponsor: Gabe Dumm, Fuels Specialist, Lowman Ranger District,
Boise National Forest.
Gabe Dumm provided a
power point presentation and reviewed the project description, and the purpose
and expected outcomes for the project. He noted that the project was designed
to improve forest health and mitigate a crown fire that could potentially
destroy nearby administrative buildings and damage the ecosystem. He said that
the Bureau of Reclamation had done the NEPA work for the project and that the
Forest Service had contributed $33,000 for implementation. The District was
requesting $20,000 from the RAC to fund the shortfall in implementation. He showed pictures of the project area and
described how the chipper operation would work.
He indicated the project had been reviewed with the Valley County
Commissioners.
Discussion:
Chair Davis was concerned that they intended to chip material
rather than use it for post and pole material.
He said that during the Valley County Commissioners’ review of the
project, project sponsors had indicated that there could be a “post and pole”
component to the project. Gabe said that because of the way the original NEPA
work was completed, a post and pole component was not possible. Dale Hanson
asked if some of the larger stems from the thinning could be made available for
firewood. Gabe said yes. Lois said that under Healthy Forests
Restoration Act 2003 they could use the new CE categories to reconsider the
potential for post and pole removal.
Gabe questioned if the material would sell given the haul distance, but
said he would consider it further. Dale
Hanson said he knew others that had hauled material that far. David Whaley asked for clarification on which
chipper model would be used, steel or rubber tracked. Gabe said the contract was being developed
and had not yet specified one or the other.
David pointed out that the RAC does not fund project overhead costs so
the amount the project sponsors could expect from the RAC if the project was
recommended would be $18,400. DFO Swick noted that a correction would have to
be made to the project proposal to reflect the revised amount. Lois said the
project sponsors should use best value contracting to enhance opportunities for
local contractors. Tom Glass asked if
they planned to pile and burn thinned material on the rest of the project
area. Gabe said yes.
Chair Davis directed the RAC to proceed to the Form Part 1
evaluation for Project #04004 (Deadwood Thin) with the understanding of a
revised Title II funding request of $18,400.
The RAC completed the Form Part I evaluation:
|
Matching
Funds
|
Multiple
Benefits
|
Affordable
|
Completed in
One Year or Annual
Increments
|
Long-term
Benefits
|
Finite
Project
|
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
RAC Decision: A motion to advance the project
from Form Part 1 to Form Part 2 was made by Tom Glass and seconded by David Whaley. The motion carried unanimously (10-0).
Chair Davis directed the RAC to proceed with Form Part 2
evaluation for Project #04004
Evaluation Relative to Criteria: 34
|
Multiple Benefits
|
Community
Stability and
Job Opps
|
Cooperative
Relations
|
Benefit/
Cost and
Affordable
|
Project
Quality
and Coord
|
Matching
Funds
|
Urgency
To
Implement
|
Tangible
Outcome
|
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
4
|
|
5
|
5
|
RAC
Decision: A
motion to recommend Project #04004, Deadwood Thin, to the Forest Supervisor was
made by Bob Baker and seconded by Barry Ross.
Motion carried unanimously (11-0).
The recommended funding amount is as stated in the respective Form Part
2, less the in direct cost allowance (overhead), for a total of $18,400. Project approval and agreement forms will be
prepared. The RAC suggests the project
sponsor consider option of selling thinned material for post and pole rather
than chipping, and stipulates the sponsor use best value contracting approach. The RAC
would also like the sponsor to report back upon completion of the
project.
Project Log #: 02035 (Modification request)
Project Name: East Fork Ditch Company Fish Screen -- Modication
Project Sponsor: Russ Manwaring, West Central Highlands RC&D
Russ requested 1) a
time extension on the project due to delays from the Hall Fire and a redesign
of the fish screen to reduce installation impacts, and 2) modified the Form
Part 2 redistributing Title II funds reflecting actual distribution of funds
between workforce costs and material and supplies. There was no adjustment in the total Title II
funds approved. He said the project is
being done in two phases: step pool
construction, followed by the fish screen.
He explained that the East Fork Ditch Company made the decision to use
Forest Service crews instead of contracting for the step pool phase, even
though that was not part of the original project proposal and agreement
approved by the RAC. He said the Forest
Service crew was available at the site during fire rehab and had the proper
equipment. This opportunity proved more
cost effective. The Forest crew
completed the work for approximately $1,500 compared to the contract estimate
of $6,000. Russ and the Ditch Company appreciate
the RAC’s desire for supporting local economies and contractors, but the
preceding was a unique opportunity. He
stated the largest share of the project is still to be done, and will be
completed with contracts as indicated in the Form Part 2.
The modification
under Column B (Title II funding) requests the contract allowance of $6,300 be
zeroed out, workforce costs be increased to $2,450, and materials and supplies
be increased to $13,380. The total Title
II funds requested remains at $16,305.
Russ indicated the Forest Service salary cost for step pool construction
was $848, and the remaining $1,602 requested for workforce would be used for
Forest Service oversight and assistance in fish screen installation.
Discussion:
Lois said there was
an expectation that best value contracting was part of the RAC’s expectation to
fac
