IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES PUBLIC LANDS STEERING COMMITTEE

February 2, 2009

MEETING MINUTES – DRAFT

COMMITTEE ATTENDEES IAC MEMBERS Jon Cantamessa, Shoshone, Chair Vaughn Rasmussen, Bear Lake Greg Shenton, Clark Larry Schoen, Blaine Bill Brown, Adams Lewis Rich, Bonner Mike Paradis, Adams Lee Staker, Bonnevilee Steve Hadley, Bannock Kerry McMurray, Cassia Cleone Jolley, Bingham William Frederiksen, Clark Tom Bowman, Blaine Barbara Breedlove, Custer Jaime Anderson, Boise Cliff Hansen, Custer Dave Radford, Bonneville LeRoy Miller, Fremont Dan Dinning, Boundary Rocky Watson, Kootenai Trilby McAffee, Butte Don Davis, Lewis Dennis Crane, Cassia Carroll Keith, Lewis Don Ebert, Clearwater Cecil Sweeten, Oneida Wayne Butts, Custer Richard Freund, Owyhee Lin Hintze, Custer Arlie Shaw, Elmore GUESTS Skip Hurt, Fremont Stephen Goodson, Governor’s Office Paul Romrell, Fremont Eli Hodson, Senator Risch Sharon Church-Pratt, Gem John Foster, Representative Minnick Jim Rehder, Idaho Lee Heinrich, Senator District 8 Rick Currie, Kootenai Dustin Miller, OSC Robert Cope, Lemhi Brett Ingles, BSU Rick Snyder, Lemhi Steve Kimball, Ntl Fire Plan Wkgp Terry Kramer, Twin Falls Joe Daniels, Oneida IAC STAFF Larry Etherington, Oneida Sharon Burke, Policy Analyst Jerry Hoagland, Owyhee Brenda Richards, Owyhee Tom Mikesell, Twin Falls Gordon Cruickshank, Valley

Public Lands Committee February 2009 Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5 IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES

I. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Jon Cantamessa, Chair, called the meeting to order and welcomed the members and guests. The committee reviewed the minutes from the September 2008 Meeting. Motion: The September Meeting Minutes were approved on a motion from Sharon Church-Pratt, seconded by Jim Rehder.

II. AGENCY DIRECTORS PANEL

The Directors and Representatives from Federal and State Agencies that are involved in public lands joined the meeting to provide updates and answer questions:

United States Forest Service – Andy Brunelle and Cecelia Seesholtz: Andy Brunelle provided an update on the Stimulus Package being considered in Congress and described the potential impact on the Forest Service and Idaho.

Cecilia Seesholtz reported that the travel planning process will be completed in 2009. Currently, the Boise, Payette and Sawtooth National Forests are developing a Wildlife Conservation Strategy in conjunction with this process. The Strategy will define what activities should be undertaken to maintain and restore the forest’s habitat.

Fish and Wildlife Services – Jeff Foss, Director: The Fish and Wildlife Service has been restructured for the North portion of the state to be managed within state boundaries though the office is still located in Spokane. Currently, three species are critical in Idaho:  Greater Sage Grouse – FWS will re-evaluate the status after a recent ruling by Judge Winmill.  Gray Wolves – North Rocky Mountain Wolves were delisted a year ago. The delisting was challenged and a current decision regarding the listing is being held by the Obama Administration.  Grizzly Bears – Delisting in Yellowstone currently being challenged by three lawsuits.

FWS is currently focusing on two projects: The Children in Nature Initiative and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Bureau of Land Management – Tom Dyer, Director, and Susan Giannettino, Deputy: Tom Dyer reviewed the current agency initiatives which include the Healthy Landscapes Project, transmission lines and right of ways, tribal relations, Children in Nature Initiative, managing 1200 grazing permits and issues related to community growth in area adjacent to public lands.

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Fish and Game – Cal Groen, Director and Gregg Servheen, Program Coordinator: Cal Groen reported that the department is seeking an increase in hunting and fishing fees to cover the costs incurred by the department for hunting activities and species management. Sage grouse management is going well with a 50 count improvement. Over 820 wolves were confirmed this year. Wolf mortality and depredation have doubled in the year. The Director stated that the Murphy Complex fire rehabilitation was an excellent example of partnership between the department, BLM and the counties.

Office of Species Conservation – Tom Perry, Legal Counsel: Secretary Ken Salazar, Department of Interior, will be making the decision on wolves once his team is in place. OSC is also working on re-establishing fish habitat and will be working with counties on these restoration efforts. The Roadless Rule was completed in October. Bob Maynard, Perkins Coie LLP, joined the meeting and reported that the rule was challenged with NEPA and ESA claims. A prospect for collaboration to intervene may exist.

Questions and Answers: Dan Dinning: Will USFS be considering non-threatened, non-listed species in the Wildlife Conservation Strategies and, if so, won’t this provide a foundation for taking such actions? Cecilia Seesholtz: Yes, all species will be considered.

Gordon Cruickshank: How can F&G be pushing producers out when there is no scientific evidence to support that mixing big horn and domestic sheep has an adverse impact on the big horn population? Cal Groen: There are a number of players in the process including the Nez Perce Tribe and representatives from Oregon as well as the Payette National Forest. The USFS is not recognizing the original 1997 agreement but discussions are in process to work through the many issues.

Lin Hintze: How does Fish and Game generate statistics for dollars spent in a community for recreational fishing activities? In Custer County, it appears the estimates are exaggerated when, in reality, many of the purchases are made in the urban areas prior to travel to the county. Gregg Servheen: The figures are estimated from national data and applied to the county level activity.

Lin Hintze: Is the wolf map that was distributed current? Cal Groen: No, there is a more current map for 2008 which shows increased wolf activity.

Cope: The agencies should look at the ecosystem in a holistic view. As a veterinarian, he questioned what disease big horn sheep could contract from domestic sheep.

Bill Brown: The child program is wonderful and we need to ensure that any stimulus dollars aren’t utilized to close public lands but to allow increased access.

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Jon Cantamessa: Travel plans seem to be related more to closing access rather than the premise of opening to the public.

Arlie Shaw: Does Ken Salazar understand the issues related to Idaho? Tom Perry: Yes, Idaho is similar to Colorado with an agriculture base. Sec. Salazar is a strong state’s rights advocate as well.

Larry Schoen: Will BLM be proactive in developing energy resources? Tom Dyer: Yes, each type of energy needs to be managed and analyzed critically to get strong public involvement. Susan Giannettino: The Western Governors Association is working with the states and feds on an overlay of resource issues and energy availability. The process will consider solar, wind and geothermal with wildlife concerns to determine where funding should go for development.

Jim Rehder: With regard to travel plans, there appears to be no net increase for motorized use which creates a concern for closures. It is difficult to tell if a road is closed or open.

III. NFSFC AND SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS UPDATE

Andy Brunelle reported that five RACs have been reauthorized and one new RAC established in South Central Idaho. They will be filling five vacancies. The secretary’s office has requested that no new notices be posted in the federal register during the transition of administrations so no RAC meetings have been posted.

Gordon Cruickshank reported that the Secure Rural Schools funding was reauthorized as we are all aware. The Coalition met in Reno and focused on alternatives to funding as the loss of the timber industry appears to be permanent. The group is looking to energy through woody biomass as an alternative. A Board Meeting will be held later in the month where the group will tour the National Forest Lab. In addition, the April conference will be held in Reno.

Jim Rehder: With the authorization ending in 2012, we have 3 years to begin the next phase of lobbying.

Don Ebert: A coalition has been put together by Senator Crapo that focuses on stewardship to manage the forests and the by-product of this collaborative approach is timber harvesting.

Bill Brown: It appears the RACs are driven by the Forest Service rather than counties. Andy stated that the FS always led the outreach but will make sure the current process allows for county input. Jon Cantamessa and Tom Bowman reported that there has been cooperation between counties and USFS in their RAC appointments.

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IV. COORDINATION PLANS WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT - Lin Hintze, Custer County Commissioner & Fred Grant, Stewards of the Range

Lin Hintze, Custer County Commissioner, introduced Fred Grant. Lin attended a conference in Austin, Texas where Fred spoke about coordination status occurring in Owyhee County. Lin read a portion of the Federal Land Management Policy Act that is also the basis of a NACo policy for Gateway Communities and allows for local government to play a strong role in development of policy on public lands.

Fred Grant became involved with Owyhee County fourteen years ago when the BLM planned reduction of lands dedicated to grazing. Section 1712 Title 43 mandates that the Secretary of the Interior shall coordinate with local government with regard to land use planning. The coordination plan developed in response to this issue slowed the release of the grazing plan for seven years and resulted in no loss of grazing activity.

Fred described the success of coordination planning in a number of counties. Six counties in California have coordinating status with the federal government.

Jerry Hoagland, Owyhee County Commissioner, described the impact of the process in Owyhee County with regard to the Owyhee Initiative.

Lin Hintze stated that Custer County will be exploring this process.

ACTION ITEM: Sharon Burke will follow up with Custer County Commissioners and other counties who express interest in coordination status for report on progress at the June Meeting.

V. ADJOURNMENT

Jon Cantamessa, Chair, adjourned the meeting at 9:00 PM.

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