Fire Rehabilitation Program

Fire Rehab Handbook
Policy, Guidance, & Direction

United States Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Washington D.C. 20240

Memorandum

To:           Director, Bureau of Land Management, Director, National Park Service, Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Director, Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety, Director, Office of Budget

From:     Assistant Secretary - Policy, Management and Budget

Subject: Policy Guidance and Direction, Wildland Fire Rehabilitation and Restoration

At this time the Department has no comprehensive policy or guidance on conduct of rehabilitation and restoration treatment projects following wildland fires. Having consistent policy throughout the Department and with the USDA-Forest Service is essential for conducting prudent and effective activities by each Bureau as well as on an interagency basis.

For several months an interagency, interdisciplinary team has studied a number of issues involving the scope and direction of this program, known as either Emergency Fire Rehabilitation (EFR) or Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER). This team developed a set of recommendations which each of you had the opportunity to review. That review surfaced two major policy differences. I have had the opportunity to consider those issues and meet with your designated representatives to discuss the merits of each Bureau's position. At that meeting we agreed to proceed as outlined below. These decisions are incorporated in the attached set of comprehensive policies that will apply in this Department. The USDA-Forest Service will join us in applying these same policies so that the two Departments will speak and work with one voice in EFR/BAER program.

Issue #1 - Use of trees as a permissible emergency rehabilitation treatment

Use of trees as a permissible emergency rehabilitation treatment under certain circumstances is allowed as a pilot or demonstration program for 1-2 years (depending on the time necessary to develop a set of activities suitable for evaluation). Use of trees shall be for biological/ecological circumstances, not for commercial forestry purposes. The dollar amount to be spent on planting trees will be subject to a cap, above which approval is required at a higher level.

In order to meet the forest land trust responsibilities of Public Law 101-630, Title III, Section 305(b)(1), the Bureau of Indian Affairs may require additional resources for replanting of commercial timber on Indian lands. We will address this issue as part of the development of the Department's Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 budget.

Issue #2 - Repair or replacement of minor facilities through the emergency rehabilitation program

Replacement or repair of minor facilities is not an appropriate use of emergency fire rehabilitation funds.

In the FY 2000 budget the Department of the Interior will look at options for establishing a source of funds (such as that coming from fee revenues) to be available to meet emergency facilities needs resulting from fires or other natural events.

To implement the above decisions, as well as the full set of policies contained in the attached report, I am asking that the following actions take place:

1. Department of the Interior EFR/BAER program leaders, working with the Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety and with the USDA-Forest Service, expeditiously incorporate the attached EFR/BAER policies into the Departmental Manual. Consideration should be given to the development of an interim policy document for use as soon as possible.
2. The Bureau of Indian Affairs include within their FY 2000 budget request one or more options for addressing restoration of commercial forests on Indian lands damaged by wildland fire.
3. The Office of Budget and the Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety develop options for consideration in the FY 2000 budget process for establishing a source of funds (such as that coming from fee revenues) to be available to meet emergency facilities needs resulting from fires or other natural events.
4. Department of the Interior EFR/BAER program leaders, working with the Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety and with the USDA-Forest Service, conduct a review of the use of trees as an EFR/BAER treatment no later than January 2001 (following completion of the 2000 fire season).

Attachment

Signed by:
John Berry
Assistant Secretary -
Policy, Management and Budget

1 Attachments
  1. Emergency Fire Rehabilitation Handbook

Introduction / Fire Rehab Primer / Photo Story / Myths vs Facts / RAC Recommendations
Subgroup Report / State Director's Policy / News Releases / Fire Rehab Handbook

< Home | News | Info | What We Do | BLM Facts | Directory >