Environmental Compliance and the Fire Safe California Grants Clearinghouse

atwww.grants.firesafecouncil.org

Regional Overview

Coast

Sierra

Southern California

Participating Agencies

Agencies that expressly said they’d use the clearinghouse as their application process for select programs BLM, NPS, USFS, USFWS

Funding based on congressional appropriations

Grant Programs Community Protection Community Assistance WUI/Community Protection Community Assistance/WUI State Fire Assistance

Benefits

Communities Less research, less grantwriting

One concept paper, one deadline More funding opportunities Less paper Concept papers live on

Agencies Better inter-agency planning Better inter-agency success reporting More funding opportunities Less paper Fast-track funding

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Begin the environmental compliance process while

you are writing your grant proposal.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

• Do not wait until funding announcements are made. • Develop your project proposal with environmental sensitivity in mind.

Engage your grant manager in a conversation about your needs or

environmental circumstances that may need additional solutions. California Fire Safe Council grant managers are available to help

and may have ideas or other resources to share with you. Ask permission, not forgiveness. Grant agreements (a.k.a. grant letter) describe relevant and

applicable environmental regulations concerning funded grant projects.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Foster relationships.

In planning your projects, realize that your federal and/or state agencies can be a tremendous ally in a variety of ways, including environmental compliance.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Investigate other options.

Caltrans, CALFIRE, local county, Resource Conservation District, utilities including phone company, water or gas may have completed environmental compliance on a previous project in your planning area.

Don’t reinvent the wheel.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Remember to budget environmental compliance expenses as part of

your grant. Clearinghouse grants will pay for the costs of complying with all

applicable federal and/or state regulations. Assigning a cost in your budget will save you time and money! If you don’t spend all the grant money allocated to environmental

compliance, you may likely use it to achieve other project goals.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Eliminate the belief that there is a cookie cutter approach to

environmental compliance. Each project is unique and will require an individual solution. The one thing you can count on is that you cannot avoid

responsibility for environmental compliance.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Solicit official written notification from federal and/or state agencies on

the status of your environmental compliance. Before any project work can begin, federal and/or state agencies

must submit official written notification to you and the California Fire Safe Council.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Avoid ground disturbance until all environmental compliance is

complete and the California Fire Safe Council has given you the green light. Ground disturbance means any activity that disrupts plant, animal or

cultural resources on your project. This includes activities such as mowing, masticating, prescribed fire,

tree felling, limbing etc. Ground disturbing does not include planning (such as CWPP

development), public education and outreach and workshops.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Formulate a realistic schedule that includes plenty of time for

environmental compliance activities and approvals.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

Environmental compliance protects YOU.

B.E. F.I.R.E.S.A.F.E.Ten Strategic Ways to

Navigate The Environmental Compliance Process

By making sure that your project complies with all applicable environmental laws you minimize the risk of your organization encountering expensive and time consuming legal battles.

Contact Information

E-mail: grants@firesafecouncil.org Phone: 800 FS CALIF (372-2543)

www.grants.firesafecouncil.org

Thank You & Good Luck!