Good Neighbor Authority

1. Good Neighbor Authority Mo Bookwalter Cohesive Strategy Coordinator Region 1 and 4 USFS February 27th, 2019 Montana and Idaho: Region 1 and 4 Forest Service

2. Why are ‘WE’ using Good Neighbor? • USFS Priorities (National and Regional) • Increase Pace and Scale – more active management. • Vision behind Shared Stewardship • Doing things differently (Planning and implementation) • Leveraging funding and Capacity • Connection to Rural America (forest products/jobs) • Common State Priorities • Forest Health and Wildfire • Rural Economic Development • Collaboration and Partnerships • Recognition of Cross-Boundary Landscape Needs G N A

3. Montana and Idaho Stories • Existing partnership and Interest in expanding it in new and different ways- shared management and shared risk • Catalyst of the 2014 Farm Bill Authorities (I&D Priority Areas HFRA 602 and 603) • Both states focusing partnership projects in these designations -- Linking authorities • GNA -- Focus on collaboratively supported projects • Big push on program income generating projects to ‘seed’ the start up costs and build a larger restoration pot for service items.

4. The Statute: what to consider • Refer back to the language in the Farm Bill: • (a) DEFINITIONS- • 1) “Authorized Restoration Services means similar and complementary forest, rangeland and watershed services carried out on (A) Federal land and non-Federal land” • 2) “Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Restoration services means- • Activities to treat insect and disease infected trees • Activities to treat hazardous fuels • Any other activity to restore or improve forest, rangeland, and watershed health including fish and wildlife habitat” • Exclusions (Omnibus amended language): (i) construction, reconstruction, repair, or restoration of paved or permanent roads or parking areas, other than the reconstruction, repair, or restoration of a National Forest System road that is— • (I) necessary to carry out authorized restoration services pursuant to a good neighbor agreement • Lesson: Know the authority– stay within bounds but be creative. Go slow to Go fast.

5. Examples of GNA/Farm Bill Activities- timber removal and restoration activities • Timber Stand exams • Soil Monitoring/Forest Plan Monitoring • Noxious weed control • Fire/Fuel mitigation • Riparian Protection • Post Fire Reforestation • Project Planning (NEPA)– ex. State funding for federal employees, state positions, IDIQ • Project prep work, including design and sale prep • Commercial timber removal

6. Agreements

7. GNA: Leveraging funds differently • Allows states to use state procurement and contracting mechanisms to conduct work, including commercial timber sales where states manage sale receipts on behalf of USFS • Program Income: Is the sold value of timber that exceeds the appraised value and any required deposits • Reinvestment of funds generated back into forests is fundamental to the GNA • Other funds: other appropriated funds, state general funds, conservation partners, timber industry, in kind services * No match requirement Commercial Restoration Project Agreement State/USFS Receipts Generated State Costs Receipts Generated USFS Minimum Rate Deposits Remaining Funds Commercial Restoration Project Non-commercial Restoration/Service Project Costs

8. Montana Example:BoloGNA Project Goals: Reduce heavy fuel loads in the WUI and adjacent to private property. Farm Bill CE/ Collaborative • Value Proposition to Agency: Pace and Scale. Local Forest Service Resources had to put the Boulder Lowlands project on hold to focus on fire salvage from the 2017 fires. Shared Management: • USFS role: NEPA, assisted with presale activities, silv prescriptions, and permanent road work. • DNRC role: Completed the timber sale preparation and prepare the contract package. Sale administration and use of PI. Project Status/Outcomes: Treatment of 375 Acres. Produce 23,036 (TONS) • State appraised for $10.68/ton. USFSPayment: $1.67 • Sun Mountain Lumber in Deerlodge purchased the sale for $18.87/ton • Program Income = High bid - Payment to the FS x TONS = • ~$395,000 will be generated in Program Income.

9. Idaho Example- Hanna Flats IPNF National Forest/Priest Lake Ranger District Approx.. 1200 acres of treatment , producing 14 MMBF Farm Bill CE, Farm Bill Priority Landscape Area. Unique Features: NEPA support; State IDIQ; 5 qualified vendors State Task Order State NEPA Contractors; ID Team Leader USFS Pace Scale (Additive): NEPA Completed earlier Value of local State Forester – Issue Identification Benefits: State and USFS worked together on NEPA task order Added Capacity and Efficiencies. Communication key

10. Lessons Learned “If we want to do things the same way we always have, why use this Authority?” Timber Staff Officer • Be sure GNA is the right tool. Don’t put a square peg in a round hole. • Spend time on selection of Project Areas and State role • Collaborative • Low complexity • Feasibility analysis • Sale Prep • TRUST • Accept that there is uncertainty and some risk. • Process is not linear • State and FS systems are different • Ex Cruising Standards (MBF vs CCF) • Ex State Contract vs. Federal Contract • Timber Sale Appraisal and Trust Funds/Award • Ensure all required activities are accounted for • Begin to build list of restoration activities in appraisal • Know the authority; but continue to think innovatively • Filling bottlenecks. • Engage Partners early and often – FAP. • Communication / Adaptive Management • PR Plan • Pinyon or other data sharing system • Share stories with the public

11. MEETING THE VISION OF SHARED STEWARSHIP All Lands State & Private Forestry National Forest System

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