Alison Dalsimer Program Director DoD Natural Resources

Transcription

1 Alison Dalsimer Program Director DoD Natural Resources

2 NR Program: Why We Exist Vision Mission Guiding Principles Scope and Responsibilities NR Program Challenges and Solutions Management Burden Listed Species, Climate Change, Renewable Energy Siting Dealing with the Challenges Drivers Laws, Policies, Guidances, etc. Program Oversight Environmental Management Review Budget and Funding Partnerships Tools, Training, and Resources Wrap-up

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4 Sustain military land, air, and water resources; and maintain healthy natural landscapes so troops can conduct testing, training, and operational activities on base Healthy natural systems are critical to DoD s mission success DoD requires high quality lands, free of legal and environmental encumbrances, to conduct readiness activities Support the military mission by managing species and protecting biological resources Strengthen imperiled species populations Maintain resiliency of habitats and landscapes Work on and adjacent to military installations

5 Vision Enable the Defense Mission by Sustaining the Natural Resources Required for Readiness Activities Mission Maximize and Enhance Mission Flexibility through Natural Resources Stewardship

6 Enhance Mission Manage installation natural resources in ways that enable mission activities and maximize operational flexibility Ensure Resiliency and Sustainability Ensure resiliency so the land, air, and water resources needed for mission activities are available for the duration of their need Create Regional Solutions Strengthen existing internal relationships and processes, and identify new relationships to leverage resources and develop solutions that provide regional or landscape-scale conservation benefit Minimize and Avoid Costs Manage resources as effectively and efficiently as possible so as to minimize costs and maximize benefits

7 OSD is responsible for policy, oversight, and advocacy for DoD s NR programs DoD owns or operates ~25 million acres of military land, air, and water resources 339 installations have NR significant enough to require INRMPs We spend ~$300 million per year to implement NRM activities

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9 Escalating NR stressors and increased requirements to protect species and habitats increasing and evolving training, testing, and operational requirements Shrinking or static budgets Increased listed species on military lands (MDL) Climate change impacts (fire, species endangerment, sea level rise, invasives, etc.) Potential negative impacts of renewable energy siting on mission readiness and protected species

10 DoD is the 5 th largest land managing agency, but harbors more sensitive species per acre than other federal land managing agencies (i.e., highest density of ESA listed species) Over 400 federally-listed species (T&E) 555 species at-risk (SAR) 15 listed and 85 SAR exist only on DoD lands

11 FY1991-FY2015: $1.22B spent on listed species Nearly $500M on birds ($190M on RCW) ~$100M of annual $300M is spent on listed species Top 10 for FY2015: Red-cockaded woodpecker, desert tortoise, San Clemente loggerhead shrike, Mariana gray swiftlet, northern long-eared bat, blue whale, Mariana crow, western snowy plover, Arroyo southwestern toad, fin whale

12 Climate Change is a HUGE driver of NR concerns, impacting species listings, habitats of all kinds, fire cycles, invasives, etc. DoDI (2011) requires climate adaptation consideration in INRMPs DoDD (2016) and Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap (2014) provide guidance Services on it! Congress was on board may change

13 Inappropriate siting can pose threats to wildlife Wind turbine remediation technologies are good; Solar arrays are still problematic Increased fossil fuel development: even if happens off DoD lands, there will likely be commensurate increased stewardship burden on DoD lands POC: Diane Walsh, USMC

14 Facilitate efforts that help de-list species Online Recovery Plan Tool (maybe?) Help prevent new species listings Utilizing 7(a)1 (TEST) Encourage off-base conservation to enhance on-base mission flexibility DoDI revision Improve cross-pillar and partner collaboration Change the conversation so NR is viewed as enabling, not restricting Foster partnerships and educate mission side on importance of NRM to preserving the mission

15 INRMPS: Avoid Critical Habitat Designations 71 installations and satellites have used INRMP exclusion [4(a)(3)(B)] - 27 more than once FY12 (19), FY13 (62), FY14 (14), FY15 (33) 46 bases used readiness exclusion [4(b)(2)] EMR: Track at-risk species status US Army Corps of Engineers TEST Proactive conservation using ESA Section 7(a)(1) vs. ESA 7(a)(2)

16 Drivers Drivers

17 Federal Laws (e.g., Sikes Act, ESA, MBTA) DoD Policies and Guidance DoD Instruction NR (March 2011) DoD Manual NR (Nov 2013) Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap (Oct 2014) DoD Directive CC (Jan 2016) Sikes Clarification memo (Oct 2016) Migratory Bird Guidance (early 2017?)

18 Authorizes and allows DoD to manage the natural resources under its stewardship Requires that DoD develop comprehensive Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs) that are fully coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the appropriate state agency Requires that INRMPs be reviewed for operation and effect every 5 years note: review is not revise

19 Improve mission and stewardship integration Requires consideration of impacts from climate change and to ecosystem services Identify opportunities for improved cooperation, information sharing, technology demonstration and transfer, and public communications Published March Currently being revised

20 Adds laws, policies, and Executive Orders (EO) passed after February 2011 New requirement to shift on-base conservation off-base when doing so enhances on-base mission flexibility and aligns with stewardship/recovery goals Least Tern (Atlantic), Huguenot Memorial Park, Batten Island, Florida. Photo by Tim Burr.

21 D R A F T 1A Draft the Issuance Coordinate Internally 1B 2A Precoordination Review Precoordination Revision 2B STAGE 1: Development STAGE 2: Precoordination STAGE 3: Formal Coordination Timeframe: 2-4 weeks Timeframe: 4-? weeks Timeframe: 6-8 weeks P Presignature Security Review U Revision Publication B 4A 4C 5A L Presignature 4B 4D 5B Legal I Review Sufficiency Review Approval S H STAGE 4: Presignature Timeframe: 2-? weeks 2C Legal Objection Review DD Form 106 Signature 2D 3A Coordinate Via Portal Coordination Review 3B STAGE 5: Approval & Publication Timeframe: 1-3 weeks

22 Provides implementing guidance and additional details relevant to DoDI and INRMPs Specifies INRMP contents Describes ecosystem-based management Introduces new STREAMLINED approach to INRMP reviews for updates Published November

23 Signed out October 2016 IG asked DoD for guidance that: requires task order competition, and clarifies that priority should be given to state and federal F&W agencies when awarding work NOTE: consideration does not mean award conditions must be met Glitch: USAF approach to implementing agreements differs from the other Services

24 Compiles existing requirements for addressing migratory birds in INRMPs Driver: Confusion regarding the readiness authorization (which is not an exemption ) Key content: Migratory Bird Treaty Act, E.O , and Migratory Bird Rule Migratory Bird Leadership Course ~45 DoD Leaders participated (11/15/2016) Component DASs and counsel; OSD Directors from EI&E, P&R, and DOT&E; USFWS personnel; and Military Service representatives from the readiness, natural resources, and NEPA communities

25 Sikes Tripartite MOU (July 2013) MOU clarifies definitions Compliant INRMP INRMP Review INRMP Update INRMP Revision USFWS Sikes Act Guidance (June 2015) Updated FWS Sikes Act Guidance Streamlined review process Definitions consistent w/ MOU Seeks to promote USFWS input to annual metrics

26 Prairie Warbler, Fort Drum, NY. Photo by Jeff Bolsinger

27 Annual Environmental Management Review Program Performance Progress Towards Goals Identify Challenges and Initiatives Budget drives expenditures! Ensure that expenditures address both legal and mission-relevant priorities Identify and correct potential funding and resource shortfalls

28 What is the overall health of the program? How did we move the program forward? What did last year s funding buy (investment)? What trends are evident? What risks are we taking? What needs to be brought to senior leadership s attention?

29 Focus Areas FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 INRMP Implementation Sikes Act Cooperation (Partnership Effectiveness) Team Adequacy Natural Resources Program Support of the Installation Mission Listed Species & Critical Habitat Natural Resources Management (Ecosystem Integrity) Recreational Use & Access

30 $ Millions 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 $4,109 $3,793 $3,46 5 $3,394 Conservati on $420 12% P2 $84 2% Tech $186 6% Active Cleanup $833 25% 1,000 0 FY2014 Actual FY2015 Actual FY2016 Enacted FY2017 Request BRAC* $698 $610 $230 $181 Cleanup-active $1,016 $993 $911 $833 Cleanup-FUDS $270 $228 $271 $197 Conservation $445 $377 $400 $420 Compliance $1,380 $1,306 $1,374 $1,493 Technology $203 $184 $190 $186 Pollution Prevention $97 $94 $90 $84 FUDS $197 6% BRAC $181 Complian 5% ce FY2017 Request $3,394 Million * Includes prior year funding in FY2014 and FY2015 only Subtotals may not add due to rounding 30

31 FY2017 Request $420M FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 REQUEST $363 $381 $389 $420 ESTIMATE $410 $394 $400 ACTUAL $445 $377 Conservation budget line includes funding for Cultural Resources and Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI)

32 Conservation Manpower (NR, CR) ESA and MMPA Listed, Candidate, and At-Risk Species Wetlands Other Natural Resources Migratory Bird Treaty Act Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act Coral Reef and Migratory Bird E.O.s Essential Fish Habitat Expenditures are tracked to specific legal drivers

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34 SERDP ( ~$60M/year for research and development ESTCP ( ~$40M/year for demonstration/validation REPI ( ~$60M-$75M/year for buffer lands Legacy Program ( ~$3.5M/year for natural & cultural resources Forestry Reserve Account (in-house) ~$1M/year for forestry-related

35 SERDP: basic and applied R&D for Munitions Response, Environmental Restoration, Resource Cons., Weapon Systems ESTCP: demonstration/validation for Energy and Environmental Technology REPI: easements, acquisitions, and stewardship endowments

36 Legacy Resource Management Program: Funds high priority natural and cultural resource projects that have regional, national, multi-service benefit Forestry Reserve Account: Army is EA CESUs not a DoD funding program, but a GREAT tool!

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38 National consortium of public and private parties Provides research, tech assistance, and training DoD is a member of all 17 CESUs Allows installations to access expertise from many disciplines Use is at a fixed overhead rate of 17.5% From FY , DoD funded 862 projects totaling nearly $218 million DoD cost avoidance = $33M

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40 Manage DoD lands in a regional context Enhance DoD resources and cost efficiencies Increase NR management flexibility Demonstrate DoD s community commitment Leverage knowledge to benefit NR Focus to expand and enhance existing partnerships and develop new alliances It might become policy

41 Economy Act (31 USC 1525, 1536) Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1) Legacy Program (10 USC 2694) REPI (10 USC 2684a)

42 Within DoD Cross pillar and among OSD NOTE: At installation level, it is KEY that YOU engage w/ range commanders, master planners, pest management, etc. when developing and implementing INRMPs! USFWS Ecological Services Migratory Birds Habitat Conservation (Sikes) NOAA - NMFS USACE TEST - 7(a)(1) process

43 National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Coalition of military installation natural resource managers and contractors, and other stakeholders Webinars, newsletter, SME WGs Annual meeting: Spokane, WA (March 6-10, 2017) Held in conjunction with North American Wildlife Management Conference

44 Earth Day (April 22) Installations across the country participate Endangered Species Day (May 19/20, 2017) DoD NRP participates in DC based annual event International Migratory Bird Day (Second Saturday in May) DoD Partners in Flight; Registration now open! National Public Lands Day (Last Saturday in September) Legacy funding: ~$2.4M, >300 projects (since 1999) leverage 5:1 ROI;

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46 Formerly in-person Currently Online training courses and webinars Interactive online ESA Implementation Training Course (DoD-only side of DENIX) Underway: Interactive online Sikes Implementation course Climate smart pilot training (Beta at NMFWA?)

47 Natural Resources - DENIX Invasive Species Outreach Biodiversity Bird Conservation Amphibian/Reptile Conservation Shutterfly Sites

48 NR Program Website Will transition to.mil address in 2017 Natural Selections Sign up at Webinar Series Contact the team at

49 Strategic Plans Birds: Partners in Flight - Herps: Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation - ian_and_reptile_strategic_plan.pdf Climate Change Adaption Roadmap:

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51 Enables military mission readiness Helps sustain testing, training, and operational flexibility Complies with all laws and policies

52 Questions?