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Transcript of 1 Cooperating Agency and Coordination Training Washington State Association of Counties Friday,...
BLM PLANNING: OVERVIEW AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ENGAGEMENT
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Cooperating Agency and Coordination TrainingWashington State Association of Counties
Friday, November 22, 2013
Victoria Barr, Oregon/Washington State Office, Branch Chief, Planning, Science and Resource
Information
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The National Environmental Policy Act:
Established the environmental policy of the nation (section 101)
Provided a process to ensure policies are carried forward (section 102)
Requires consideration of the impact to the human environment
Requires an Environmental Impact Statement for major federal actions
Requires alternatives be developed & analyzed
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The Planning Process:
Unites FLPMA & NEPA
Identifies competing resource uses
Develops & analyzes alternatives
Meets multiple use & sustained yield requirements
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1. Development of Energy & Minerals
2. Urban Development
3. Land Tenure Adjustments
4. Climate Change
5. Rangeland Health & Vegetation Management
6. Invasive and/or Noxious Species
7. Riparian Areas/Wetlands/Watershed & Ecosystem Planning
8. Cultural, Historical & Paleontological Resources
9. Wild Horses
10. Wild & Scenic Rivers
11. Special Designations
Preliminary Planning Issues May Include
Four lessons important to success
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1. Recognize that the cooperating agency relationship is a forum for sharing information & expertise
2. Acknowledge that the cooperating agency relationship requires new ways of doing business
3. Emphasize mutual, rather than individual, gains & seek solutions that meet others’ needs as well as their own
4. Engage as early as possible in the planning process with cooperating agencies
Cooperating Agencies
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For the planning process, the BLM recognizes that:
Nowhere is the need for cooperation more critical than in the management of public land and resources.
Partnering with state, tribal, and local government, should be standard practice at the BLM before, during, and after plans are prepared.
These efforts will produce plans that: Gain early and consistent involvement of CA partners Incorporate local knowledge of economic, social, and
environmental conditions, as well as state and local land use requirements
Avoid duplication of efforts Enhance local credibility of the planning process Encourage CA support for planning decisions; and Build relationships of trust and cooperation
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In Fact:
The BLM is required to invite eligible governmental entities to participate as CA’s when the bureau is developing an EIS
The BLM is required to consider any requests by governmental entities to participate as a CA with respect to a particular EIS
Establish uniform eligibility criteria for federal, tribal, state, and local governments: and
Ensure that throughout the development of an EIS, the BLM will collaborate with all CAs, to the fullest extent practicable.
Also: The BLM encourages the partnership of CAs at the
Environmental Assessment level to produce the same benefits as when CAs are engaged at the EIS level.
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Highly values establishing positive working relationships with County commissioners.
Encourages all counties to become Cooperating Agencies in our planning processes
Recognizes the value of the information provided by our cooperators
Maintains transparency through the planning process
BLM Oregon/Washington:
The role is defined by:
The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations govern for all federal agencies
The BLM’s regulations & policies supplement
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The Role of Cooperating Agencies
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The Role of BLM and Cooperating Agencies
As the lead agency, the BLM is expected to
use the analyses & proposals of a cooperating agency “to the maximum extent possible consistent with its responsibility”
Cooperating agencies accept obligations to
contribute staff to the EIS team
develop analyses for which they have particular expertise
fund their own participation
The CEQ regulations call for early & significant involvement by cooperating agencies
State agencies Local governments Tribal governments Other Federal agencies
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Eligibility for Cooperating Agency Status
Government entities or agencies with:1.Jurisdiction by law; or
2.Special expertise
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Eligibility for Cooperating Agency Status
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40 CFR 1508.5 (CEQ) Defining eligibility.
“Cooperating agency” means any Federal agency other than a lead agency which has “jurisdiction by law” or “special expertise” with respect to any environmental impact….A State or local agency of similar qualifications or, when the effects are on a reservation, an Indian Tribe, may by agreement with the lead agency become a cooperating agency.
40 CFR 1508.15 (CEQ)Jurisdiction by law
“Jurisdiction by law” means agency authority to approve, veto, or finance all or part of the proposal
40 CFR 1508.26 (CEQ)Special expertise.
“Special expertise” means statutory responsibility, agency mission, or related program experience.
Regulatory Definitions
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Cooperating Agency Work Contributions
Scoping Outreach to constituents
Assemble Inventory Data & Review Analysis of
Management Situation
Formulate Alternatives Suggest methods for resolving constituents
concerns
Impact Analysis
Public Comment Period- Obtain constituent feedback, summarize & describe alternatives
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Opportunities for Engagement
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There are currently two EIS level planning efforts in Washington on BLM administered lands.
The Spokane District Resource Management Plan
The Vantage to Pomona 500kV Transmission line
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Highlights of the Spokane District
The RMP planning effort began in 2010 The plan will provide direction for the
next two decades for approximately 445,000 acres of BLM- administered lands in Eastern Washington and the San Juan Archipelago
The demands and types of uses on the BLM administered public lands have evolved as have the resources they contain.
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The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is a CA for the Spokane District RMP effort
Vantage to Pomona Heights Transmission Line
230kV transmission line proposed by Pacific Power
Proposed to be situated in south-central Washington, extending from Bonneville Power Administration Vantage substation to Pacific Power’s Pomona Heights substation located just east of Selah, WA
BLM is the lead federal agency The Draft EIS was released for public
comment on 1/4/13 and the comment period closed on 3/8/13
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For the Vantage to Pomona Heights Transmission Line, The Cooperating Agencies include:
US Department of Army US Fish and Wildlife Service Bonneville Power Administration Bureau of Reclamation Kittitas County Yakima County Washington State Department of
Transportation Federal Highway Administration
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Additionally, there is a Coordinating Team. Their function is to:
- Coordinate, where appropriate, the state, federal and county environmental review and siting process
- Minimize and resolve conflicts- Ensure adequate integration of the most
current and appropriate scientific, technical and policy information needed to evaluate the project
- Track and monitor NEPA major milestones to ensure critical timelines are being met
- Ensure that adequate funding and support are provided to the Interagency Interdisciplinary Team, CA’s, and BLM
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The Coordinating Team consists of:
US Department of Army US Fish and Wildlife Service Bureau of Reclamation Kittitas County Grant County Yakima County Washington State Department of
Transportation Power Engineers (EIS contractor) Pacific Power (Proponent)
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Other opportunities?
Future RMP planning effortsVarious EA actions such as:
Recreation Grazing Rights of Ways Or, one of the many uses that the
BLM authorizes on public land through a decision making process.
Questions?
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