Southern California Forest Plan Revisionand Environmental

Management Systems (EMS)

Southern California Forest Plan Revisionand Environmental

Management Systems (EMS)

The revision of the Land Management Plans (Forest Plans) for the four southern California national forests is now finished.

Together the new Forest Plans Together the new Forest Plans provide strategic management provide strategic management direction for 3.5 million acres of direction for 3.5 million acres of public lands.public lands.

The Forest Plans are Done!The Forest Plans are Done!

Strategic Plans with no site specific decisionsStrategic Plans with no site specific decisions

Part 1: Vision, Niche, Desired ConditionsPart 1: Vision, Niche, Desired Conditions

Part 2: Strategy to achieve Desired ConditionPart 2: Strategy to achieve Desired Condition

Part 3: Design Criteria, Standards, & Rules Part 3: Design Criteria, Standards, & Rules

EMS is part of plan implementation EMS is part of plan implementation

““EMS is a feature of planning and is the EMS is a feature of planning and is the management framework that shows we intend management framework that shows we intend to achieve the environmental objectives to achieve the environmental objectives described in the Forest Plan.” described in the Forest Plan.” Fred NorburyFred Norbury

EMS is an Implementation ProcessEMS is an Implementation Process

EMS is a process that provides Forest employees and the public with the information needed to ensure that the adaptive approach to management envisioned in the plans is a reality on the ground.

Cleveland is the pilot Forest in R5 for EMS Cleveland is the pilot Forest in R5 for EMS

Forest Plan Revision in new format is in place

CNF Staff Review Starts Next Week (Feb. 21-23)

EMS Ready for Document Review (April 10-14)

Forest Starts to Implement (May – August)

EMS Audit - August 2006

Process Process

Built a ‘how to’ guidebook that shows how Forest Plan direction, FSM and FSH direction, annual program of work, and monitoring meet the requirements for the EMS standard (ISO 14001)

EMS Elements to LMP Crosswalk EMS Elements to LMP Crosswalk

Environmental PolicyEnvironmental Policy – – VisionVision Significant AspectsSignificant Aspects – – Developed from a list Developed from a list

of activities needed to meet the LMP Goals of activities needed to meet the LMP Goals and screened for significance.and screened for significance.

Objectives and TargetsObjectives and Targets – – Derived fromDerived from Forest Plan Goals and Emphasis ProgramsForest Plan Goals and Emphasis Programs

Operational ControlsOperational Controls – – Design CriteriaDesign Criteria MonitoringMonitoring – – LMP Implementation and LMP Implementation and

Effectiveness Monitoring Questions Effectiveness Monitoring Questions

Policy – Key Elements Policy – Key Elements

Management commitment is essential.Management commitment is essential.

Commit to adaptive management.Commit to adaptive management.

Commit to continuous improvement of Commit to continuous improvement of environmental performance.environmental performance.

Be open to change.Be open to change.

Potentially Significant AspectsPotentially Significant Aspects

Example Aspects: Identified in Forest Plans as potentially affecting the environment and was a

public issue.

Campgrounds and Developed Sites

Yes

Concentrated Use Areas Concentrated Use Areas Yes

Public use of Roads and Trails Yes

Data Management No

Minerals Management No

Objectives and TargetsObjectives and Targets

EMS Objective 2 Motorized Route DesignationEMS Objective 2 Motorized Route Designation – Initiate – Initiate the motorized route designation process using LMP the motorized route designation process using LMP direction as a guide. This objective helps implement direction as a guide. This objective helps implement Forest Goal 3.1.Forest Goal 3.1.

Targets:Targets: Complete inventory through a public involvement process.Complete inventory through a public involvement process. Initiate NEPA process to designate motorized routes.Initiate NEPA process to designate motorized routes. Identify routes for decommissioning or conversion to other Identify routes for decommissioning or conversion to other

road or trail use.road or trail use. Update RMO’s through ATM module and produce Update RMO’s through ATM module and produce

Motorized Vehicle Use Map. Motorized Vehicle Use Map.

EMS Also Relates to Regulatory ComplianceEMS Also Relates to Regulatory Compliance

EMS Objective 1 TEPC -EMS Objective 1 TEPC - Update priority Update priority ongoing activities biological assessments to reflect ongoing activities biological assessments to reflect new LMP Biological Opinion and adjust the new LMP Biological Opinion and adjust the adaptive management program (ongoing activities adaptive management program (ongoing activities monitoring) to be more responsive to information monitoring) to be more responsive to information learned. This objective helps implement Forest learned. This objective helps implement Forest Goals 6.2 and 3.1.Goals 6.2 and 3.1.

Type of Type of Operational Operational ControlControl

Operational Operational referencesreferences

Operational Operational documentsdocuments

Current Current MonitoringMonitoring

Access Travel Access Travel Management Management (Designate (Designate Roads, trails Roads, trails and areas per and areas per and prepare and prepare motor vehicle motor vehicle use maps)use maps)

E.O. 11644E.O. 11644, , CFR 212 SubparCFR 212 Subpart Bt B,, LMP S35, LMP S35, LMP Part 2 Page LMP Part 2 Page 3 – Suitable 3 – Suitable Uses Table 2.2.2 Uses Table 2.2.2 and Land use and Land use Zone Maps 1 Zone Maps 1 and 2 and 2

Motor Vehicle Motor Vehicle Use Maps, ATM Use Maps, ATM Module, Module, Route DesignatiRoute Designation Guideon Guide, dispersed , dispersed camping limits camping limits (36 CFR (36 CFR 212.51(b) 212.51(b)

Ongoing ActiOngoing Activity Monitorivity Monitoringng

Example Operational Control Worksheet –

Motorized Use of Roads and Trails

Type of Type of Operational Operational ControlControl

Operational Operational referencesreferences

Operational Operational documentsdocuments

Current Current MonitoringMonitoring

Implement Adaptive Mitigation for Recreation Uses

LMP S34, S50, (LMP Part 3 Appendix D)

Sighting records, BO-FWS, Species Accounts w/Management Recommendations

Ongoing Activity

Monitoring

Example Operational Control Worksheet –

Motorized Use of Roads and Trails

Compliance MonitoringCompliance Monitoring

Operational controls for each significant aspect are Operational controls for each significant aspect are monitored as part of the LMP implementation monitored as part of the LMP implementation monitoring requirement. monitoring requirement.

Performance monitoring and measurement of annual Performance monitoring and measurement of annual indicators are documented in the WORKPLAN, FACTS indicators are documented in the WORKPLAN, FACTS and other accomplishment reporting systems. and other accomplishment reporting systems.

Annual reporting (Part of Annual Monitoring and Annual reporting (Part of Annual Monitoring and Evaluation Report)Evaluation Report)

Feedback Loop – Corrective Action RequestFeedback Loop – Corrective Action Request

Document non-conformities.Document non-conformities.

Request corrective actions.Request corrective actions.

During the EMS audit, well documented During the EMS audit, well documented corrective actions are a sign of an effective corrective actions are a sign of an effective adaptive management system.adaptive management system.

Document Corrective Actions to Close the Adaptive Management Feedback Loop Document Corrective Actions to Close the Adaptive Management Feedback Loop

Act

Plan

Do

Check