Transcript Slide 1
Army National Guard Breakout Session NMFWA ’15 Jay Rubinoff Natural Resources Program Manager Army National Guard Directorate, Environmental Programs Division 703-601-7973/[email protected] March 2015 Topics for Discussion • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Upcoming USFWS T&E Species List (200+) Northern long-eared bat Monarch Butterfly When do we start managing for a species that is being proposed for listing? Developing a repository for all BA, BO's, Formal consultations, SHA and conferencing Statewide projects/MOUs for a species’ conservation and funding for regional projects. Interstate coordination. ESA and NEPA guidance 2014 DoD web-based ESA class Applying Migratory Bird Treaty Act at military installations – rule and EO with MOU INRMP Implementation funding. Funding Landscape Level Mgmt Projects as 1s Using internal resources to get more bang for our buck. Requesting support from other ARNG state employee(s) and their equipment for specific use, can it work? Technology Transfer- what are you using at your installation? As an example UAVs for natural resources (vegetation mapping), telemetry and pit tag studies for small mammals, rodents, and bats; camera traps. IDARNG Charles Baun - Drone usage "Path-forward” and what is required States share projects they are doing regarding wildlife issues Centralized and searchable nation-wide database for species Legacy projects Climate change Upcoming Listing Actions FWS Region 3 Species Action Dakota Skipper & Poweshiek Action Type FCH Tentative Federal Register Date 02/20/15 1 Big Island Species - Final Critical Habitat for 1 Proposed Plant Species and 2 Previously Listed Endangered Plants FCH 02/27/15 2 New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse FCH 02/27/15 1 Oregon Spotted Frog FCH 03/13/15 4 2 Arkansas Mussels (Neosho Mucket and Rabbitsfoot) FCH 03/16/15 3 8 Northern Long-Eared Bat Columbia Spotted Frog DPS FL PL 03/19/15 03/27/15 8 Columbia Spotted Frog DPS PCH 03/27/15 1 5 1 9 Northern Spotted Owl Rufa Red Knot Washington Ground Squirrel Implementing Changes to the Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat 90d PCH 12m REG 03/31/15 04/30/15 04/30/15 06/26/15 Policy Regarding the Implementation of section 4(b)(2) of the Act REG 06/26/15 Northern Long-eared Bat • Developing programmatic informal conference for the northern long-eared bat. Seeking USFWS concurrence on NLAA determination for ongoing military activities within range of NLEB • Draft sent to all potentially affected State ARNG. • Possibly expand to include all of Army • Some State ARNG have completed conferences with USFWS, but this conference will cover all sites within every State • Working with HQDA and other MACOMs on providing comments to proposed 4(d) rule if NLEB is listed Threatened. Hope to cover ongoing military actions Monarch Butterfly • Positive 90-day finding. Undergoing 12-month status review • Comments due to USFWS by 2 March (passed). Hopefully they’ll extend the date, but will it matter? • USFWS determined listing may be warranted based on factors A, B, C, and E – habitat loss, overutilization for commercial/science use, disease/predation, and other man-made/natural factors • Do you have info/data on monarchs? Know where milkweed is? Are pesticides a threat to the areas? • North American Monarch Conservation Plan: – http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/con servation/conservation_plan.shtml Managing for Candidate and Proposed Species • Definitely yes, when at SAR/Candidate stage • DoD and Army regs support it • ARNG STEP supports management • Efforts to preclude the need to list is supported at all levels Repository for BAs, BEs, BOs, CCAs, CCAAs, etc • GKO has a number of these documents • Problem has been with States sending us such documents electronically. Sometimes got drafts, but not finals • DoD tried a number of years ago, but some Services had issues with security of data. Effort ceased • We can build a library. Just send us what you’ve got and we’ll upload them Statewide Projects/MOUs and Funding Regional Efforts • • • Definitely can support, but there has to be a mission angle/benefit to get funding priority ARNG already supporting CCAs, CCAAs, Chesapeake Bay initiative, etc Provide necessary info and we’ll staff for leadership and financial support ESA and NEPA Guidance 2014 • ESA-NEPA came out in Apr. Provides examples for MFRs. Reduces consultation and MFR burden • ESA Section 7 guidance came out in July. ILE needs to be involved in formal consultations, and informal when there may be funding or mission implications. • July guidance also discusses State T&Es and CCAAs • Issues of concern? DoD’s ESA Web-based Class • Multi-Service team reps completed review and comment in Nov 14 • Sent out for Beta testing. Not sure how that went • Final should be close • It’s an advanced course for NRPMs and others who deal with ESA MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT – DoD RULE & EO DOD/MBTA RULE (72FR8931): • Final rule 28 Feb 07- Covers Military readiness activities only • Covers training and operations of Armed Forces • Must confer and cooperate with FWS if activity may result in significant adverse affect on population of migratory bird species • Use NEPA if action will result in a significant impact EXECUTIVE ORDER 13186 - MOU final 30 Aug 06 – nonreadiness activities: • Collaborative approach to promote conservation of birds, with emphasis on migratory bird species of concern – DoDPIF.org • Implement to extent permitted by law, in harmony with mission, subject to funding. • Currently no MBTA authorization to incidentally take– FWS’ prosecutorial discretion to pursue MBTA violation. INRMP Implementation • FY15 P&G identifies what can classify as Must Funds: • Recurring actions essential for sustaining ecosystem integrity to preserve mission capabilities • Actions that avoided CH designation • Avoiding adverse impacts on wetlands • Avoid significant adverse affects on resources/species • Class 3s may classify as “must funds” if not implemented would result in negative outcomes during the INRMP ROE • We can validate, but you need to convince your leadership the project needs to be funded – narrative key Using Internal Resources – States Helping States • Yes. Definitely a good idea • Some States have expertise and training that can benefit outhers • Helping with bat surveys • Invitational travel • Possible State-State agreements Technology Transfer • UAVs • Surveys • Camera traps • IDARNG UAV use • States share projects they believe are relevant to other States Central and Searchable Databases • DoD PARC establishing a herp database for DoD installations • Ebird and Cornell have bird databases • MAPS have database of transect data • Don’t know if HQ ARNG would support this as high priority • May be easier to work through a State than contract at HQ level • Cost always a factor • Possibly Legacy Project? BASH/WASH • No specific Army guidance. Though IMCOM has a WASH pamphlet: https://www.us.army.mil/suite/doc/42163023 • Other resources: • FAA - Qualifications for Wildlife Biologist Conducting Wildlife Hazard Assessments and Training Curriculums…: http://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.cu rrent/documentNumber/150_5200-36 • FAA - Hazardous Wildlife Attractants On Or Near Airports: http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/advisory_circular/150-520033B/150_5200_33b.pdf • Air Force AFP 91-212 – BASH Management Techniques: http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_se/publication/afpam91212/afpam91-212.pdf • Navy BASH Manual: http://www.public.navy.mil/comnavsafecen/Pages/aviation/AirfieldOperations.aspx Legacy Program • Legacy $s have been dropping every year. From over $10 million early 2000s to only $3.4 million for FY15. • Key is mission implications, multi-installations and/or agencies, and regional in scope • Avoid projects with long, expensive tails • Useful product after first year is beneficial • Not too expensive. Best under 100K. Climate Change • Cold winter. Yes, I’m for it • Resources from DoDM 4715.03: a. For national, regional, and international climate information, see the U.S. Global Change Research Program website (Reference (s)), found at http://www.globalchange.gov. b. “DoD FY2012 Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap” (Reference (t)), found at http://bit.ly/13cs9Z2. c. “DoD Natural Resources Conservation Program Climate Change Tools for Adapting Management Strategies” (Reference (u)), found at http://www.dodworkshops.org/files/ClimateChange/CCHome.html. d. Department of the Interior, USFWS website, “Conservation in a Changing Climate” (Reference (v)), found at http://www.fws.gov/home/climatechange. e. “National Fish, Wildlife & Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy” (Reference (w)), found at http://www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov. Questions? Jay Rubinoff Natural Resources Program Manager 703-601-7973 [email protected]