Contributed by: Gil Riddell, AOC Policy Manager
May 4, 2016

 

O&C Forest Lands SignThe AOC Public Lands & Natural Resources Committee keeps its eyes trained on national issues effecting natural resources. In fact, the purpose of its Forest Management Subcommittee is to aim its resources nationally to gain federal forest management reform and “bridge” safety net funding for counties until reform is enacted.

 

So it’s no wonder that four of the items offered from Oregon to improve the National Association of Counties American County Platform originate from the PL&NRC. Final action on these proposals will take place at the NACo Annual Conference July 22 to 25.

 

Three of the four are resolutions, which under NACo rules have a one-year life and must be renewed to remain in the ACP. Oregon’s three proposed resolutions are:

 

    • NACo urges all federal agencies to comply with applicable statutes and regulations to coordinate fully, exclusively, and meaningfully  with states, counties, and tribal governments before, during, and throughout federal land use plan amendments, plan implementation, management actions, and other National Environmental Policy Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and National Forest Management Act covered activities, to assure consistency with state and local plans and policies.  NACo believes all federal agencies shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with local government to ensure coordination with local plans as per NEPA, FLPMA and NFMA. Furthermore, NACo urges Congress to make coordination with local government apply to all federal agencies.
      [Oregon is asking for a renewal of this resolution with the addition of “and meaningfully” noted in italics in the first sentence.]

 

  • NACo supports amending Title III of the Secure Rural Schools Act (SRSA) to allow counties to be reimbursed for law enforcement patrol and emergency training and equipment expenditures for use on eligible federal Forest Service and BLM lands. Patrol and equipment expenditure reimbursements were disallowed with the release of a 2012 GAO report to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. SRSA was enacted in part to stabilize payments to counties dependent on revenues from federal timber sales. The act covers all National Forest lands, as well as certain eligible BLM lands. However, without Title III funding reimbursement for patrols and emergency training and equipment, many counties will not be able to provide adequate law enforcement services on federal lands, especially given other large budget cuts already experienced.

 

 

  • NACo urges Congress to amend current language in USC 579c and elsewhere in statute to provide that fire settlement of damages for cause of wildfire on federal forest lands determined by value of timber lost be shared under traditional forest products receipts distribution formulas for national forest and O&C lands.This change will recognize the timber revenue lost to counties by catastrophic wildfire and the federal government’s long-standing obligation to counties under the Act of May 23, 1908 (national forests) and the O&C Act of 1937 (O&C lands). [The resolution was not renewed and dropped from the ACP in July 2015, most likely through an oversight.]

 

The fourth addition offered by AOC to the American County Platform is a new plank for the policy on federal land management of domestic livestock grazing.

 

    • NACo supports the enhancement of a viable rangeland livestock industry as an essential component of our country’s economy and as vital to affected communities. Good grazing practices are beneficial to maintaining rangeland health and assist in reducing potential fire danger by keeping fuel loading to a manageable level.

 

  • NACo supports the development and implementation of alternative grazing allotment management procedures including categorical exclusions for “no change of use permit” renewals on transfers to streamline the process and reduce cost to the taxpayer associated with rangeland management decisions.

 

 

  • NACo expresses disapproval of certain civil actions brought against the livestock industry and federal land management agencies that are intended solely to prevent livestock grazing on public lands when final decisions are made by the appropriate federal agency regarding grazing allotments after cooperative efforts to determine best land-use practices have been made.

 

 

  • NACo opposes legislative efforts to allow for the permanent retirement of grazing permits through the buy out of grazing permits by non-ranching third parties.  If a permit is vacated, NACo supports reissuing the permit to an active grazer only.  [The offered new language is the last sentence, highlighted in bold. If adopted by NACo at its annual conference, it will not need to be renewed. The Platform is “permanent” until amended.]