Developing Accountability in a Large Decentralized Agency

1. Developing Accountability in a Large Decentralized Agency U.S. Forest Service Raymond S. Thompson rsthompson@fs.fed.us

2. This Presentation • Background and Scope • Approach • Status

3. Background and Scope • Established in 1905 • Mission: Sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations • Manage the National Forests and Grasslands • Largest Forestry Research Organization in the World – providing scientific and technical knowledge to protect and sustain natural resources • Extensive State and Private Forestry Organization – supporting States, Local Governments and Private Land Owners in the management, protection and development of forest land • International Programs – Support for protection and management of the world’s forest Resources

4. Background and Scope • Manage 155 National Forests, and 20 National Grasslands • 193 million acres(equivalent to the size of Texas) • Approximately 30,000 employees • Over 41 thousand Buildings and Structures • Over 374 thousand miles of roads • Over 12 thousand bridge structures • Over 17 thousand recreation sites • Over 143 thousand miles of system trails • Over 17 thousand motor vehicles

5. Background and Scope • National Forests or National Grasslands in 44 States, as well as • Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands • Managed lands comprise 8.5% of the total land area in the United States

6. Background and Scope The Forest Service is a large decentralized organization

7. Approach • Leadership Communication Environmental Accountability EMS Metrics Development Agency Grass Roots Efforts

8. Approach and Status • Leadership • Establish and manage the overall environmental approach • Establish environmental policy and direction • Produce a companion document to the agency Strategic Plan • Establish a Climate Council • Produce a Strategic Framework Document • Establish 7 Strategic Implementation Teams • Sustainable Operations • Education • Alliances • Monitoring • Mitigation • Science and Management Integration • Adaptation Priorities • Provide budget to support the overall effort • Establish environmental emphasis in executive, managerial • and supervisor performance plans • Establish a national awards and recognition plan

9. Approach and Status • Communication • Establish a Sustainable Operations website • Establish a Communication Plan for Climate Change • Begin a monthly open mike discussion forum • Create a monthly newsletter • Provide various webinars • Promote Environmental Learning • Support partners in GREEN education • Grow GREEN leaders for tomorrow • Support the experience of the great outdoors

10. Approach and Status • EMS • Establish a stepped approach • Focus first on training, and on the area of Fuel Conservation • Focus next on areas of Water and Energy • Follow with green purchasing, electronics stewardship, Solid • Waste Diversion and Recycling, Sustainable Design and • High Performance Buildings, Hazardous Materials, • Electronic Stewardship • Enhance accountability through Continual Improvement, • Audits, and Management reviews • Working to reduce environmental impacts to the land • Adjustments to Forest Plans

11. Approach and Status • Metrics Development • Establish appropriate metrics to manage toward • goals • Establish metrics that minimize burden and cost • Set initial metrics using existing data • Use an automated Performance Accountability System, • with drill down capabilities • Use an internally focused team to focus on development of • more long term metrics

12. Approach and Status • Agency Grass Roots Efforts • Annually conduct a Sustainable Operations Summit using VTC • Establish local Green Teams • Micro grants • Revenue generating recycling programs • Local awards • Carpooling • Local water conservation • Energy savings efforts • As well as others…. • Individual champions at local levels

13. Summary Leadership Communication Environmental Accountability EMS Metrics Development Agency Grass Roots Efforts • The challenges are great, considering the scope of the agency • The Forest Service is coordinating a multi-directional approach • From 2007-2008 progress has been achieved in reduced energy use • and fuel consumption • The agency is proud of its progress to date, and expects continued • forward movement toward full environmental accountability • “This is about doing the things we have always done, but approaching • those things differently”

14. Questions Contact information: Raymond S. Thompson rsthompson@fs.fed.us