Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex

US Fish & Wildlife Service South Carolina Low Country NWR Complex

Fire Management Plan

September, 2010

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Fire Management Plan South Carolina Lowcountry National Wildife Refuge Complex

Prepared by: __/S/ Terri Jenkins______10/7/10____ Terri Jenkins Date Fire Management Specialist

Reviewed by: __/S/ Raye Nilius______10/7/10____ Raye Nilius Date Project Leader SC Lowcountry NWR Complex

Reviewed by: __/S/ Rob Wood______10/7/10____ Robert Askins Date Acting Fire Management Officer – District 2

Reviewed by: __/S/ Peter W. Kubiak______10/12/10____ For Robert Eaton Date Regional Chief, Fire Management Division Southeast Region Concurred: __/S/ Brett Hunter______10/14/10____ For Pete Jerome Date Area Refuge Supervisor Southeast Region

Concurred: __/S/ Richard A. Frietsche______10/14/10____ Richard A. Frietsche Date Acting Regional Chief of Refuges Southeast Region

Approved by: __/S/ Mark Musaus______10/15/10____ For Cynthia Dohner Date Regional Director Southeast Region

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Foreword

Department of Interior policy requires that every managed area with burnable vegetation have an approved Fire Management Plan. Such plans must be consistent with firefighter and public safety; values to be protected; land, natural, and cultural resource management plans; and must address public health issues. Fire management plans must address potential wildland fire occurrences and may include the full range of appropriate management responses to wildland fire. Fire management plans must also address all mechanical and prescribed fire treatments contemplated for reduction of hazardous fuels.

Additionally, Department of Interior policy requires that all fire management plans incorporate elements which support attainment of the goals identified in the National Fire Plan (NFP) and the NFP Ten-Year Comprehensive Strategy. Fire Management Plans must be coordinated, reviewed, and approved by the responsible agency administrator, to ensure consistency with Department and Service policy, and with approved land management plans.

This plan is consistent with the intent of the Service’s Fire Management Handbook, the Interagency Fire Management Plan template of July 2008 and the Guidance to Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy of February 2009. Additionally, an effort has been made to ensure consistency with the Fire Program Analysis (FPA) process as developed to date.

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Table of Contents

Section Title Page Administrative Material Official Approval 2 Foreword 3 Table of Contents 7

1.0 Introduction 11 1.1. Purpose of the Fire Management Plan (FMP) 11 1.2. General Description of the Area in the Fire Management 12 Plan 1.3. Significant Values to Protect 21

2.0 Policy, Land Management Planning & Partnerships 23 2.1 Implementation of Fire Policy 23 2.1.1. Federal Interagency Wildland Fire Policy 23 2.1.2. National Fire Plan (NFP) 25 2.1.3. Department of Interior (DOI) Policy 25 2.1.4. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) Fire Policy 26 2.1.5. Regional FWS Policy 26 2.1.6. Refuge Specific Fire Management Policy 26 2.2. Land/Resource Management Planning 27 2.2.1. CCPs and Planning Documents 27 2.2.1.1. Refuge Specific Plans 27 2.2.2. Compliance with Regulatory Acts 28 2.3 Fire Management Partnerships 29 2.3.1. Internal Partnerships 29 2.3.2. External Partnerships 29

3.0 Fire Management Unit (FMU) Characteristics 30 3.1. Area Wide Management Considerations 30 3.1.1. SCLC Fire Management Goals 31 3.1.2. Common Characteristics of the FMU’s 33 3.1.3. Wildland Fire Strategies to be Implemented 46 3.1.3.1. Suppression Strategies – General Refuge Lands 46 3.1.3.2. Suppression Strategies – WUI Threat Zones 47 3.1.3.3. Suppression Strategies – Wilderness 55 3.1.3.4. Prescribed Fire Strategies 55 3.1.3.5. Mechanical & Chemical Fuel Reduction Strategies 56 3.1.3.6. WUI Strategies 56 3.1.3.7. Public Education Strategies 57 3.2. Fire Management Unit-specific Descriptions 57 3.2.1. ACE Basin NWR FMU Description 59 3.2.2 Cape Romain NWR FMU Description 62

7 3.2.3. Santee NWR FMU Description 67 3.2.4. Waccamaw NWR FMU Description 69

4.0 Wildland Fire Operational Guidance 74 4.1. Fire Management Program Procedures 74 4.1.1. Response to Wildfire 75 4.1.2. Preparedness 78 4.1.3. Detection 82 4.1.4. Dispatch, Initial Response and Initial Attack 83 4.1.5. Extended Attack & Large Fire Management 84 4.1.6. Use of Wildland Fire 88 4.1.7. Aviation Operations 88 4.1.8. Reviews and Investigations 89 4.1.9. Reports 89 4.2. Hazardous Fuels Management 90 4.2.1. Prescribed Fire Program 90 4.2.1.1. Process to Identify and Prioritize Fuels Treatments 91 4.2.1.2. NEPA Compliance 91 4.2.1.3. Prescribed Fire Complexity and Size 91 4.2.1.4. Prescribed Fire Program Targets 92 4.2.1.5. SCLC Refuges Fire History 92 4.2.1.6. Effect of National and Regional Preparedness Levels 93 4.2.1.7. Annual Preparation and Season of Activity 94 4.2.1.8. Project Planning 94 4.2.1.9. Project Implementation 95 4.2.1.10. Prescribed Fire Staffing and Configuration 95 4.2.1.11. Smoke Management & Air Quality 96 4.2.1.12. Conversion of a Prescribed Fire to a Wildfire 97 4.2.1.13. After Action & Escaped Fire Reviews 98 4.2.1.14. Investigations 98 4.2.1.15. Reports 98 4.2.1.16 Agreements 98 4.2.1.17. Funding 98 4.2.2. Non-Fire Hazardous Fuels Treatment Program 98 4.2.2.1. Processes to Identify and Prioritize Treatments 99 4.2.2.2. NEPA Compliance 99 4.2.2.3. Annual Preparation 99 4.2.2.4. Non-fire Project Complexity and Size 99 4.2.2.5. Non-fire Hazardous Fuel Program Treatment Targets 99 4.2.2.6. Community Wildfire Protection Plans 100 4.2.2.7. Wildland Urban Interface Treatments 100 4.2.2.8. Staffing 100 4.2.2.9. Sensitive Resources 100 4.2.2.10. Equipment 100 4.2.2.11. Documentation and Reporting 100 4.2.2.12. Funding 101

8 . 4.3. Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation 101 4.3.1. ESR Planning 106 4.3.2. Immediate Rehabilitation Actions 106 4.3.3. Post-incident Rehabilitation Actions 106 4.3.4. Restoration Actions 106 4.4. Prevention, Mitigation and Education 106

5.0 Monitoring and Evaluation 107 5.1. Fire Management Plan and Annual FMP Review 107 5.1.1. Fire Management Plan Terminology 108 5.2. Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring 108 5.2.1. Wildfire Monitoring 109 5.2.2. Review of Post Treatment AARs & Fire Effects Evals 109 5.3. Research 109

Appendices 111 A Authorities & Policy Guidance 113 B Fire Management Resource Website Links 115 C Regional Dispatch Plan and Directory/Call-up list 117 D Readiness and Staffing Plan 121 E Environmental Action Statement and Section 7 123 F Scott & Burgan Fuel Models 125 G Annual Fire Management Plan Review Procedures 131 H Cooperative Agreements -TNC 149 I Cooperative Agreements – SCPRT 153 J Cooperative Agreements – SCDNR 157 K Cooperative Agreements – Federal Interagency MOU 163 L Cooperative Agreements – Brookgreen Gardens Lease 217 M District Aviation Plan 229 N SOP’s for Boat Operators 255 O Equipment 257 P Real Property at Risk from Wildfire 259 Q Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment 273

9 Tables

Table 1. Management Units in the Fire Management Plan 11 Table 2. Threatened and Endangered Species on SCLC 32 Table 3. Fuel Models Common to the FMUs 34 Table 4. Fire Management Units 58 Table 5. SCLC Average Annual Prescribed Fire History 93 Table 6. SCLC Wildfire History 2000-2009 93

Figures Figure 1. Aerial Hazards 44 Figure 2. Preparedness and Staffing Levels 78 Figure 3. Suggested Organization for an Aerial Burn 96

10 SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY COMPLEX FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Chapter 1. Introduction

1.1. Purpose of the Fire Management Plan

The purpose of the Fire Management Plan (FMP) is to provide objectives and guidelines for managing wildland fire (wildfire or prescribed fire) on approximately 99,000 acres of habitat within four National Wildlife Refuges that comprise South Carolina Lowcountry Complex (SCLC). The refuges in this Complex include; Cape Romain NWR, Ace Basin NWR, Santee NWR and Waccamaw NWR. The Complex encompasses 155 square miles of Lowcountry habitat. 28,000 acres are congressionally designated wilderness. This plan will meet the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) requirement that all Refuges with vegetation capable of sustaining fire will develop a plan to manage fire. The plan replaces previous individual plans developed in 2001.

The plan is an integral part of the SCLC Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCP) and, along with other step down plans, aids in maintaining a diversity of plant and animal communities.

This FMP meets the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) requirement that all Refuges with vegetation capable of sustaining fire develop a plan to manage fire.

Table 1. FWS Units included in FMP

FMU NAME ACRES BURNABLE ACRES

ACE Basin NWR FMU 11,802 10, 043 Cape Romain NWR 3,643 3,500 FMU Cape Romain 28,000 6,055 Wilderness FMU Santee Santee NWR 12,579 10,500 FMU Waccamaw NWR FMU 9,627 1,700

*See FMU descriptions for subunit breakdown. Acres listed in Table 1 are not total Refuge acres.

1.2 General Descriptions of the Areas in the Fire Management Plan Descriptions of the SCLC’s Refuges and Fire Management Units included in this FMP are provided in Section 3.2.1.1. (ACE Basin NWR FMU), 3.2.1.2. (Cape Romain NWR FMU), 3.2.1.3. (Santee NWR FMU) and 3.2.1.4. (Waccamaw NWR FMU).

Vicinity Maps illustrate the location of the SCLC, its Refuges, and Fire Management Units and its relationship to other land management agency and organization lands in the SC Low Country.

Land management organizations in the vicinity of SCLC are USDA Forest Service, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, The Nature Conservancy, Brookgreen Gardens, Nemours Wildlife Foundation, and numerous privately owned plantations.

The USDA Forest Service’s Francis Marion National Forest adjoins Cape Romain NWR on the northwest, and the Nemours Wildlife Foundation adjoins portions of the ACE Basin NWR on the southwest. SC Department of Natural Resources lands adjoin Cape Romain on the north, are interspersed between ACE Basin tracts, adjoins Santee NWR on the northwest and Waccamaw NWR on the south.

Vicinity Maps of South Carolina Lowcountry Complex. Fire Management Map(s) including Fire Management Units (FMU) for each individual refuge. For the purposes of this plan, the individual refuge is the Fire Management Unit, the FMU is further broken down by management subunits.

ACE Basin NWR FMU: includes subunit maps for Edisto subunits consisting of the Barrelville, Grove, and Jehossee Island Tracts. The Upper Combahee subunit consists of the Yemassee, Combahee and Bonny Hall Tracts)

Cape Romain NWR FMU: includes subunit maps for Garris Landing, Bull Island and Cape Romain Wilderness

Santee NWR FMU: includes the subunit maps for the Bluff, Dingle Pond, Pine Island and Cuddo units.

Waccamaw NWR FMU: FMU map includes the “special consideration” area on Sandy Island.

All FMU’s have a Threat Zone.

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20 1.3 Significant Values to Protect

Facilities for Refuge administration and maintenance, residences, public use areas, equipment, and infrastructure improvements such as water control structures and refuge signs are considered significant values to protect. These values are noted in Appendix O, individual Refuge maps, Fire Management Unit maps and Tables 5, 6, 7 & 8 within the Fire Management Unit descriptions in Section 3.2.

The significant cultural histories of Native American, pre-Revolutionary, and Civil War influences on the complex require great care to avoid disturbance. Whenever possible, the use of heavy equipment will be limited to reduce the potential for damage.

1.3.1. Mission Until individual station CCP’s are completed, each Refuge within the SCLC will be guided by its enabling legislation. Included here is a brief summary of each refuge’s primary mission. All aspects of fire management are considered tools to accomplish Refuge objectives.

ACE Basin NWR enabling legislation: "...the conservation of the wetlands of the Nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties and conventions..." 16 U.S.C. 3901(b) (Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986).

"... for the development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife resources ..." 16 U.S.C. 742f(a)(4).

"...for the benefit of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in performing its activities and services. Such acceptance may be subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or condition of servitude ..." 16 U.S.C. 742f (b)(1) (Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956).

”... for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds” 16 U.S.C. 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).

“…to conserve and protect migratory birds…and other species of wildlife that are listed as endangered species or threatened species and to restore or develop adequate wildlife habitat” 16 U.S.C. 715i (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).

ACE Basin NWR CCP management direction: Waterfowl will remain a focus of refuge management. However, wetland habitat manipulations will also consider the needs of multiple species, such as marsh and wading birds. Management of upland forests and fields for neotropical migratory birds will be more actively managed. Landscape-level considerations for habitat management will include a diversity of open fields, upland and wetland forests, and additional managed wetlands. Multi-species considerations will include target species and habitats identified by the South Atlantic Migratory Bird Initiative and the State’s Strategic Conservation Plan. Cape Romain NWR enabling legislation:

”... for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds” 16 U.S.C. 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).

Cape Romain NWR CCP Management Direction:

As the CCP is being developed, current Refuge Management priorities are to:

• Provide habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and resident species. • Provide habitat and management of endangered and threatened species. • Provide protection of Class 1 Wilderness Area. • Provide environmental education and recreation for the public.

Santee NWR enabling legislation:

”... for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds” 16 U.S.C. 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act).

Santee NWR CCP management direction: • Provide habitat for migratory waterfowl consistent with the objectives of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. • Provide habitat and protection for neo-tropical migratory birds, endangered species, and indigenous wildlife species. • Provide opportunities for wildlife oriented recreation and environmental education.

Waccamaw NWR enabling legislation:

Establishing and acquisition authorities include the Fish and Wildlife Service Coordination Act of 1958 (16 USC 661-667-E), Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. 3901(b)), and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(b)(1)). The refuge was established to: • Protect and manage diverse habitat components within an important coastal river ecosystem for the benefit of threatened and endangered species, freshwater and anadromous fish,migratory birds, and forest wildlife, including a wide array of plants and animals associated with bottomland hardwood habitats; • Provide compatible wildlife-dependent recreational activities, including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation for present and future generations.

Waccamaw NWR CCP management direction:

22 • Protect a biologically diverse system of wetland and upland habitats for the benefit of numerous plants and animals that form an integral part of the ecological functions and productivity of the Winyah Bay Focus Area. • Provide public access to traditional, wildlife-dependent outdoor recreational activities. • Objectives are achieved using habitat management tools that include timber management, water management, prescribed burning, removal of noxious non-native species, protected sanctuary where appropriate, and partnerships, as well as environmental education and interpretation.

1.3.2. Special Land Management Designations Cape Romain NWR has 28,000 acres of designated Wilderness. The Santee NWR had 163 acres proposed for but not yet designated as Wilderness. To protect the potential Wilderness character of this portion of the Santee NWR this area will be managed as Wilderness.

CHAPTER 2. Policy, Land Management Planning and Partnerships The intent of this chapter is to establish the link between higher level planning documents, legislation, and policies which outline the management of wildfires, and to define the conditions to use prescribed fire as a management tool.

2.1 Implementation of Fire Policy

2.1.1. Federal Wildland Fire Policy The following guidelines will be used to provide consistent implementation of federal wildland fire policy. Further guidance is provided in the Federal Wildland Fire Management Fire Policy section of the Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.

• Wildland fire management agencies will use common standards for all aspects of their fire management programs to facilitate effective collaboration among cooperating agencies. • Agencies and bureaus will review, update, and develop agreements that clarify the jurisdictional inter-relationships and define the roles and responsibilities among local, state, tribal and federal fire protection entities. • Response to wildland fire will be coordinated across levels of government regardless of the jurisdiction at the ignition source. • Fire management planning will be intergovernmental in scope and developed on a landscape scale. • Wildland fire is a general term describing any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. Wildland fires are categorized into two distinct types: o Wildfires – Unplanned ignitions or prescribed fires that are declared wildfires. o Prescribed fires – Planned ignitions. • A wildland fire may be concurrently managed for one or more objectives, and objectives can change as the fire spreads across the landscape. Objectives are affected by changes in the fuels, weather, topography, varying social understanding and tolerance, and involvement of other governmental jurisdictions having different missions and objectives. • Management response to a wildland fire on federal land is based on objectives established in the applicable Land/Resource Management Plan and/or the Fire

23 Management Plan. • Initial action on human-caused wildfire will be to suppress the fire at the lowest cost with the fewest negative consequences with respect to firefighter and public safety. • Managers will use a decision support process to guide and document wildfire management decisions. The process will provide situational assessment, analyze hazards and risk, define implementation actions, and document decisions and rationale for those decisions.

This FMP meets Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy by implementing and following these guiding principles:

• Firefighter and public safety is the first priority in every fire management activity. • The role of wildland fire as an essential ecological process and natural change agent has been incorporated into the planning process. Federal agency land and resource management plans set the objectives for the use and desired future condition of the various public lands. • Fire management plans, programs, and activities support local and resource management plans and their implementation. • Sound risk management is a foundation for all fire management activities. Risks and uncertainties relating to fire management activities must be understood, analyzed, communicated, and managed as they relate to the cost of either doing or not doing an activity. • Fire management programs and activities are economically viable, based upon values to be protected, costs, and land and resource management objectives. • Fire management plans and activities are based on the best available science. • Fire management plans and activities incorporate public health and environmental quality considerations. • Federal, State, tribal, interagency, and international coordination and cooperation are essential. • Standardization of policies and procedures among federal agencies is an ongoing objective.

Federal Wildland Fire Cost Effectiveness Policy

Maximizing the cost effectiveness of any fire operation is the responsibility of all involved, including those who authorize, direct, or implement operations. Cost effectiveness is the most economical use of resources necessary to accomplish project/incident objectives. Accomplishing the objectives safety and efficiently will not be sacrificed for the sole purpose of “cost-saving”. Appropriate oversight will ensure that expenditures are commensurate with values to be protected. Other factors besides those in the biophysical environment may influence decisions, including those from the social, political and economic realms. (Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, Chapter 1)

2.1.2. National Fire Plan This FMP meets the direction in the National Fire Plan because it emphasizes the following primary goals of the 10 Year Comprehensive Strategy and Cohesive Strategy for Protecting People and Sustaining Natural Resources:

• Improving fire prevention and suppression • Reducing hazardous fuels • Restoring fire-adapted ecosystems • Promoting community assistance

The Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment (SWRA) is the cooperative effort of the Southern Area Foresters in response to the National Fire Plan and 10 Year Comprehensive Strategy and Cohesive Strategy for Protecting People and Sustaining Natural Resources directives to identify Communities at Risk (CAR), and Communities of Interest (COI) that might be influenced by fire. These communities are identified in the NFPORS (National Fire Plan Operations Reporting System) database. For operational purposes, the SWRA is utilized as the wildfire mitigation plans for communities within and adjacent to refuge property and provides the legal bridge to funding for projects within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).

Risk assessment is an ongoing process and additional communities deserving of consideration may be added to the listing of CARs and COIs periodically.

2.1.3. Department of the Interior Policy This FMP meets DOI policy found in 620 DM1 by making full use of wildland fire as a natural process and as a tool in the planning process.

2.1.4. US Fish & Wildlife Service Fire Policy By addressing the range of potential wildland fires and considering a full spectrum of tactical options (from monitoring to intensive management actions) for response to unplanned ignitions in order to meet Fire Management Unit (FMU) objectives, this FMP meets Service Wildland Fire Policy, (621 FW 1), and is consistent with the Fire Management Handbook and the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations (Redbook).

25 This FMP affirms these key elements of FWS Fire Policy:

• Firefighter and public safety is the first priority of the wildland fire management program and all associated activities. • Only trained and qualified leaders and agency administrators will be responsible for, and conduct, wildland fire management duties and operations. • Trained and certified employees will participate in the wildland fire management program as the situation requires, and non-certified employees will provide needed support as necessary. • Fire management planning, preparedness, wild fire suppression and prescribed fire operations, other hazardous fuel operations, monitoring, and research will be conducted on an interagency basis with involvement by all partners to the extent practicable. • The responsible agency administrator has coordinated, reviewed, and approved this FMP to ensure consistency with approved land management plans, values to be protected, and natural and cultural resource management plans, and that it addresses public health issues related to smoke and air quality. • Fire, as an ecological process, has been integrated into resource management plans and activities on a landscape scale, across agency boundaries, based upon the best available science. • Wildland fire is used to meet identified resource management objectives and benefits when appropriate. • Prescribed fire and other treatment types will be employed whenever they are the appropriate tool to reduce hazardous fuels and the associated risk of wildfire to human life, property, and cultural and natural resources and to manage our lands for habitats as mandated by statute, treaty, and other authorities. • Response to unplanned ignitions will consider firefighter and public safety, cost effectiveness, values to protect, and natural and cultural resource objectives. • Staff members will work with local cooperators and the public to prevent ignition of wildfires on our lands. • Structural firefighting is not the functional responsibility of the Service. Service assistance in structure protection should only be performed on an emergency basis to save lives. • Fire management policies and procedures for safety, training and equipment are mandatory. See 241 FW 7 (Safety Operations - Firefighting), 232 FW 6 (Firefighting Training), and 241 FW 3 (Personal Protective Equipment). • The US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Wildland Fire Management Program Strategic Plan 2006-2010 provides further strategic guidance tiered to the NFP and NFP 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy.

2.1.5. Regional USFWS Policies It is the Southeast Regional Policy to follow response strategies to unplanned ignitions established by the Fire Management Plan. Each FMU has an established initial action response for the first burning period. Should the fire extend beyond the first burning period a Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) analysis will be used to determine and document the strategy for a full range of responses available for suppression operations.

26 When a prescribed fire is no longer achieving the intended resource management objectives and contingency or mitigation actions have failed, the fire will be declared a wildfire and a WFDSS analysis conducted to determine the appropriate strategy and document the management decisions.

When a prescribed fire has been declared a wildfire it cannot be returned to prescribed fire status.

2.1.6. Refuge Specific Policies and Management Goals Related to Fire The Refuges that comprise the SCLC were mainly established as refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. In order to protect the values for which these Refuges were established both upland and wetland habitats must be protected and managed. All fire will be managed according to agency goals as stated in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Handbook.

Fire within the SCLC will be guided by the following:

• All wildfire will be managed in a safe and efficient manner, utilizing the best practical method that will produce the least negative impact on the environment and adjacent private property, i.e., consider utilizing existing breaks or barriers rather than plowing new firelines; using wet lines instead of plowed lines; using hand crews for mop-up. • Prescribed fire will be used as a management tool. Dormant and growing season burns will be used to reduce the level of hazardous fuels and to restore fire adapted habitats within the Refuge boundaries. Specific habitat needs are addressed by the individual Refuge.

• Utilize partnerships to the fullest possible extent to promote all aspects of fire management.

As urban development moves closer to the Refuge boundaries, the following wildland urban interface activities will be implemented to assist fire suppression actions:

• Generate intelligence, as needed, including GIS mapping and risk-assessment databases for developed areas around the Refuges such as the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment. • Develop hazard fuel reduction plans as required to mitigate wildland fire risk to developed areas around the Refuges. Facilitate community-based hazard fuel reduction efforts. • Manage, support, or coordinate the efforts of current rural fire assistance grant programs to assist local fire departments in meeting their structure protection and wildland fire suppression obligations. • Assist the South Carolina Forestry Commission when requested, in providing resource needs for effective initial attack and operations planning. SCLC may initial attack fires on private lands where Refuge interests are threatened, within the WUI threat zone of one mile. Initial attack may be extended beyond this zone at the request of the State and with Refuge Manager/Project Leader approval.

27 • Coordinate with county planning and zoning departments regarding provision of defensible space in all new construction. (New Firewise program in development.) • Initiate or facilitate Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Council or Firewise/Firesafe organization.

2.2 Land/Resource Management Planning

2.2.1. Comprehensive Conservation Plans Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCP) for the individual Refuges within the SCLC are mostly completed, with the exception of Cape Romain NWR which is underway and scheduled for completion in 2011. The CCP’s will provide immediate and long term direction for each Refuge. The FMP is a step-down plan to support the CCP’s. All Refuges within the SCLC support the use of prescribed fire to enhance and maintain habitat where appropriate, especially in the support of migratory waterfowl goals and managed waterfowl inmpoundments.

• Refuge Specific Plans Fire management direction, as derived from and based upon the Refuges’ resource management plans, include the use of fire to accomplish Refuge management objectives. Plans in support of the use of prescribed fire for refuge management goals include the Annual Habitat Management Plan for Impoundment Systems, station Hunt plan, and the Forest Management Plan (Santee and ACE Basin). Individual station resource management plans are available at the Refuge’s administrative office.

2.2.2. Compliance With Regulatory Acts In revising the FMP and implementing the project activities the SCLC use of fire is categorically excluded from NEPA documentation requirements (i.e., preparation of an EA or EIS) consistent with guidance provided in 516 DM 2, Appendix 1 and DM 6, Appendix 1.4 that directly address fire management issues:

• Fire management activities, including prevention and restoration measures, when conducted following Department and Service procedures. [516 DM 6 Appendix 1.4 B (4)]. • The use of prescribed burning for habitat improvement purposes, when conducted following local and state ordinances and laws. [516 DM 6 Appendix 1.4 B (5)]. • The issuance of new and revised site, unit, or activity-specific management plans for public use, land use, or other management activities when only minor changes are planned. An example includes an amended fire management plan. [516 DM 6 Appendix 1.4 B (10)].

Department of Interior policy provides additional categorical exclusions for:

• Hazardous fuel reduction activities using prescribed fire not to exceed 4,500 acres and mechanical methods for crushing, piling, thinning, pruning, cutting, chipping, mulching and mowing, not to exceed 1,000 acres [516 DM 2, Appendix 1 (1.11)]. • Post-fire rehabilitation activities not to exceed 4,200 acres (such as tree planting, fence replacement, habitat restoration, heritage site restoration, repair of roads and trails, and

28 repair of damage to minor facilities such as campgrounds) to repair or improve lands unlikely to recover to a management approved condition from wildland fire damage, or to repair or replace minor facilities damaged by fire [516 DM 2, Appendix 1 (1.12)].

Copies of the Environmental Action Statements for the SCLC appear in Appendix E.

All FMP actions/decisions comply with Section 106 of National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) per terms of the working agreement between the Refuges and the State Historic Preservation Offices. The Regional Archaeologist located at the Savannah Coastal National Wildlife Refuges Complex in Savannah, GA has been engaged in the satisfaction of this requirement.

2.3 Partnerships/Collaborative Development Process

2.3.1. Internal Partnerships This FMP was developed as a collaborative effort with Refuge Biologists, Refuge Managers and District fire personnel. The District Fire Management Officer has contributed significantly to this document.

2.3.2. External Partnerships Input and review of this document was also obtained from state and local entities. Cooperators providing input and comment include the South Carolina Forestry Commission, South Carolina Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

A number of cooperative agreements are in place with local, State and Federal cooperators. There is a Region-wide cooperative fire management agreement with TNC. These relationships are important to Refuge fire programs. A copy of the Regional TNC MOU (Agreement #401819K510) and the South Carolina (Agreement #09-F1-11081209-001) interagency agreements are included in Appendix H.

• Fire Planning Analysis (FPA) Association Fire Program Analysis (FPA) is an interagency budget analysis system under development for the federal wildland fire community.

The SCLC Complex was originally developed within the South Carolina Low Country planning unit (SA SC 002). In 2009, the South Carolina Midlands planning unit (SA SC 001) and the Low Country FPA FMU were merged into one FPA FMU, now called the South Carolina FPU. This plan was developed with the input and consultation of the adjoining FPU’s as identified in the FPA process.

• TNC Partnership The TNC partnership is important to the success of fire management within SCLC, Fire District 2 and to the success of TNC efforts in South Carolina. A Region-wide MOU exists with TNC allowing exchange of personnel and equipment, Appendix H.

• South Carolina Low Country WUI Council

29 The South Carolina Low Country Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Council exists to educate the general public and developers of FIREWISE concepts and provides general educational programs to the area concerning fire management.

• South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council The South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council is comprised of federal, state, nongovernmental organizations, and private landowners. The purpose of the council is to educate the general public and to promote prescribed burning by informing our citizens about the important role fire plays in the stewardship of our natural resources. The council also advocates professionalism among practitioners of prescribed burning.

• South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Agreement The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service share a vested interest in protecting and managing quality habitat. Agreement Number 401816K006, allows South Carolina Refuges and DNR to assist and support each other in identified projects. This agreement pertains to all resource management activities, but is especially relevant to activities concerning prescribed fire assistance. A complete copy of the agreement is included in Appendix J.

Chapter 3. Fire Management Unit Characteristics

A Fire Management Unit (FMU) is a land management area definable by objectives, management constraints, topographic features, access, values to protect, political boundaries, fuel types, major fire regime groups, etc. that set it apart from the characteristics of an adjacent FMU. An FMU may have dominant management objectives and pre-selected strategies assigned to accomplish these objectives. Wildland fire is considered a tool to accomplish refuge land management objectives.

To insure consistency with the FPA, each Refuge is identified as a Fire Management Unit (FMU). Each FMU has a one mile threat zone buffer. The WUI threat zones are typically those areas clearly impacted by wildland urban interface considerations; consequently, there is no WUI threat zone for island Refuges. Designated Wilderness areas are identified as separate Wilderness FMU’s within the Refuge. The maps on pages 13-20 of this plan illustrate the FMU’s. WUI threat zones, and Wilderness FMU areas for each Refuge are on pages 35-42.

3.1 Area-wide Management Considerations

FMU’s are areas within SCLC where there are common fire management problems, strategies, fuels, etc. Each FMU may be sub-divided into treatment units or burning units. A Refuge will contain more than one FMU if the fire management characteristics are not similar; for example, designated wilderness verses general Refuge lands.

The SCLC Refuges included in this FMP have specific management missions that have been set forth within the enabling legislation for each Refuge. Each Refuge has a land base and the fire management program depends upon the specific situation of the Refuges.

30 SCLC’s individual Refuges will be managed for the goals listed below.

3.1.1. Fire Management Program Goals The goals and objectives identified in the approved direction and guidance documents can be distilled into seven main goals for the fire management program:

Goal #1: Maximize firefighter and public safety in all aspects of the fire management program.

Goal # 2: Minimize the occurrence and spread of wildland fire, in order to protect human life, public and private property, and resource values at risk.

Goal #3: Minimize suppression damage to natural resources.

Goal #4: Reduce hazardous fuel accumulations near Refuge boundaries and adjacent to refuge facilities, improvements, and equipment.

Goal #5: Restore and maintain the important habitat for Refuge threatened and endangered species. (Table 2).

Goal # 6: Restore and maintain important waterfowl and wetland bird dependant habitat utilized by migratory birds, wetland dependant birds, and other high priority species, such as the Painted bunting, Henslow’s, and Le Conte’s, Sparrows. Specific prescribed burning goals are discussed in Section 4.2.

Goal #7: Accomplish the readiness and risk mitigation goals of the National Fire Plan and the 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy.

Attainment of these goals requires specific program strategies and objectives for each component of the fire management program.

Table 2. Threatened and Endangered Species on SCLC

Refuge(s) Where Species Threatened or Endangered Found American Threatened* Cape Romain alligator NWR Ace Basin NWR Santee NWR Waccamaw NWR American bald Not Listed as Threatened or endangered Cape Romain eagle but will be treated as such in fire NWR management practices Ace Basin NWR Santee NWR Waccamaw NWR

31 Flatwoods Threatened Ace Basin NWR salamander Santee NWR Waccamaw NWR

Leatherback sea Endangered Cape Romain turtle NWR Loggerhead sea Threatened Cape Romain turtle NWR Piping plover Endangered Cape Romain NWR Shortnose Endangered Waccamaw NWR sturgeon West Indian Endangered Cape Romain manatee NWR Ace Basin NWR Waccamaw NWR Wood stork Endangered Cape Romain NWR Ace Basin NWR Santee NWR Waccamaw NWR * Threatened by similarity of appearance to other crocodilian species.

32 3.1.2. Common Characteristics to All FMU’s

• General Weather (Climate) Spring on the SCLC is usually dry, increasing the potential for wildfire, with strong winds often driving and determining the fire severity. Summers are warm, humid, and long. High temperatures average in the upper 80°’s and low 90°’s (F) from May through September, with daily lows averaging in the 70°’s. As one would expect, most lightning fires occur in the summer season. Rainfall averages between 50 and 55 inches, with almost half the annual total occurring from June through September. Much of summer rain occurs during afternoon thunderstorms. These afternoon thunderstorms have potential for heavy concentrations of lightning and occasional hailstorms. Infrequent tropical storms and hurricanes may also occur during this period and are capable of producing large rainfall amounts. Winters are typically mild, due largely to the moderating effect of the ocean along coastal areas. The average number of days during which temperatures drop below freezing ranges from less than 20 along the coast to greater than 30 further inland (near Santee NWR). Winter precipitation is generally associated with low-pressure centers that move northeastward over the area.

● Heat conditions SCLC experiences numerous days with high heat and humidity conditions. Personnel should be briefed on appropriate protective and preventive measures in order to avoid heat related illnesses.

• Fire Seasons As typical of most southern landscapes, fire can occur year round. However, there are two distinct wildland fire seasons occurring on the SCLC, spring (Feb-April) and fall (Oct-Nov). Spring fire season is dominated by high winds, usually northerly, with periods of low relative humidity, (25-15%). The fall season is primarily influenced by a lack of reliable rainfall. Most wildfires occurring during these periods are human caused. April- September is usually when most natural fires occur. Lightning fires have usually resulted in small fires, occasionally extinguishing themselves due to high humidity recovery during the evening and nighttime. However, lightning fires can be influenced by drought, high winds, and other extended weather patterns which may cause growth larger than normally anticipated.

• Description of Fuels Table 3. describes the common fuels on SCLC. Forest fuels are classified in two modeling systems and cross walked to the newer Scott and Burgan Fuel Models (Appendix F). The National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) classifies fuels using letters in terms relating to likelihood of ignition or difficulty of control of a fire. The Fire Behavior Prediction System (FBPS) models are designated by number and relate to actual behavior of a specific fire. FBPS data may be used to determine the amount of heat produced by a fire, its rate of spread, and its flame length. Fire behavior data is used for suppression planning and resource management purposes. Table 3. Description of common fuel models on South Carolina Lowcountry Complex - includes Crosswalk of Standard Fuel Models to Scott and Burgan Fuel Models. Fuel Model N used for modeling.

FUEL DESCRIPTION NFDRS FBPS Scott & MODEL MODEL Burgan MODEL Grass and low (6"-12") shrub in understory C 2 GR7 Perennial grasses, open marsh, greater than N 3 GR9 2.5 ft. (Dominate fuel for modeling) Southern Rough D 7 SH9 Shrub with Organic Soils O 4 SH5 Mixed hardwood-conifer E 9 TU4 • Fire Behavior: o Average Years - During the low side of average years (KBDI < 150) with low burning indexes, most of the FMU’s can burn with a head fire with little potential of resource damage expected, except possibly in areas of FM 7, and 4. Under higher KBDI conditions flanking, backing, or short head fire runs will usually result in little resource damage.

It should be noted that in select areas of ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge there are large expanses of peat soils and duff litter layers which may become involved after suppression or prescribed burning activities. Maps are included here for these areas on pages 40 and 41.

The Dingle Pond Unit on Santee NWR is a Carolina Bay and may exhibit extreme fire behavior during dry years. This area poses a particular problem for accessibility. Specialized tracked equipment, such as Bombardiers, flex tracks, or Marsh Masters will usually be required for fires occurring within the Carolina Bay.

There is a correlation to KBDI (Keetch-Byram Drought Index) and fire control. As the index goes higher, fire becomes more resistant to suppression and mop-up operations. KBDI values less than 300 are generally not a concern, but past fire history reinforces the fact that units with expansive duff and litter layers may become involved in long term fire/mop up concerns at any KBDI index reading.

o ERC (Energy Release Component) is an NFDRS (National Fire Danger Rating System) index related to how hot a fire could burn. It is directly related to the 24- hour, potential worst case, total available energy (BTUs) per unit area (in square feet) within the flaming front at the head of a fire.

The ERC can serve as a good characterization of fire season as it tracks seasonal fire danger trends well. The ERC is a function of the fuel model and live and dead fuel moistures. Fuel loading, woody fuel moistures, and larger fuel moistures all have an influence on the ERC, while the lighter fuels have less influence and wind speed has none. ERC has low variability, and is the best fire danger component for indicating the effects of intermediate to long-term drying on fire behavior (if it is a significant factor) although it is not intended for use as a drought index.

34 The following maps identify the fuels and known areas of peat and duff (organic soils) conditions of the refuges. The following maps were developed from Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment information.

o Extreme Years - Head fires can exhibit extreme fire behavior with flame lengths of over 60 ft and are capable of resource damage. During extremely dry soil conditions (KBDI > 500), some refuge areas having peat soils or deep duff litter usually experience mid and overstory morality during backing and flanking fires due to root damage. Long duration fire events should be anticipated in areas having organic soils. Fires occurring in FM 2 usually burn quickly; resource damage may be limited even during extreme seasons. However, spotting potential in FM 2 and FM 3 in during extreme years are greatly increased. In areas of FM 7 and 4, control may be difficult and long distance spotting should be expected.

• Values at Risk The enclaves of Refuge facilities, including areas having Refuge infrastructure improvements such as water control structures, Refuge signs, dike systems, roads, heavy equipment or other improved sites for recreation or approved wildlife related activities are considered high value and will receive priority protection (Tables 5, 6, 7 & 8).

Other interests receiving priority consideration include archeological sites, and the select sensitive biological habitats and resources as referred to in Table 2.

Fires on the SCLC which threaten private property or structures will also receive priority consideration in fire suppression planning efforts.

• Archeological/Cultural/Historic Resources All fire management activities on the Complex will be in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Unauthorized excavation or disturbance of cultural or historical artifacts is prohibited. The location of known cultural artifacts on the Refuge is not published or otherwise publicly disclosed. The use of any heavy equipment for new prescribed fire activities and WUI projects will require archeological clearance. Maintenance of existing firelines is exempt from archeological clearance. Activities involving heavy equipment for emergency wildfire suppression efforts are also exempt from clearance requirements. All SCLC activities will:

o Comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and enforce the Archeological Resources Protection Act to protect sites and objects from construction impacts or illegal activities. o Not disclose site locations to the public. o Report site and object discoveries directly to the Regional Archeologist. o Include any specific site maintenance, stabilization, or protection needs to the Service’s Regional Archeologist stationed at Savannah NWR. Office phone number: 843-784-6310.

Fire intensity, duration of heat, heat penetration into the soil, and the use of mechanized equipment for suppression are the primary sources of damage to archeological resources. To minimize damage from fire suppression activities, fire managers will employ the following strategies:

o A Resource Advisor (READ) familiar with both natural and cultural Resources will participate in overhead team briefings, be involved in all aspects of tactics and suppression and be available to advise those on the fireline. o Archeological sites maps are not available. Information will be provided by the resource advisor. o Historic buildings will receive the highest priority for cultural/historic structure protection from fire. o On large fire events (over 100 acres in timber, over 300 acres in grass), if deemed

43 necessary by the regional archeologist, a survey of the burned area will be conducted to record any additional cultural sites, features, or artifacts.

● Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation (BAER) Consideration will be given to wildfires meeting BAER criteria. The primary focus of any BAER project is to provide emergency treatment(s) to minimize threats to life or property or to stabilize and prevent further unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources resulting from the effects of a fire. SCLC has additional opportunities for BAER projects due to the potential spread of non-native and exotic plants. BAER project implementation could potentially aid suppressing the spread of those plants after a wildfire. The Complex has no past history of BAER projects.

● FMU Safety Considerations It is highly likely that, exclusive of island Refuge units, fire operations on SCLC will be impacted by people or vehicles. The Refuges within SCLC are in heavily congested travel corridors and developed urban areas, care must be taken at all times to consider public and firefighter safety.

Island Refuges may experience delays in receiving resources due to their remoteness and unique logistical challenges. Pre-plan accordingly.

o Aerial Hazards: The following map identifies aerial hazards near Refuges in SCLC. A complete listing of helispots is included in the District Aviation Plan, Appendix M.

o Poisonous Plants and Venomous Animals Poisonous plants and venomous animals occur throughout the Complex. Those most notable are snakes which include copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes. Wasps and hornets, poison ivy and sumac also occur throughout SCLC.

o Boat Operations Boat operations are often necessary to access many areas of SCLC FMU’s and WUI Threat zones. Follow policy and procedure as outlined in the Refuge SOP’s for Boat operations, located in Appendix N of this plan.

3.1.3. Fire Management Strategies to be Implemented

3.1.3.1. Wildfire Suppression Strategies - General Refuge Lands

Response to wildfires on SCLC lands may involve a full range of strategic and tactical actions ranging from monitoring to full suppression. Wildfire suppression program strategies are:

• To protect human life, public and private property, and resource values at risk, by responding to unplanned ignitions with actions ranging from monitoring to full suppression strategies.

• To suppress wildfires on Refuge lands at reasonable cost consistent with land resource and fire management objectives.

• To manage Refuge personnel staffing level and availability dependent upon fire behavior, fire potential, and local conditions.

• To mitigate wildfire suppression, wherever possible, by identification and treatment of hazards and utilization of hazard fuel reduction projects and fire prevention programs, before fires occur.

• To accomplish hazard fuel reduction using prescribed fire and/or mechanical or chemical means.

• To consider the lightest suppression strategy that will accomplish the mission of fire suppression and containment, utilizing existing barriers where possible. Fire is an essential ecological process; SCLC will make every effort to allow wildfire to benefit the resource. Tactics will be managed to be appropriate and compatible with the threat encountered and the values at risk.

46 3.1.3.2. Wildfire Suppression Strategies – WUI Threat Zones

WUI Threat zones are defined as non-Refuge owned or managed lands within a mile of Refuge boundaries. For wildfire suppression purposes, these lands are the responsibility of the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Local fire departments, paid and volunteer, may also have jurisdictional responsibilities within this zone. FWS resources may initial attack fires in this zone if they are judged to pose a threat to Refuge interests or if requested by the responsible controlling agency. SCLC does not assume responsibility for fire protection within this zone, but will work with the State and local governments as a cooperator in wildfire suppression. Full suppression is the preferred response to wildfires.

Interagency State cooperative agreements are in place for South Carolina (Appendix H). Annual operating plans (AOP’s) attached to the State agreements provide the general framework of cooperative assistance standards and guidelines.

47 WUI Maps, South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex:

53 3.1.3.3. Wildfire Suppression Strategies - Wilderness

Wilderness fires are managed to National, Department, and Service standards, as referred to in Section 2.1. When possible, wildfires occurring within wilderness boundaries will be managed to allow for maximum natural ecological process completion. Fire behavior and available resources may modify this strategy. The use of mechanized equipment in suppression actions may be authorized by the Project Leader/Refuge Manager if deemed necessary.

Wilderness fires requiring suppression action will consult the Minimum Requirement Decision Guides (MRDG). The MRDG will be completed to aid in the decision making process. A Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) is required for Wilderness fires. A link to the Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) is included in Appendix B.

Cape Romain is largely designated wilderness. A portion of Santee NWR was, at one time, proposed for wilderness designation. For future fire management purposes, this section of Santee will managed as wilderness as well, see map page 16.

3.1.3.4. Prescribed Fire Strategies

Prescribed fires are the primary tool used to reduce hazardous fuels and improve habitats on the Refuges. Prescribed fire program strategies are:

• To restore and maintain habitat for T&E species, migratory waterfowl and other priority species. Table 2 identifies categories of threatened and endangered species known to inhabit SCLC. Not all species will be impacted by fire management activities. • To annually treat about 2,000 acres of impoundments with the use of prescribed fire. This is the highest priority for use of prescribed fire on SCLC. Prescribed fire treatments in impoundments will be maximized to maintain and enhance optimum waterfowl and wetland dependant bird habitat. • To annually treat about 200 acres of shrub-scrub habitats utilizing prescribed fire to benefit bird species such as the painted bunting, These treatments will be developed in relatively small units to provide optimum habitat opportunities. • To annually treat about 100 acres utilizing prescribed fire to improve and maintain habitat conditions for grassland birds including Henslow’s, LeConte’s, and Savannah Sparrows. • To implement a prescribed fire program by utilizing pre-defined burn compartments, to be burned on a multi-year rotation as determined by specific site fuel conditions, and desired future conditions.

o To continually evaluate and update prescriptions and monitoring plans in a timely matter, and integrate proven technical and scientific treatments, where applicable. o To reduce hazardous fuel accumulations near Refuge boundaries and adjacent to refuge facilities, improvements, and equipment. o To identify and treat wildland urban interface (WUI) areas identified as having the greatest potential impact from smoke and wildfire.

Mechanical and Chemical Fuel Reduction Strategies

Mechanical and/or chemical fuel reduction activities are used as needed and where appropriate to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations near Refuge boundaries, near Refuge administrative sites, visitor use areas, and urban interface areas. Specific mechanical and/or chemical fuel reduction objectives will be identified in an annual work plan. Additionally, these treatments may be used in conjunction with prescribed fire methods in attaining habitat improvement objectives.

Strategies for mechanical and chemical use include:

• Thinning and clearing of areas by wheeled or tracked vehicle mounted cutting heads or chippers. • Selective thinning of forested stands by crews using chainsaws or hand tools. • Commercial timber sales where the timber value, project schedule, and soil conditions allow, subject to an approved SCLC Forest Management Plan. • Application of herbicide to reduce hazardous fuels.

3.1.3.6. Wildland Urban Interface Strategies

Wildland Urban Interface activities to implement National Fire Plan and the 10-year Comprehensive Strategy include:

• To provide for a wide range of planning, coordination, and cooperation, through community assistance efforts to urban interface organizations neighboring the Refuges. • To generate intelligence as needed, including GIS mapping and risk-assessment databases for developed areas around the Refuges. • To develop hazard fuel reduction plans as required to mitigate wildland fire risk to developed areas around the Refuges. • To manage the Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) and Ready Reserve grant programs to assist local fire departments in meeting their wildfire suppression obligations. • To coordinate resources and operations planning with local fire departments and State forestry agencies as necessary. Negotiate Annual Operating Plans as outlined in the statewide agreement. • To coordinate with county planning, zoning departments, and local developers regarding provisions of defensible space and smart technologies for wildland fire in all new construction. • To participate in local WUI Council or Firewise/Firesafe organization.

3.1.3.7. Public Education Strategies

Specific fire education projects will be identified in an annual work plan. The SCLC fire management program will supplement the outreach program by:

• Maintaining a fully qualified NWCG Fire Information Officer position within SCLC or the fire district, filled as a collateral duty from fire management, Refuge staffs, or through collaborative partnership efforts. • Providing education to the local population of the benefits of fire management and prescribed burning. • Maintaining fire prevention & education materials for use at public events. • Providing educational presentations and demonstrations to schools, civic groups and Refuge visitors explaining the role of fire in hazard fuel reduction and resource management. • Providing news releases regarding wildfire suppression and prescribed fire activities.

3.2 Fire Management Unit – Specific Description

South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex has five FMU’s, covering four Refuges. The SCLC may utilize a full range of responses and tactics for wildfires depending upon the conditions encountered and values at risk. In WUI threat zones attempts will be made to keep the fire to the smallest possible size. Wilderness Areas may require additional Regional and National protocols.

56 Table 4. Fire Management Units

FMU Name Response Acres (Burnable Acres) Strategy ACE Basin NWR FMU Monitor/Protection 10,043 Subunits: Grove, Barrelville, and Jehossee Island Upper Combahee, Combahee, and Bonny Hall subunits Cape Romain NWR Monitor/Protection 3,500 FMU Subunits: Garris Landing, Bulls Island Cape Romain Monitor 6,055 Wilderness FMU Santee NWR FMU Monitor/Protection 10,500 Subunits: Bluff, Dingle Pond, Pine Island, Cuddo

Waccamaw NWR FMU Monitor/Protection 1,700

57 3.2.1. FMU Characteristics and Descriptions: Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin NWR

ACE Basin NWR is located within the heart of the ACE Basin Project Area in lower coastal South Carolina. For the purposes of this plan, the refuge is subdivided into smaller tracts consisting of the Grove, Barrelville and Jehossee Island, Bonny Hall, Combahee, and Upper Combahee subunits. Major roads such as US Highways 17, 21, and 174 intersect the Refuge. Numerous roadways through the Refuge or bounding the Refuge lead to major tourist or industrial sites such as Charleston, and Edisto Island, South Carolina.

3.2.1.1. Physical and Biological Description of FMU: ACE Basin NWR ACE Basin NWR is located in Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, and Hampton counties, South Carolina. The Refuge Headquarters is located 25 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. The Refuge consists of numerous small units scattered throughout the ACE Basin. The refuge was established in 1990 for migratory bird conservation and conservation of the greater ACE Basin project area. The Refuge is part of the ACE Basin Project, a joint venture in which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited are working with private landowners to protect and enhance the natural resources of a 350,000 acre area.

The Refuge is predominately classified by LandFire as Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Stream Riparian system. The area is strongly influenced by the Asheepoo, Combahee and Edisto River systems, hence the name ACE Basin. The dominate landscape consists of bottomland hardwood forests comprised of bald cypress, live oak, water oak, laurel oak, hickories, and sweet gum. Fire is generally not expected to play a large role in the management of these areas. Fire return intervals in this landscape vary greatly, usually depending on streamside vegetation.

Upland areas consist of mixed pine stands of loblolly, slash, and longleaf. Some areas transition into pine-saw palmetto flatwoods where fire plays a larger maintenance role. Generally, fire will play a developing role in these areas as timber stand management and the SCLC forestry programs evolve.

The tidal saltwater marsh habitat is highly valued for waterfowl and wetland dependant bird habitat. Giant cutgrass dominates the vegetation, supplemented with several varieties of cordgrass, cattail, bulrush, and numerous sedges. Small upland hammocks may occur throughout the marsh, and are vegetated by wax myrtle, button bush, salt bush, and live oak. These hammocks are highly valued for neotropical migratory bird management and generally need protection from high intensity fire.

Approximately 3,000 acres of the Refuge’s lands are intensively managed as impoundments and moist soil units. Prescribed fire will be the dominate management tool in impoundments to improve habitat conditions for waterfowl and wetland dependant birds.

The Refuge’s Headquarters is located on the Grove Management Unit, and is in the Grove Plantation House. The Grove Plantation House is historically significant; it is in the register of National Register of Historic Places, and is one of only three antebellum homes remaining after Sherman’s “March” during the Civil War. There are also some remaining plantation dwellings, public restroom facilities, a Refuge maintenance shop, which serves as a storage

58 point for the Refuge’s fire equipment, and associated sheds and storage buildings. The landscape surrounding the Grove Plantation House, including the rice fields which are now managed as impoundments, are eligible for national historic designation. On Jehossee Island, the keeper’s house, the remains of the plantation house, and the impoundments are also eligible for national designation.

The Refuge is rich in archeological considerations; fire management activities should consult the Refuge resource advisor or Regional Archeologist prior to planned fire activities.

The western most units of the refuge consist of the Combahee, Bonny Hall, and Upper Combahee subunits. The Combahee and Bonny Hall Units largely consists of impoundments, and both units again have significant landscapes with archeological considerations. The Combahee Unit on the west side transitions to a upland maritime forest where prescribed fire is generally not introduced. The Upper Combahee unit has been cleared, and currently exists primarily of densely planted pine plantations (loblolly). The Upper Combahee Unit is problematic from a fire management standpoint in that it is located within the city limits of Yemassee.

3.2.1.2. Jurisdictional Boundaries: ACE Basin NWR The Edisto and Combahee refuge management units, can best be described as mixed urban interface. Some WUI areas lie adjacent to Refuge boundaries, as do major roads. St. Stephens, and Hollywood Fire Departments are adjacent to the Edisto fire subunit. Green Pond Fire Department serves the Combahee and Bonny Hall fire subunits, and the Yemassee Fire Department serves the Upper Combahee fire subunit. These fire departments are also the responding departments for structure protection and fire coordination efforts.

Wildland fires occurring on privately held property bordering the Refuges are the jurisdictional responsibility of the SC Forestry Commission.

3.2.1.3. Communities and Other Values at Risk Adjacent to FMU: ACE Basin NWR

For the eastern units, the city of Hollywood, South Carolina is designated as a Community at Risk (CAR) under National Fire Plan guides. Adams Run, Willtown, Barrelville, and Whooping Island, South Carolina, are designated Communities of Interest (COI).

For the western units, the city of Yemassee, South Carolina is designated a Community at Risk (CAR). Bonny Hall, White Hall, Green Pond, and Salkehatchie, South Carolina, are designated Communities of Interest (COI).

Under National Fire Plan directions, a CAR is considered to have more values at higher risk than a COI. Both CAR’s and COI’s are identified as areas having moderate to high risk potential of wildfire occurrence.

Appendix O displays the Refuge real property at risk from wildfires.

3.2.1.4. FMU Specific Objectives: ACE Basin NWR

59 On fires within all FMU’s, implement response strategies and tactics based upon firefighter and public safety, values at risk, personnel and resource availability, current and predicted weather, and accessibility to the involved area. Response strategies may range from monitoring to intensive management.

Generally, Initial action on human-caused wildfire will be to suppress the fire at the lowest cost with the fewest negative consequences with respect to firefighter and public safety.

3.2.1.5. FMU Specific Objectives: ACE Basin WUI Threat Zone WUI Threat zones are defined as those areas (lands other than Refuge ownership) extending one mile from Refuge ownership boundary. The threat zones are areas of mutual aid response where another agency or organization has legal wildfire response authority, but the FWS may provide initial attack response if the fire is determined to be a threat to Refuge property or facilities or assistance is requested by the protecting agency. The size of the ACE Basin WUI threat zone encompasses about 28,923 acres with 23,723 burnables acres. These areas usually have most numerous and highest values at risk. Suppression goals of fires attacked in threat zones are to limit them to the smallest possible size and cost, with the fewest negative consequences with respect to firefighter and public safety.

3.2.1.6. FMU Specific Desired Conditions: ACE Basin NWR Desired vegetative conditions:

• Impoundments and moist soil units: Plants that provide habitat, energy, or nutritive requirements for wildlife are considered desirable. However, some species such as cutgrass and cattails are classed as non food sources for seed production might provide excellent cover when available in limited quantities. Both plants are perennial and are composed of fibrous tissue that is not digested or degraded easily in the biotic community. When cattail and cutgrass dominate an impoundment, all other plant growth is suppressed. Avoidance of mono- specific plant composition is encouraged. Prescribed fire will be utilized as a primary tool in impoundments and moist soil units to provide optimum habitat conditions for waterfowl and wetland dependant birds.

• Mixed hardwood pine uplands: protection of hardwoods will be considered as a primary consideration. These mixed hardwood pine islands have proven important for neo-tropical migrants and for mast production. Levels of suppression intensity will primarily be determined by opportunity for long term damage to mature overstory trees.

3.2.1.7. FMU Specific Guidelines or Constraints: ACE Basin NWR ACE Basin NWR has limited equipment accessibility due to wetlands and moist soils. Low ground pressure equipment is required to access most upland areas, Marsh Masters and other specialized tracked equipment are required in impoundments and moist soil units. A full range of wildfire response strategies and tactics range from monitoring to intensive management may be utilized at Ace Basin.

• Aviation hazards: ACE Basin NWR

60 ACE Basin NWR is located near the congested and busy air spaces of Charleston Municipal Airport and MCAS Beaufort. Additionally, Charleston Air Force Base operates out of the Charleston Airport. The US Coast Guard also calls Charleston home and has an operational station there.

Prior to any flight at this Refuge contact with the Charleston Municipal Airport Control Tower will be made to coordinate the necessary air operations. For additional information and instructions, please consult the District Aviation Plan (Appendix M).

• Heavy Truck/Vehicle Traffic: ACE Basin NWR Highway 17 is main travel way through the ACE Basin project area and is busy at all hours. Highways 174 and 21 are likewise busy and congested. Highway 17 is the most traveled road between the refuge units, due to traffic to and from the tourist destinations of Charleston and Edisto Island, South Carolina. Highway 17 is a major “smoke corridor”, that is, smoke seems to naturally flow the course of this highway. Mitigation for this corridor must be carefully considered in all fire operations.

It is highly probable that fire management activities on Refuge lands will involve the use of ATV/UTV equipment. Insure that all operator an in compliance with DOI policy.

• Use of Aerial Retardants and Foams Unless authorized by the Project Leader/Refuge Manager do not use aerial retardants or foams within 300 feet of waterways or water bodies.

3.2.2. Fire Management Unit – Specific Description: Cape Romain NWR The Cape Romain FMU’s will employ a full range of wildfire suppression strategies and tactics that range from monitoring to intensive management. Many of the Refuge islands are physically separated from surrounding mainland by waterways. The Refuge headquarters, maintenance shop and Garris Landing are located on the mainland and are from a WUI perspective, smoke impact critical. The Refuge is bounded to the west by the Francis Marion National Forest and Highway 17. The Refuge is located in Awendaw, SC, and is adjacent to the Charleston area including Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, which are major tourist destinations.

3.2.2.1. Physical and Biological Description of FMU: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness Cape Romain NWR is located in Charleston County, South Carolina. The 66,267 acre Refuge consists mostly of large barrier and back barrier islands. The north end of the Refuge is comprised exclusively of islands and marsh and is designated Class I Wilderness. Cape Island, Lighthouse Island, Raccoon Key are the most prominent areas within the Wilderness area. Biophysical setting for the majority of the Wilderness area is classified as Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dune and Maritime Grassland, areas of more stable vegetation includes red cedar, yaupon, wax myrtle, and smilax auriculata. Lighthouse Island especially, follows the BpS with areas abundant in the woody transition zone where fire has been excluded. It is in this zone that smilax and poison ivy are abundant.

61 On the south end of the Refuge, outside of designated wilderness, Bulls Island is the premiere island for recreational pursuits and is the focus of the majority of fire management activities. Bulls Island falls both in the Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Dune and Maritime Grassland and transitions to BpS model Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest. Literature indicates that fire naturally occurs infrequently in this system and the system is more frequently and significantly influenced by wind and hurricane events. This was certainly the case when Bulls Island was directly struck by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. However, Bulls Island is on the cusp of the classification geographic point (Santee River) and has many of the traits of the Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest, where the natural frequency of fire on the island is approximately 10-15 years. Further research is necessary for the most accurate vegetative classification. A lack of natural fire results in little pine regeneration and live oak canopy dominance. Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate a more frequent natural fire occurrence that favors the Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Bps model – until Hugo, ground zero, and a “new” forest cover. Island units on the refuge are accessible only by boat, or in the case of fire operations, by helicopter.

The Refuge headquarters are adjacent to the Seewee Visitor Center on Highway 17 North, in the community of Awendaw, SC. The visitor center is co-operated with the Francis Marion National Forest. The maintenance shop and other Refuge facilities are located north of the headquarters off of Highway 17 at Garris Landing. The maintenance site hosts storage sheds, gas pumps, and a non-RAWS weather station with air quality instrumentation. Garris Landing offers a public accessible fishing pier and public boat launch. The pier serves as launch/mooring site for the Refuge fleet of boats and transport (small barge). A concessionaire also uses this pier for day trips to Bulls Island. Bulls Island has a pier to accommodate concessionaire boats, the Refuge transport, and smaller boats. Bulls Island also has significant structures which include a public picnic area, visitor kiosks, restroom facilities, and hiking trails. Refuge facilities include a new maintenance shop and associated facilities, and a fire tower. Of particular protection interest is the Dominick House, eligible for National Historic Landmark designation Recently renovated, the Dominick House can accommodate up to a dozen personnel and includes a full kitchen, washer/dryer facilities, and restroom/shower facilities. The facilities are noted in Table 6.

Bulls Island is considered a barrier island. It has been heavily impacted by human influence and hurricane activity. Most of the native live oak trees have been storm damaged and its landscape altered for impoundments and roads. Bulls Island is mostly classified as Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest, but due to past human influence, is actually comprised of fragmented portions and numerous small habitats. In its current state, both Cape and Bulls Island will be managed for a variety of habitats.

Of particular importance to fire program is the management of impoundments on Bulls Island. The Refuge will also manage for the painted bunting, a shrub-scrub specialist neo-tropical bird. Future prescribed burns to support the painted bunting on Bulls Island will be carefully reviewed and developed according to the species specific habitat needs. Prescribed fire may also play a future role in improved habitat conditions on Bulls Island in efforts to improve conditions created by the severe impact of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Past prescribed fire projects conducted on Bulls Island have proven to be problematic. Some fuels downed by Hugo were covered by dirt/soils during an effort to reopen Refuge roads and now these downed fuels tend to burn long and slowly. Another concern of fire management is the spread

62 of Chinese Tallow, an exotic invasive shrub, which quickly and extensively covers areas opened by fire.

Bulls Island probably best fits the LandFire Biophysical category of Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Class B and C. Nature, along with human influence, has greatly impacted this location.

Cape Island is intensively managed for sea turtles. Future prescribed fire use may be limited. There may be some fire application on Lighthouse Island in the future, possibly to protect the historical lighthouse structures, but at present the potential use of prescribed fire is limited.

3.2.2.2. Jurisdictional Boundaries: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness Cape Romain NWR FMU is best described as urban interface and highly sensitive to the potential effects of smoke. Private gated communities, commercial industry, and the Francis Marion National Forest dominate the mainland landscape surrounding the Refuge. The nearest structural fire departments are the Awendaw, Mt. Pleasant, and McClellanville Fire Departments.

3.2.2.3. Communities at Risk Adjacent to FMU: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness The city of Awendaw, and McCellanville, South Carolina are designated as Communities at Risk (CAR).

63 3.2.2.4. FMU Specific Objectives: Cape Romain NWR The Cape Romain FMU’s will employ a full range of wildfire suppression strategies and tactics that range from monitoring to intensive management.

For wildfires on the mainland (near the office, maintenance shop and Garris Landing), the potential for impacting high priority areas such as Highway 17 and Awendaw, SC will require quick suppression action to avoid unacceptable impacts.

Bulls Island may require intensive suppression actions, due to the high concentration of improvements and public facilities on the island. Logistical challenges for moving equipment, supplies, and personnel are some of the unique considerations in island suppression operations. Equipment for fire operations on the island includes a JD 450 dozer, a Type 6 Engine, and 2 ATV units. Any additional equipment will need to be barged to the island by Refuge barge transport (stationed at Garris Landing) and may take up to 6-8 hours based on tide times.

Protection of life and facilities is obviously of primary concern, especially on island units where logistics complicate even the smallest of wildfires. Aggressive suppression action will be taken on fires which are deemed a potential threat to life and property.

3.2.2.5. FMU Specific Objectives: Cape Romain WUI Threat Zone The size of the Cape Romain WUI threat zone encompasses about 1,266 acres with 1,266 burnables acres. Wildfire suppression goals in threat zones are to limit them to the smallest possible size and cost, with the fewest negative consequences with respect to firefighter and public safety.

Particular care should be taken along the Highway 17 corridor. Heavy smoke impacts there could create major traffic and safety concerns. Consider immediate call out of local assisting fire departments. Early call out of the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the SC Department of Transportation should also be considered.

3.2.2.6. FMU Specific Objectives: Cape Romain Wilderness While all response strategies and tactics are available for this unit, emphasis will be placed on monitoring Wilderness fires within the FMU to allow for natural ecological progression. Given the difficultly of accessibility, and lack of other values at risk, there should be strong consideration for the monitoring alternative.

The exception to this preferred action is on Lighthouse Island, where the “old” and “new” lighthouse structures are on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, and may require protection based on fire intensity and duration and the values at risk.

Conditions, such as the occurrence of nuisance smoke along Highway 17, or the need for lighthouse protection, will guide the suppression strategy and tactics.

Fire operations should consider the use of Buck Hall (a US Forest Service Campground with boat launch) to reduce boat travel time to Cape, Lighthouse, and Raccoon Key Islands.

64 3.2.2.7. FMU Specific Desired Conditions: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness The Cape Romain FMU was once dominated by a maritime forest on the mainland and Bulls Island. Today, Bulls Island is managed for a variety of habitats ranging from maritime forest to impoundments. Fire will play an important role in the maintenance of impoundments. The Refuge is currently focusing on the eradication of Chinese Tallow on Bulls Island interior areas. The Refuge has active management for migratory and neo-tropical birds, including the painted bunting, grassland specialist birds, and wood stork. Fire may play a developing role on Bulls Island to support and improve habitat diversity.

Cape Romain’s islands are important sites for shorebirds such as the American oystercatcher, brown pelicans, black skimmers, plovers, gulls and terns.

Maintenance of landscapes within the designated Wilderness is the primary focus of management activities at this time. Wildlife management activities are largely concentrated on opportunities for sea turtles, shorebirds, and colonial nesting birds.

3.2.2.8. FMU Specific Guidelines or Constraints: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness The vast majority of the Cape Romain FMU has limited equipment access due to the scattered islands which comprise most of the Refuge. On Bulls Island there are wetland issues and moist soils. Low ground pressure equipment may be required to access areas for fire suppression activities. Wilderness designation restrictions will dictate activities on much of the Refuge. Other than on Bulls Island and Garris Landing, boats require “beaching” as there are no boat ramps for accessibility.

• Use of Aerial Retardants and Foams Unless authorized by the Project Leader/Refuge Manager do not use aerial retardants or foams within 300 feet of waterways or water bodies.

3.2.2.9. FMU Safety Considerations: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness

• Aviation Hazards: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness Cape Romain NWR is located near the air space of Charleston Municipal Airport. Prior to any flight at the Refuge contact will be made with the Charleston Municipal Airport Control Tower to coordinate the necessary flight operations. The FMU lies within the Military Training Route (MTR) of Charleston Air Force Base. In addition, the US Air Force, US Navy, Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard frequently fly the Refuge airspace. For local aviation support, East Cooper Airport and Georgetown Airport have both accommodated operations. Previously, the Seewee Visitor Center served as a temporary landing area for helicopter operations. Due to the heavy visitor impact this activity could cause, it is not recommended to use this site for future operations. The US Forest Service operates a helibase at the “Seed Orchard” near Cordsville, South Carolina and should be considered for use involving interagency operations. For additional information and instructions, please consult the District Aviation Plan (Appendix M).

65 • Heavy Truck/Vehicle Traffic: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness Highway 17 is the main thoroughfare between Charleston and the Georgetown, South Carolina area. During the tourist season, expect delays while transporting equipment and/or personnel to the Refuge.

Extensive use of ATV’s and UTV’s must be anticipated for prescribed fire and suppression incidents as there are few vehicles on Bulls Island (or any of the island units) for daily use. Ensure all personnel and operators are in accordance with established DOI policies and procedures.

• Heat Conditions: Cape Romain NWR & Cape Romain NWR Wilderness lie within the coastal zone and experiences numerous days with high heat and humidity conditions. Personnel should be briefed on appropriate protective and preventive health measures. One should expect long duration fire events during the summer on island units, and plan for extended high heat and humidity conditions. Consider the opportunity for nighttime operations. Nighttime fire operations should be considered as cooler temperatures usually offer less intense fire activity.

• Special Considerations for Islands: Island operations are unique and logistically challenging. Careful monitoring of weather conditions is required.

Fast approaching thunderstorms may require immediate evacuation of line personnel. Specifically assign radar weather monitoring to staff at Cape Romain Headquarters, to insure communication of timely notifications to fireline personnel.

There are weather conditions that could prohibit crew shuttles by boat and/or aviation. Plans should provide for contingency in the event personnel/crews are unexpectedly required to stay overnight.

3.2.3. Fire Management Unit – Specific Description: Santee NWR

3.2.3.1. FMU Characteristics and Descriptions: Santee NWR

Santee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1942 to alleviate the loss of natural waterfowl and wildlife habitat caused by the construction of hydro-electric projects on the Santee and Cooper Rivers. Stretching eighteen miles along the northern shore of Lake Marion, the Refuge manages 15,159 acres within the upper coastal plain region of Clarendon County, South Carolina.

3.2.3.2. Physical and Biological Description of FMU: Santee NWR The Bluff and Dingle Pond fire subunits are located along the north shore of Lake Marion and are intersected by Interstate 95. The Bluff unit hosts the Refuge headquarters and visitor center, maintenance shop, and volunteer campsites. Also located on the Bluff unit is the Santee Indian Mound, which was later used as Fort Watson during the Revolutionary War. This site is considered of major historical, cultural, and archeological significance. The Bluff Unit also has a wildlife viewing tower, and a hiking trial. The Bluff unit consists of mostly open

66 fields managed primarily for migratory waterfowl and is biologically important in that the site hosts the southernmost population of James Bay Geese in the United States.

The Landfire Biophysical setting for Santee NWR is classified as Central Atlantic Coast Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savannah and Flatwoods. This BpS occurs in seasonally wet woodlands on nearly level lands and consists of moderate to poorly drained soils of an acidic character. This BpS is typically dissected by wet hardwood or coniferous communities. In a pristine state, this landscape was dominated by longleaf pine and provided critical habitat for Red Cockaded Woodpeckers. Fire characteristics consisted of frequent, low intensity fires, often occurring every 1-3 years, but ranged up to five year intervals, with seasonally wet areas excluded.

Development in this landscape has largely converted most longleaf pine stands to loblolly pine. Intensive farming and forestry methods have greatly altered the microsite hydrology.

The Dingle Pond unit is ecologically unique to the SCLC in that it is classified as a true Carolina bay, described in Landfire Biophysical setting as Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay – Based Carolina Bay wetland. Fire plays a critical role in the maintenance of Carolina Bays, although the natural fire regime is uncertain. Research and historical documentation verifies that Carolina Bays most naturally burn during dry summer periods. Today, prescribed fire is problematic, due to proximity of the unit to I-95, an adjacent campground and housing development. Specialized equipment will be required to access interior areas of this unit.

3.2.3.3. Jurisdictional Boundaries: Santee NWR Interstate 95 passes within a half-mile of both the Bluff and Dingle Pond Units. Smoke management in these areas is critical. The SC Forestry Commission has responsibility for wildfire occurring on private and State owned property. However, a quick response for threat fires would aid the community greatly, especially near the Dingle Pond Unit. The Clarendon County Fire Department is the closest responding structural fire department, and has been involved with Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) and Ready Reserve Grants.

67 3.2.3.4. Communities and Other Values at Risk adjacent to FMU: Santee NWR The cities of Santee and Summerton, South Carolina, are nearby are designated CARs. Nelsons Ferry is a designated COI. Potentially, the greatest threat to the mainland could be smoke impacts to Highways 301 and Interstate 95.

Appendix O displays the Refuge real property at risk from wildfires.

3.2.3.5. FMU Specific Objectives: Santee NWR A full range of strategic and tactical responses to wildfire is available. The opportunity to allow fire to follow an ecological course will be encouraged provided unacceptable risks are not presented to life and property.

The Dingle Pond fire subunit provides special challenges. Careful consideration of potential smoke impacts, numerous and significant adjacent values at risk, difficulty of accessibility, and the increased likelihood for a long term fire event in a Carolina Bay indicate support for full or modified suppression in the this unit.

3.2.3.6. FMU Specific Desired Conditions: Santee NWR Desired Vegetation Conditions – the Refuge is seeking to provide a wide diversity of habitats. Plants that provide habitat, energy, or nutritive requirements for wildlife are considered desirable, especially in impoundment area. Forested areas are currently being inventoried and the Refuge is in the process of writing a new Forest Management Plan to allow for thinning, and potential replanting of areas that once hosted Red Cockaded Woodpeckers. Many areas of overgrown fields are being opened through the use of chemical, mechanical, and prescribed fire to offer better habitat opportunities for neotropical and grassland specialist birds.

3.2.3.7. FMU Specific Objectives: Santee WUI Threat Zone The size of the Santee WUI threat zone encompasses about 11,893 acres with 8,056 burnable acres. Suppress all wildfire to the smallest possible size. Particular care should be taken along the Highway 301 and Interstate 95 corridor. Heavy smoke impacts there could create major traffic and safety concerns. Consider immediate call out of local assisting fire departments. Early call out of the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the SC Department of Transportation should also be considered.

3.2.3.8. FMU Specific Guidelines or Constraints: Santee NWR The Dingle Pond fire subunit, as a Carolina Bay, has limited equipment accessibility. Some areas of the refuge hold water for extended periods of time and may require specialized equipment. Long duration smoke management issues create a special concern for I-95 and for some housing developments adjacent to Lake Marion and the Summerton, SC vicinity.

• Use of Aerial Retardants and Foams Unless authorized by the Project Leader/Refuge Manager do not use aerial retardants or foams within 300 feet of waterways or water bodies.

3.2.3.9 FMU Safety Considerations: Santee NWR

• Aviation Hazards: Santee NWR

68 Santee NWR has a nearby bombing range, the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, operated by Shaw Air Force Base. The Range serves all DOD departments and normally operates Monday-Thursday from 0830 to 2200. The Refuge should be aware of potential aircraft using this facility. Please refer to the District Aviation Plan (Appendix M) for more information concerning aviation operations.

• Heavy Truck/Vehicle Traffic: Santee NWR – Interstate 95 is the principle concern, along with Highway 301. Both are major throughways and are heavily used.

If use of ATV/UTV’s are required on Refuge lands, their use shall be in full accordance with DOI policy and procedure.

• Special Considerations for Island Units: Island operations are unique and logistically challenging. Careful monitoring of weather conditions is required.

Fast approaching thunderstorms may require immediate evacuation of line personnel. Specifically assign radar weather monitoring to staff at Santee Headquarters, to insure communication of timely notifications to fireline personnel.

There are weather conditions that could prohibit crew shuttles by boat and/or aviation. Plans should provide for contingency in the event personnel/crews are unexpectedly required to stay overnight.

3.2.4. Fire Management Unit – Specific Description: Waccamaw NWR

Waccamaw’s 22, 931 acre FMU consists of Sandy Island and several smaller hammocks. The majority of the Refuge is inaccessible except by boat. Currently, the Refuge has one dock, located at the Headquarters office. There are several local agreements in place to utilize boat launches owned by the State, TNC, and private individuals.

3.2.4.1. Physical and Biological Description of FMU: Waccamaw NWR: Waccamaw is a unique coastal bottomland hardwood riverine system. The LandFire Biophysical setting is Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Swamp Systems, aggregated from CES203.240 Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp. This habitat type occurs in river floodplanes and along estuary shorelines, in places regularly flooded by lunar and wind tides. Natural fire is not frequent in this system, but may be important in determining the boundry or margins of this BpS. The Refuge is largely located northeast of Georgetown, South Carolina, in Georgetown, Horry, and Marion counties, South Carolina. The Refuge’s primary purpose is to preserve and manage the unique characteristics of the bottomland hardwood habitat and plants and animals associated with this habitat.

Refuge facilities are limited, as is vehicle access. Current facilities consist primarily of kiosks and associated facilities in limited upland areas such as the Cox Ferry River Recreation Area. A new office and visitor center facility is located off of SC Highway 701 at the Great Pee Dee River Bridge (Yauhannah Bluff Unit). The Refuge also has a floating dock, storage shed, and pier for mooring refuge boats.

69 There is a unique and dynamic relationship between FWS interests and cooperators concerning Sandy Island. It is imperative that the Refuge Manager be consulted before suppression actions occur on Sandy Island. Through a TNC/Brookgreen Gardens agreement, operational FWS fire equipment has been permanently stationed on Sandy Island and includes an ATV and Type 6 Engine. The Sandy Island Fire Department is aided by a Ready Reserve Grant, but has limited response capability.

The Refuge currently has a lease agreement with Brookgreen Gardens, for prescribed fire management activities on Sandy Island. Suppression activities remain under the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Due to the uniqueness of island operations and the logistical challenges involved, Refuge staff will make every effort to assist when requested, to respond to wildfires occurring on Sandy Island. Working in cooperation with SCFC, Wacamaw NWR and Fire District 2 will cooperate with TNC, Brookgreen Gardens, the Sandy Island Volunteer Fire Department, and SC Department of Transportation on preventive fire efforts such as firebreaks, personnel training, Rural Fire Assistance and Ready Reserve Grant opportunities, and FIREWISE concepts.

Sandy Island is unique, and is totally different from the majority of the landscape in this area. Classified as Atlantic Coastal Plain Fall-Line Sandhills Longleaf Pine Woodland, where non- wetland conditions and frequent fire unify the system, fire management activities are vital to maintain the landscape.

3.2.4.2. Jurisdictional Boundaries: Waccamaw NWR The SCLC staff and Fire District 2 are responsible for all aspects of fire management on Refuge lands. Wildfire occurring on private property or TNC managed property is the jurisdiction of the South Carolina Forestry Commission. The closest responding fire departments to assist in property protection are the Georgetown, Pawley’s Island, Murrells Inlet, Bucksport, Scocastee, Red Hill, and Conway Fire Departments.

3.2.4.3. Communities and Other Values at Risk Adjacent to FMU: Waccamaw NWR The city of Georgetown, South Carolina and surrounding areas, including Pawley’s Island, Murrells Inlet, Bucksport, Scocastee, Red Hill, and Conway are designated CAR’s. One of the greatest threats to the mainland communities could be the nuisance smoke from a wildland fire.

Appendix O displays the Refuge real property at risk from wildfires

70 3.2.4.4. Fire Behavior and Weather Descriptions: Waccamaw NWR

• Normal Years - See section 3.1.C under ACE Basin NWR. Most areas of the interior riverine bottomland hardwoods and will not frequently burn. However, upland areas of the refuge and Sandy Island are some of the most wildfire prone areas of the state. The Conway Fire of spring 2009 destroyed 75 homes and caused millions of dollars of damage.

Due to the unique association between the Refuge and cooperators on Sandy Island, a small section here is included here for fire management activities on the island.

Due to the extreme buildup of duff litter on Sandy Island, resource damage may occur in the form of tree mortality during normal years if care is not taken to consider feeder root involvement. Fire events on Sandy Island, including prescribed fire, can easily holdover for weeks, resurfacing when weather events change, and may require extended attention or suppression operations. Sea breeze winds can and often do affect fire characteristics and behavior on the island. Nighttime fire operations should be considered as cooler temperatures usually offer less intense fire activity.

• Extreme Years – See section 3.1.3. In upland areas of FM 7 and FM 4, control may be difficult, and long distance spotting should be expected.

• The Climate: See section 3.1.3.

3.2.4.5. Fire Seasons: Waccamaw NWR Sandy Island should be carefully monitored for fire activity after passing storms. As the refuge is essentially unstaffed, monitoring through the use of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lightning map is recommended.

3.2.4.6. FMU Specific Objectives: Waccamaw NWR The size of the Waccamaw WUI threat zone encompasses about 53,157 acres with 50,339 burnables acres. A full range of strategic and tactical responses are available, from monitoring to intensive suppression, depending on firefighter and public safety, values at risk, availability of personnel and resources, and current and predicted weather.

Logistical challenges for moving equipment, supplies, and personnel are some of the unique considerations in island suppression operations. Protection of life and facilities is obviously of primary concern, especially on island units where logistics complicate even the smallest of wildfires.

The majority of Waccamaw’s riverine system will not readily burn. Allow the natural ecological process of fire to occur whenever possible. Some of the smaller upland areas may require aggressive suppression action where potential threat to life and property exists. These areas include the Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area, the Yauhannah Bluff (Waccamaw Headquarters and Visitor Center), Yauhannah Tract, and Buckheister Tract.

3.2.4.7. FMU Specific Desired Conditions: Waccamaw NWR

71 Desired Vegetation Conditions – maintenance of the riverine bottomland hardwood forest is the prime consideration for a desired future condition. Regular fire application to upland areas should be on a 3 to 5 year rotation is recommended to stabilize and reduce wildfire potential; this would include areas under agreement on Sandy Island. Complicating the fire scenario on Sandy Island is deep organic duff accumulations, which may smolder and burn for days after any fire event. As the duff layer dries and continues to burn, the opportunity for tree mortality increases as feeder roots cook and die.

Impoundments and moist soil units under agreement should be treated on a 1-2 year rotation to promote new growth and plant diversity.

To best meet the immediate needs of fire management on Waccamaw NWR, District 2 Fire Staff will concentrate on fuel reduction burns targeted in upland areas around Refuge facilities or improvements, and at identified WUI locations. The Refuge is actively encouraging partnerships with private landowners, especially those who manage waterfowl impoundments. Prescribed burns for improved habitat conditions will be especially important.

Cooperative efforts with TNC and Brookgreen Gardens will primarily focus on Sandy Island where fuel reduction burns will be targeted to reduce small amounts of duff litter depths to temper the effects of potential catastrophic wildfire, and to maintain the forest condition. The high concentration of organic duff accumulation is problematic for successful prescribed burning. If the duff layer is allowed to burn for an extended period of time, unacceptable levels of midstory and overstory mortality can be expected. Attention to extended weather patterns after planned treatments should be carefully considered as a primary indicator in deciding to burn or not to burn.

3.2.4.8. FMU Specific Guidelines or Constraints: Waccamaw NWR As mentioned in 3.2.4.8., Waccamaw FMU has logistical issues that may prevent equipment accessibility. It is highly probable that a wildfire could burn for an extended period of time before discovery.

A full range of strategic and tactical responses are available for consideration, but fire should be given the opportunity to allow for natural extinguishment whenever possible.

• Use of Aerial Retardants and Foams Unless authorized by the Project Leader/Refuge Manager do not use aerial retardants or foams within 300 feet of waterways or water bodies.

72 3.2.4.9. FMU Safety Considerations: Waccamaw NWR

• Aviation Hazards: Waccamaw NWR Waccamaw NWR is located near the highly congested and busy air space of Charleston and Myrtle Beach Airports. The area is also utilized by Shaw Air Force Base. Refuge air support operations usually transition from Savannah or Carolina Sandhills NWR’s to support Refuge fire operations.

• Heavy Truck/Vehicle Traffic: Waccamaw NWR US 17, and Highway 701 are high volume traffic areas. Extensive use of ATV’s and UTV’s should be anticipated for prescribed fire and suppression incidents. Ensure all personnel and operators are in accordance with established DOI policies and procedures.

• Heat Conditions: Waccamaw NWR lies within the coastal zone and experiences numerous days with high heat and humidity conditions. Personnel should be briefed on appropriate protective and preventive health measures. One should expect long duration fire events during the summer on island units, and plan for extended high heat and humidity conditions. Consider the opportunity for nighttime operations on island units. Nighttime fire operations should be considered as cooler temperatures usually offer less intense fire activity.

• Special Considerations for Islands: Island operations are unique and logistically challenging. Careful monitoring of weather conditions is required.

Fast approaching thunderstorms may require immediate evacuation of line personnel. Specifically assign radar weather monitoring to staff at Waccamaw Headquarters to insure communication of timely notifications to fireline personnel.

There are weather conditions that could prohibit crew shuttles by boat and/or aviation. Plans should provide for contingency in the event personnel/crews are unexpectedly required to stay overnight.

Chapter 4. WILDLAND FIRE OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE

4.1 Fire Program Procedures

Fire suppression preparedness on the South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex will be based on guidance found in the Service Fire Management Handbook and Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, (The Redbook). Those procedures are incorporated here by reference. The following preparedness standards will guide suppression actions taken by Refuge personnel, cooperating agencies and severity detailers.

Guidelines for two types of fires will be addressed within this FMP. The following is a description:

Wildfire is an unplanned, unwanted natural or human caused fire in a wildland setting, where the objective is to put the fire out.

Prescribed Fire is any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives, be it fuels reduction or resource management. A written, approved Prescribed Fire Plan must exist, and NEPA requirements (where applicable) must be met prior to ignition. Prescribed fire is a planned fire.

4.1.1. Response to Wildfire Response to wildfire is a specific action appropriate to meet fire management unit (FMU) objectives. Although all wildfires must have an appropriate action taken to suppress them, not all wildfires need to be suppressed with the same level of intensity.

Response to wildfires on the SCLC will minimize suppression costs and reduce resource losses, consistent with Refuge management objectives, including the threat to life and property. The specific responses are developed by using strategies and objectives identified in the FMP.

Agency administrators may utilize a full spectrum of fire suppression actions. All appropriate suppression actions, whether aggressive, high intensity or low intensity actions, will be based on preplanned analysis of current Refuge conditions.

Refuge land has been classified into the three different management categories listed as follows:

Category A: WUI Threat Zone The WUI threat zone is defined as private lands and properties (non-Refuge lands) occurring within a one mile distance outside the Refuge boundaries. Within the SCLC, the South Carolina Forestry Commission is responsible for wildfire suppression in this zone. Wildfire occurring within this zone may be responded to with FWS personnel and equipment if the fire poses a reasonable threat to Refuge properties or facilities. Incidents responded to within this zone usually present a threat to values such as homes, facilities, or commercial property.

Response to wildfires on these lands will be full suppression, limiting them to the smallest possible size and cost, with the fewest negative consequences with respect to firefighter and public safety.

In multiple fire situations, with wildfire concurrently occurring in more than one land category, suppression priorities will be given to those fires burning within this classification of land. When multiple fires occur within Category A, suppression priority will be based on the threat or potential threat to public safety, structures, private property, and improvements.

Category B: General Refuge Lands Category B is classified as Refuge owned property or interests. Typically, Refuge fires will be ranked in a priority system for suppression response: They are:

• Threat to public safety; The response is full suppression. • Threat to private land or privately held facilities and improvements; (the fire is moving off refuge property toward private interests). The response is full suppression.

74 • Threat to administrative or recreational sites on Refuge lands; The response is full suppression. • Threat to critical habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species or other special status species on Refuge lands; All response options are available. • Opportunity to minimize increase in annual vegetation types such as noxious plants, exotics, or other non native species; All response options available.

The response to The inadvertent or intentional ignition of wildland fuels by humans is illegal. We will investigate all human-caused wildfires at the earliest possible time. The investigation may range from a documented determination of cause by the initial attack crew to criminal investigation by a qualified arson investigator.

Fire management personnel will attempt to locate and protect the probable point of origin and record pertinent information required to determine fire cause. They will be alert for possible evidence, protect the scene, and report findings to the fireline supervisor.

Prompt and efficient investigation of all suspicious fires will be carried out. However, fire management personnel should not question suspects or pursue the fire investigation unless they are currently law enforcement qualified.

Information obtained will be documented on an ICS-214 form. Evidence discovered will be left in place and protected until an investigator can collect it properly. Personnel and services of other agencies may be utilized to investigate wildfire arson or fire incidents involving damage to property or injuries.

Wildfires may not always be full suppression. Response options range from full suppression to monitoring. Consideration for the selection of the response will usually include, but is not limited to the following:

• Firefighter safety, • Available suppression resources, • Accessibility of the involved area, • Current and predicted weather, • Values at risk, • Ecological consequence of fire weighed to suppression actions.

Should multiple fires occur simultaneously on Refuge lands, suppression actions will occur in order of priority, determined by the Incident Commander with Refuge Manager recommendation. Lower priority fires will receive suppression action as forces become available.

Fires receiving less than full suppression actions must meet the following fire criteria thresholds:

• Fire located within Category B land; • Observed and predicted fire behavior will continue to meet resource management objectives;

75 • No threat to public safety; • Not a threat to private, State or other Federal land or facilities (unless those lands are under a signed mutual agreement with the landowner or agency for less than full suppression actions); • Are known sites of cultural resource sensitivity. Sites where intensive suppression actions may cause more resource harm to a site than the wildland fire could cause. Please refer to the Cultural Resource section of the FMP (pp.38-39) for notifications required and further direction.

If any of these criteria are exceeded the response will be full suppression. The only exception to this direction will occur in a multiple fire situation where suppression actions are based on priority response needs.

Category C: Designated Wilderness on Refuge Lands Category C identifies Refuge properties which are nationally designated as Wilderness Areas. Fire is a highly valued essential ecological process on the SCLC. Wildfire occurring in Wilderness areas will be carefully considered to allow the natural process to completion whenever possible. The full range of response strategies and tactics will be available for suppression response in this category.

• Typically, Wilderness wildfires will be ranked in a priority system for suppression response: They are: • Threat to public safety • Threat to private land or privately held facilities and improvements; • Threat to administrative or recreational sites (on Refuge lands); • Threat to critical habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species or other special status species;

Opportunity to minimize increase in annual vegetation types such as noxious plants, exotics, or other non-native species;

Within Category C, Wilderness guidelines are in place to aid line officers and Fire Management personnel to address Wilderness resource considerations. Resource criteria has been identified as to those criteria which may lead to full suppression actions and those criteria which may lead to less than full suppression actions. Some decision tools available for Wilderness fire management are:

• Minimum Requirements Decision Guide • Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) • Service Manual 610 FW 4 • Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations

4.1.2. Preparedness Actions Preparedness is the work accomplished prior to the fire season to ensure that the appropriate response and readiness, as directed by the Fire Management Plan, can be carried out. When periods of high fire danger occur outside the normal fire season dates, the appropriate action will be taken at that time. Preparedness activities may include planning, inspections, fuel

76 reduction, personnel qualifications, training, and equipment inventory, acquisition, and maintenance. The objective of the preparedness effort is to have a well trained and equipped fire management organization capable of providing initial attack within SCLC.

Preparedness levels for staffing are set in accordance with a variety of considerations, but the primary considerations for staffing levels will be the Burning Index (BI), which is derived from a formula of wind speeds and relative humidity. Readiness and Staffing Plan for the SCRC are in Appendix D. The following charts illustrate BI correlation on dominate fuel (7N) at SCLC.

Preparedness Levels and Staffing Levels

Fuel Model 7N-BI Staffing Level 0-23 24-50 51-68 69-85 86+ Live Fuel Index 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ Preparedness Level

Staffing Levels were developed by utilizing a data set from the Savannah Coastal RAWS station and a data set developed for FPA which extended the total data set from 1980-2009.

Climatology was analyzed against historical fires utilizing Firefamily 4.03 software. Fuel model 7N utilizing the BI index was found to provide the best statistical correlation of weather to fire occurrence.

The Live Fuel Index is a new index which determines vegetative dormancy. There is a very good relationship to fire occurrence at SC Lowcountry Refuges to the live fuel index. Large fires occur almost exclusively below an LFI of 55. This can be loosely interpreted as the winter-spring period, however during times of summertime drought this index will drop below 55 and at these times large fire potential increases.

The graphic shows that over 80% of the previous 10216 days have had a staffing level less than 5.

Around 50% of fire days in the data set occurred at staffing level 4 or 5.

75% of large fire days occurred at staffing levels 4 or 5.

When combined with the seasonality of the Live Fuel Index this should offer a good base for a decision making concerning weekend staffing, prescribed burning days, etc…

Figure 2. Preparedness and Staffing Levels

Preparedness and staffing are problematic at the station level. At the time of writing this plan, there is only one fully funded firefighter position on the SCLC, located at ACE Basin NWR.

78 SCLC relies heavily on district resources (personnel ad equipment) located at Savannah NWR and Carolina Sandhills NWR. SCLC does have a small number of refuge personnel who have maintained red card qualifications. These individuals are invaluable to the district fire program. The District Fire Management Officer located at Savannah NWR will monitor weather conditions and wildfire potential across the SCLC. The District FMO will work in concert with refuge managers to position district fire personnel and equipment should fire conditions and potential warrant staffing.

Fire Weather observations were derived from the Savannah NWR RAWS station, while looking at independent data from the Francis Marion Nation Forest RAWS. There are now RAWS stations available at Santee and ACE Basin. As a fire weather history is built, a more accurate picture for staffing SCLC may be constructed.

Fuel Model 7N Burning Index 0-23 24-50 51-68 69-85 86+ Live Fuel 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ 0-59 60+ Index Preparedness 1 2 3 4 5 Level

• Fire Prevention Activities A lack of Refuge staffing and heavy public use currently discount an aggressive prevention plan on individual Refuges. In the event funding becomes available, an active fire prevention program for individual Refuges may be developed. Current prevention efforts are conducted in conjunction with other agencies to protect human life and property and prevent damage to cultural and natural resources and physical facilities. Currently, fire prevention activities are limited to a selected number of public events. Additionally, the District WUI Coordinator has formed a WUI Council, working with State, and local partners as well as individuals and community developers to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfire impacts. The WUI program is critical to the overall success of the fire management program due to the high impacts of urban development across the SCLC.

• Training Departmental policy requires that all personnel engaged in suppression and planned ignition fire duties meet the standards set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). The USFWS adheres to guidance in the PMS 310-1, Wildland Fire Qualification System Guide and the USFWS Fire Management Handbook. The SCLC also will conform to the requirements of the wildland fire management qualification and certification system (IQCS), which outlines minimum training, experience, and physical fitness requirements. SCLC, hosting the majority of fire resources for Fire District 2, assists all Refuges in the Fire District with identification and securing of necessary and required training.

Efforts will also be made to qualify people for assignment to local fire overhead teams or single resource assignments on interagency fires in order to contribute to the overall mission of the USFWS, to demonstrate our commitment to the inter-agency fire community, and to develop employee experience and skills.

79 • Equipment and Supplies Most dedicated fire equipment for SCLC is cached at Savannah NWR, where Fire District 2 personnel are located (Appendix J). Some dedicated fire equipment and cache items are stationed on ACE Basin, Santee, and Cape Romain (Bulls Island) NWR’s. Small cache items are located at Waccamaw NWR’s Headquarters and at Cape Romain’s maintenance shop. Other District resources are located at Carolina Sandhills NWR and Pee Dee NWR.

• Resources There is one fire funded position for the SCLC, a Fire Technician located at ACE Basin NWR. All fire funded personnel for the Fire District are located at Savannah NWR, with the exception of the Fire District Prescribed Fire Specialist, located at Carolina Sandhills NWR, and 4 fire personnel located between Carolina Sandhills and Pee Dee NWR’s. The Fire District is responsible for thirteen Refuges and two National Fish Hatcheries. The District area of responsibility covers USFWS stations in piedmont North Carolina, South Carolina, and coastal Georgia.

On the SCLC, all Refuges have limited equipment dedicated for wildfire response and prescribed fire at the station level. On Sandy Island (Waccamaw NWR) and at Bulls Island (Cape Romain NWR), where transportation of equipment is difficult, some equipment is staged on the islands. Some collateral fire fighters and miscellaneous equipment are available from stations within the fire district. Should additional equipment or personnel be required for incidents, the Fire District will contact the local coordinating fire department (if available). Several local departments have cross trained personnel to assist with wildfires. The North and South Carolina Chapters of The Nature Conservancy may also provide wildland fire resource assistance. The South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center (SCICC) located in Columbia, South Carolina will serve as the “State” interagency dispatch center, for all incidents on SCLC. Contact numbers are provided for in the Fire Management Contact List located in the Dispatch Plans found in Appendix E.

On the SCLC, the use of AD (Administratively Determined) or casual firefighters has proven to be very beneficial in meeting required resource needs for prescribed burning and local suppression needs. The Fire District usually develops these resources through the Ready Reserve program in conjunction local fire department outreach efforts. All AD resources are required to comply with FWS policies and NWCG requirements. A listing of currently qualified AD personnel is kept by the District WUI Coordinator.

• Compliance with Regulatory Requirement Wildfire suppression activities are exempted from normal State permitting requirements as an emergency situation. All other fire activities (Prescribed fire, WUI projects) will be conducted in compliance of the appropriate State guidelines for permitting requirements and smoke management considerations.

• Public Interaction

80 o Safety Issues and Concerns Public and employee safety is the first priority in every fire management activity. The heavy urbanization, limited equipment accessibility of certain refuge areas, congested and limited access routes, and logistical challenges of island Refuge management could combine to create hazardous situations under extreme fire behavior. The District FMO in coordination with the Refuge Manager will work with the Incident Commander to determine the appropriate fire management strategies based on site specific conditions.

o Safety Procedures SCLC will implement a notification system to inform visitors of all fire activity through normal communication channels. A fire activity report will be updated, as significant changes occur, to inform Refuge personnel of potential fire threat. Special precautionary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of visitors during a fire. Visitors will be informed of fire locations and safety precautions to be taken. One or more employees will be assigned the task of keeping all visitors a safe distance from the fire. The Refuge Manager may close all or a portion of the Refuge, including roads and trails, when wild fires pose an imminent threat to public safety. For fires threatening private lands, every attempt will be made to contact local residents in advance of fire activity taking place on the Refuge, including location, size, rate and direction of spread. The affected county’s Sheriff's Department and other pertinent State and local offices will also be notified of wildfire locations. See the Fire Management Contact List in the Appendix section for a list of agencies and phone numbers.

4.1.3. Detection Usually, wildfires are discovered by Refuge or fire staff. However, not all Refuges are staffed and it is common for the pubic to notify the Refuge of a wildfire. Fire and Refuge staffs visually monitor refuge properties. During periods of increased wildfire activity or during periods of critical fire weather alerts, patrols by fire personnel may be warranted. In past years, from February through May, an exclusive use Type 3 helicopter was available to the Fire District. At the time of writing this plan, the aviation contracts were being rewritten. When available, the helicopter may be requested for aerial detection. The helicopter is usually positioned at Savannah NWR or Carolina Sandhills NWR.

The SC Forestry Commission occasionally uses aircraft for wildfire detection during periods of increased fire activity or extreme fire weather potential. The Forestry Commission is not under agreement to provide aerial detection to the SCLC. SCFC does provide assistance in notifying SCLC if a fire is discovered on Refuge property during routine aerial patrols. It may be possible to request specific aerial detection assistance from the Forestry Commission on a case by case basis, as necessary.

4.1.4. Initial Attack Response to unplanned ignitions includes the full complement of suppression considerations suitable for the values at risk. Natural and artificial barriers will be used as much as possible for containment. If necessary, fire line construction will be conducted in such a way as to minimize long-term cultural and environmental impacts.

Heavy equipment and specialized equipment are authorized when their use is necessary to prevent a fire from escaping the Refuge or destroying government buildings or other items of high value, including cultural resources.

Sites impacted by fire suppression activities will be rehabilitated as necessary, based on an approved plan of action for each site. Wildfires meeting BAER criteria should be applied for through the regional fire office. If rehabilitation or restoration activities are extensive, coordination with Regional fire staff must occur.

The Fire District 2 fire crew usually provides initial attack staffing for all Refuges within the SCLC. Fire staff and equipment may temporarily be repositioned for more efficient response. Initial attack crews are frequently comprised of Service personnel, cooperators, and AD personnel. Please refer to Appendix D for Readiness Plans and Staffing guides.

On local fires in threat zones, all efforts will be made to utilize a unified command with responding fire departments and state agencies to insure that communication and safety issues are shared.

All fires, regardless of complexity, shall have a qualified Incident Commander (IC), a single individual responsible to the agency administrator (s) for all incident activities; including the development of strategies and tactics, and the ordering, deployment and release of resources.

The Incident Commander will be responsible to: • Assess the fire situation and make a report to dispatch as soon as possible. • Use guidance in the FMP or a Delegation of Authority to determine and implement an appropriate management response. • Determine organization, resource needs, strategy and tactics. • Brief incoming and assigned resources on the organization, strategy and tactics, weather and fire behavior, LCES, seasonal and historic ERCs and radio frequencies. • Advise dispatch of resources needed for response. • Manage the incident until relieved or the fire is suppressed.

The Incident Commander will develop strategy and tactics within the framework of land use objectives and plans. Fire is considered an important ecological process. Wildfire may be managed for positive resource benefit. Whenever possible, wildfire benefits will be maximized and damages minimized giving full consideration to the following within each management response:

82 • Firefighter and public safety - No wildfire situation, with the possible exception of threat to human survival, requires the exposure of firefighters to life-threatening situations. • Prudent expenditure and cost containment of public funds • Impact on natural and cultural resources and the environment • Integrating cooperative wildland fire management actions with other bureaus or with other qualified wildland fire management organizations • Timely emergency fire rehabilitation/burned area emergency rehabilitation (EFR/BAER) and repair of fire suppression activity damage are performed within acceptable practices consistent with bureau policies and guidelines.

The inadvertent or intentional ignition of wildland fuels by humans is illegal. We will investigate all human-caused wildfires at the earliest possible time. The investigation may range from a documented determination of cause by the initial attack crew to criminal investigation by a qualified arson investigator.

4.1.5. Extended Attack and Large Fire Suppression If a fire threatens to exceed the initial attack capabilities of the District fire personnel and local cooperating agencies, the Incident Commander (IC) will request additional resources from the South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center in Columbia (803-561-4086).

Extended attack requires the Refuge Manager to prepare a Wildland Fire Decision Support System analysis (WFDSS) (Appendix B) and an Incident Complexity Analysis to determine the appropriate type Incident Management Team needed to manage the incident and guide the selection of fire management strategies to be implemented.

The District or Regional Fire Management Staff may assist the Refuge Manager in the preparation of these documents. Although there is no recorded instance of a Type 1 or Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) being involved in fire suppression on the SCRC, the potential does exist. If the incident is escalated to Type 1 or 2 the Refuge Manager will turn over suppression duties to an Incident Management Team and provide management guidelines to the Incident Commander in a Delegation of Authority letter (Appendix B).

• Type 3 Incident Command

83 When an incident of complexity level 3 occurs, the Refuge will notify the District 2 Fire Management Officer located at Savannah NWR and be assigned an appropriately qualified Incident Commander to manage the incident. Type 3 Incident Commanders are qualified according to PMS 310-1.

ICT3’s are required to manage extended attack incidents on Refuge lands. They must not have concurrent responsibilities that are not associated with the incident, and they must not concurrently perform single resource boss duties. It is important to note that not all Type 3 complexity incidents require a full complement of individuals at the command and general staff positions. A Type 3 Incident Commander is expected to exercise their authority and establish the appropriate organizational structure for each incident as based on complexity and span of control.

As an incident escalates, a continuing assessment of the complexity level should be completed to validate the continued Type 3 effort or the need for a higher level of incident management.

A wildfire that escapes initial attack requires the preparation of a WFDSS (Wildland Fire Decision Support System) document and Incident Complexity Analysis. Throughout the incident the WFDSS and Incident Complexity Analysis must be reviewed and certified daily.

• Type 1 and 2 Incident Command In rare instances a wildfire may develop into a significant event requiring the services of a Type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team (IMT). Type 1 and 2 Incident Commanders are qualified according to the PMS 310-1. These IC’s command pre-established Incident Management Teams that are configured with ICS Command Staff, General Staff, and other leadership and support positions. Personnel performing specific Type 1 or 2 command and general staff duties must be qualified at the Type 1 or 2 levels according to the PMS 310-1 standards.

• Unified Command Unified command is an application of the Incident Command System used when there is more than one agency with incident jurisdiction or when incidents cross political jurisdictions. Under unified command, agencies work together through their designated incident commanders at a single incident command post to establish common objectives and issue a single Incident Action Plan.

Unified command may be established at any level of incident management or area command. Under unified command all agencies with jurisdictional responsibility at the incident contribute to the process of:

o Determining overall strategies. o Selecting alternatives. o Ensuring that all joint planning for tactical activities is accomplished. o Maximizing the use of all assigned resources.

Advantages of Unified Command are:

o A single set of objectives is developed for the entire incident. o A collective approach is used to develop strategies to achieve incident objectives. o Information flow and coordination is improved between all jurisdictions and agencies involved in the incident. o All involved agencies have an understanding of joint priorities and restrictions. o No agency’s legal authorities will be compromised or neglected.

• Agency Administrator Responsibilities The Agency Administrator (AA) manages the land and resources on their organizational unit according to the established land management plans. Fire management is part of that responsibility. The AA establishes specific performance objectives for the Incident Commander (IC), and delegates authority to the IC to take specific actions to meet those objectives.

AA responsibilities to a Type 1 or 2 Incident Management Team include:

o Conduct an initial briefing to the Incident Management Team. o Provide an approved and certified Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) Analysis. The WFDSS is to be certified daily by the AA and IC. o Complete an Incident Complexity Analysis to accompany the WFDSS. o Issue a written Delegation of Authority to the Incident Commander and to other appropriate officials (Agency Administrator Representatives, Resource Advisor, and Incident Business Advisor). For Type 3, 4 or 5 Incidents the delegations may be written or oral.

85 The Delegation of Authority letter should state:

. Specific and measurable objectives, priorities, expectations, constraints and other required direction. . Establish the specific time for transfer of command. . Assign clear responsibilities for initial attack. . Define the AA’s role in the management of the incident. . Assign a resource advisor to the IMT. . Define public information responsibilities. . If necessary, assign a local government liaison to the IMT. . Assign an Incident Business Advisor (IBA) to provide incident business management oversight commensurate with complexity. . Direct the IMT to address rehabilitation of areas affected by suppression activities. . Coordinate Mobilization with the Incident Commander: . Negotiate filling of mobilization needs with the IC. . Establish time and location of the agency administrator briefing. . Consider approving support staff additional to the IMT as requested by the IC. . Consider authorizing transportation needs as requested by the IC.

In situations where one agency provides fire suppression service under agreement to the jurisdictional agency, both the jurisdictional and protecting agencies will be involved in the development of, and signatories to, the Delegation of Authority and the WFDSS to the Incident Management Team.

• Transfer of Command The following guidelines will assist in the transfer of incident command responsibilities from the local unit to an incoming Type 1 or 2 IMT, and back to the local unit:

o The local team or organization already in place remains in charge until the local representative briefs their counterparts on the incoming team, a delegation of authority has been signed, and a mutually agreed time for transfer of command has been established. o The ordering unit will specify times of arrival and transfer of command, and discuss these time frames with both the incoming and outgoing command structures. o Clear lines of authority must be maintained in order to minimize confusion and maintain control. o Transfers of command should occur at the beginning of an operational period, whenever possible. o All operational personnel will be notified on incident command frequencies when transfer of command occurs.

• Release of Teams

86 The release of a Type 1 or 2 IMT will follow an approved transfer of command process. The AA must approve the date and time of the transfer of command. The Transition Plan should include the following elements:

o Remaining organizational needs and structure. o Tasks or work to be accomplished. o Communications systems and radio frequencies. o Incident Action Plan, including remaining resources and weather forecast. o Facilities, equipment and supply status. o Arrangements for feeding remaining personnel. o Financial and payment processes needing follow-up. o Incident Complexity Analysis.

• Team Evaluation At completion of assignment, Incident Commanders will receive a written performance evaluation from the agency administrators prior to the IMT’s release from the incident.

Certain elements of this evaluation may not be able to be completed at the closeout review. These include: accountability and property control; completeness of claims investigation/documentation; and completeness of financial and payment documentation. The final evaluation incorporating all of the above elements should be sent to the IC within 60 days.

The Delegation of Authority, the WFDSS, and AA’s direction will serve as the primary standards against which the IMT is evaluated. The AA will provide a copy of the evaluation to the IC, State/Regional FMO, and retain a copy for the final fire package. The State/Regional FMO will review all evaluations and will be responsible for providing a copy of evaluations documenting performance to the geographic area board managing the IMT.

4.1.6. Use of Wildland Fire The use of naturally-occurring wildfires to meet resource management objectives is permitted in accordance with this FMP and with the determination for the appropriate strategy and tactical response documented in a decision analysis (WFDSS) for the incident.

4.1.7. Aviation Operations SCLC will use only current Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) certified rotary and fixed wing aircraft for fire operations. All aircraft operations will be in compliance with the District Aviation Plan (Appendix M).

4.1.8. Reviews and Investigations Reviews and investigations are used by wildland fire and aviation managers to assess and improve the effectiveness and safety of organizational operations. Brief descriptions of various reviews and associated procedures and requirements, including those for serious wildland fire accidents, entrapments, and fire trespass are listed in the corresponding Red Book, Chapter 18.

87 Incident Commanders, Single Resource Bosses and Burn Bosses will ensure After Action Reviews (AAR) take place at the end of each shift of a wildfire or prescribed burn and that any significant issues that arise are brought to the attention of the FMO or Agency Administrator. If circumstances are such that it is not practical to conduct an AAR at the end of a shift, an AAR will be conducted at the earliest possible time with as many of the participants included as possible. A formal review of significant initial attack and extended attack operations (those that threaten life or property or are multijurisdictional) will be made by Agency and cooperator personnel as needed. The purpose of these reviews will be to address safety, organizational, operational, fiscal, and resource management issues with regards to the wildfire.

4.1.9. Incident Reports The Savannah Fire Office (Fire Management District 2 office) will be responsible for the completion of Individual Fire Reports for all fires. Records of all fire reports will be consecutively numbered and entered into FMIS. Fire account numbers will be requested from the Savannah Fire Office as soon as fire costs are incurred. Each report will include a brief narrative stating the cause of the fire, the action taken, and fire location. A permanent record of all fires and other fire management records will also be kept at the Savannah Fire Office. Reports will be completed for fires on refuge property and for assistance rendered by the Refuge to cooperating fire agencies. An annual fire summary report will be prepared, kept on file and will contain the number of fires by type, acres burned by fuel type, cost summary, personnel utilized, hours of aircraft used, and other pertinent fire information.

File an FMIS Fire Report for the following types of fires within 10 days after the fire is declared out:

• All wildfires. • Wildfires threatening refuge lands on which Refuge staff takes action. • Fires on which Refuge staff takes action for another agency. • All prescribed fires that remain within prescription. When a fire • exceeds prescription criteria, treat it as an unwanted wildfire, and a separate report is filed covering those acres by the unwanted wildfire. • All false alarm reports responded to by field office or fire staff.

Individual Fire reports are required regardless of who takes action, e.g. FWS, cooperator or contractor. When we take initial attack off our lands, the agency with jurisdiction where the fire occurs will file a report and we will file a limited report to document our response and to support potential billing to non-federal entities for trespass fires.

Prescribed fire and mechanical treatments require that NFPORS reports be completed within 10 days of completion of the treatment.

The Incident Status Summary (ICS-209) is submitted to the Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC), through the State coordination center in Columbia, South Carolina. The ICS- 209 is used to report large wildland fires or those involving extended attack. Large fires are classified as 100 acres or larger in timber fuel types, 300 acres or larger in grass fuel types, or when a Type 1 or 2 IMT is assigned. The report will be submitted daily by 6 PM until the incident is contained.

88 4.2 FUELS MANAGEMENT

4.2.1. Prescribed Fire Program Prescribed fire is the most important and widely used tool for resource management within the South Carolina Lowcountry Complex. Fire is considered an essential ecological process. The use of prescribed fire is vital to the continued success of the SCLC missions by supporting important habit improvement and maintenance goals.

The southeast United States consists primarily of fire adapted and fire dependant ecosystems. Wildfire is frequent in the landscape. SCLC’s hazardous fuels management program reduces the opportunity for catastrophic wild fire while improving and maintain the historic landscape condition. The hazardous fuel program complies with direction provided in the Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Reference Guide; FWS Fire Management Handbook, Chapter 17; and the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, (Red Book), Chapter 17.

Prescribed fire is defined by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as "the controlled application of fire to wildland fuels in either their natural or modified state, under specified environmental conditions which allow the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and at the same time produce the fire line intensity and rate of spread required to attain planned resource management objectives".

The goals of the prescribed fire program at SCLC are to:

• Conduct a prescribed fire program with the highest professional and technological standards using all means available to prevent escaped fires. • Identify and implement firing techniques that are most appropriate for achieving stated objectives on specific sites and habitats. • Efficiently accomplish resource management objectives through the application of prescribed fire. • Continually evaluate the prescribed fire program to better meet program objectives by updating prescriptions and monitoring plans and integrating newly proven technical and scientific treatments, if applicable.

4.2.1.1. Process to Identify and Prioritize Fuels Treatments

The Project Leader, Refuge Managers, Refuge Staff and District Fire Management Officer will meet annually to identify and prioritize any potential fuels treatments, and prepare an annual program of work.

On SCLC, the priority of prescribed burning shall be as follows:

• Treatment of impoundment areas important for waterfowl and wetland dependant birds. Provide prescription coverage and target 3000 acres of impoundments for annual treatment. • Annually treat 500 acres of shrub scrub habitat for improved habitat conditions for the Painted Bunting.

89 • Annually treat 1000 acres of grasslands to support habit needs of the grasslands specialist suite of birds including the Henslow’s, LeConte’s and Savannah Sparrows. • Plan and complete hazard fuel reduction burns based on current and anticipated need. Hazard fuel reduction burns should target improvement of the forest/habit condition as well as reduce the over-all potential for catastrophic wild fire.

4.2.1.2. NEPA Compliance All prescribed fires must comply with NEPA requirements. The SCLC prescribed fire program utilizes the categorical exclusions provided for habitat improvement and hazardous fuels reduction projects (Appendix F). Fuel treatment projects that involve exotic and invasive species are required to be addressed in an Environmental Assessment (EA).

4.2.1.3. Prescribed Fire Complexity and Size Prescribed fire projects are required to have a Prescribed Fire Complexity Analysis incorporated as part of the Prescribed Fire Plan (PFP). Each proposed PFP is specific to the project site and conditions involved, and the complexities may range from low, to moderate, to high. Each complexity level requires a correspondingly qualified Prescribed Burn Boss in order to implement the burn.

The SCLC uses a low complexity debris burn plan for debris disposal projects, and these type burns are conducted by a Prescribed Burn Boss Type 3.

Most SCLC prescribed burns are of moderate complexity which requires a qualified Prescribed Burn Boss Type 2 in order to implement the burn.

There is potential for some of these burns to be classified as “high complexity”, due to increasing values at risk, tighter smoke parameters, etc,. “High complexity” burns will be conducted by a Prescribed Burn Boss Type 1. Prescribed fires vary in size, usually depending on the size of the units’ natural barriers. It is not uncommon to have a burn unit consisting of several hundred or acres.

Suitable weather and water table conditions do not occur to the same extent every year, and in some years suitable conditions do not occur at all. Therefore, the actual annual prescribed burn acreages for the Refuges will vary.

4.2.1.4. Prescribed Fire Program Targets Prescribed fire is important for the maintenance and improvement of habitat. Included here are the 10 year fire histories for each Refuge. While prescribed fire is the focus of this section, the histories of wildfire occurrence are also included, providing a perspective of fire occurrence on SCLC.

Prescribed fire is an important tool for the maintenance of impoundments and moist soil units, particularly on the SCLC, as waterfowl and wetland dependant bird management are a priority focus for long term management. Priority and annual targets are identified for SCLC in section 4.2.1. With utilization of adaptive management and on site analysis, an assessment of observed habitat and fuel condition assessments will determine treatment needs. All prescribed fire treatments utilize SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Results-oriented, Time fixed) objectives. Currently the complex uses First Order Fire Effects for monitoring

90 prescribed fire treatments. SCLC hopes to develop Refuge specific monitoring plans to aid in the future development and understanding of more effective treatments.

Hazardous fuel reduction projects are also a priority focus. Hazardous fuel treatments usually occur on a burn rotation of 3-5 year rotations, but may be modified under adaptive management as necessary. Increasingly, smoke management issues will impact the complex. As urban interface continues to develop around refuges, the hazardous fuel reduction units are distributed so that no one geographic area receives all treatments in a single year.

4.2.1.5. SCLC Prescribed Fire and Wildfire Histories Please note that not all wildfires may have been recorded. While every effort has been made to recover records from SCFC and local fire departments responding to threat fires within the complex boundaries, it is doubtless that some have not been recorded.

91 Table 5. SCLC Year Prescribed Fire History 2000-2009

Refuge Treatment Average Annual Acres

ACE Basin NWR Prescribed Fire 2,553 Cape Romain NWR Prescribed Fire 69 Santee NWR Prescribed Fire 341 Waccamaw NWR Prescribed Fire **659

**Waccamaw NWR prescribed fire acres are on cooperator/agreement lands and are from the period 2005-2009.

Table 6. SCLC 10-Year Wildland Fire History 2000-2009

Number of Refuge Average Annual Acres Wildfires ACE BasinNWR 14 3 *88 acres with RX to WF conversion on fire in 2004 Cape Romain NWR 6* 16 acres w/o conversion Santee NWR 25 8 Waccamaw NWR 1 1

4.2.1.6. Effects of Preparedness Levels There can be certain situations at local, Regional or National levels which can result in prescribed burning operations on the SCLC being limited or curtailed.

The Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC) in consultation with agency fire coordinators determines regional preparedness levels. These levels are based on wildfire activity within the Southern Area and the need for fire suppression resources.

The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) establishes national preparedness levels to keep track of resource availability at a national level to ensure national preparedness. These levels may constrain prescribed fire activities in some Geographic Areas not experiencing significant activity to ensure sufficient resources are available for National needs.

Prescribed fires may be continued or ignited during Regional and National Preparedness Levels 4 & 5 in accordance with the National Mobilization Guide.

4.2.1.7. Annual Preparation & Season of Activity

92 Prior to the prescribed burn season, Refuge Fire Management Staff will develop an annual prescribed fire program of work, which targets specific burn units.

An annual meeting of Refuges, Hatcheries, and Fire Management Staff within the Fire Management District is held to determine the priority of proposed prescribed fire projects within the district so that fire personnel and resources will be utilized to maximum efficiency.

Upon approval of the PFP, preparation of the unit for implementation of the burn will be initiated. Prescribed fire preparation activities include identifying and preparing containment lines around the burn unit perimeter. In many cases, these containment lines will be located along existing management roads and require only superficial removal of the layer of fine fuels to mineral soil for effectiveness. Special considerations for holding and firing will be minimized by pre-burn activities such as raking around snags along the fire breaks or mechanical removal of heavy fuel accumulations near structures or other areas of high fiscal or resource value.

All prescribed fires must have a written Prescribed Fire Plan (PFP) that is reviewed and approved by the District Prescribed Fire Specialist or a person that is at least Burn Boss Type 2 qualified. The PFPs shall be prepared and developed by a person that is qualified as a Burn Boss at the complexity level of that burn or higher.

Prescribed fires may be conducted at any time that the PFP elements and management objectives can be met.

4.2.1.8. Prescribed Fire Project Planning Requirements Service policy requires an approved, written Prescribed Fire Plan (PFP) for each prescribed burn. Each PFP must be prepared by a fully qualified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss, certified by the agency at the complexity level of that burn or higher, although portions of the plan may be prepared by other members of the Fire Management staff. Every PFP must be technically reviewed and signed by another qualified burn boss. This review is generally conducted by the District Prescribed Fire Specialist or District Fire Management Officer who refer the PFP to the Refuge Manager/Project Leader for approval.

Upon approval by the Refuge Manager/Project Leader, who affixes his/her signature to the document, the project may be implemented. In FWS Region 4, PFPs are valid for a period of two years after the date of the line officer signature. If significant changes occur in the fuel composition (such as with hurricane damage) or significant changes occur to the values at risk preparation of a new PFP is required.

Service policy requires an approved Prescribed Fire Complexity Rating Worksheet (PFCRW), using a standard interagency format, for each prescribed burn. Each PFCRW must be prepared by a fully qualified prescribed fire burn boss, reviewed and signed by another qualified Burn Boss, and approved by the Refuge Manager/Project Leader, who affixes his/her signature to the document. The PFCRW will be appended to the PFP for reference on burn day.

The PFCRW will be used to define a “summary complexity rating” as one of the following: • Low Complexity • Moderate Complexity

93 • High Complexity

4.2.1.9. Prescribed Fire Project Implementation Prescribed Fire projects will be implemented in accordance with the Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Reference Guide and an approved Prescribed Fire Plan. Implementation of PFPs follows direction of the Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Guide.

The Prescribed Fire Burn Boss and the Refuge Manager/Project Leader must meet the morning of the proposed prescribed fire to review the PFP and make a “Go or No Go” determination. The Prescribed Fire Burn Boss then will review the PFP, the existing and forecast fire weather and fire behavior conditions, the smoke sensitive targets, make the required contacts and conduct a test burn to determine if the requirements and management objectives of the PFP can be successfully met. The Prescribed Fire Burn Boss will then make a “Go or No Go” decision to implement to burn.

4.2.1.10. Prescribed Fire Staffing and Configuration During the development of the PFP, the size of the burning crew is determined. This can vary widely, from requiring only a few people for a small hand burning operation, to requiring most of the Refuge and fire staff on one of the more complex burns.

A prescribed burn operation on SCLC would require some combination of the following:

• Prescribed Fire Burn Boss (1): This position should have extensive experience in fire operations in fuel types found on the Refuge. On small fires, this position can be concurrent with a firing or holding position. • Holding Crew(s) (1-5 persons): The ground ignition and holding responsibilities can be handled by the same people. • Firing Crew (1-3 persons): This position must be filled by a person qualified to be in charge of the ignition on the ground. • Engine Crews (1-2): Each crew should consist of an FFT1 and an FFT2. • Prescribed Fire Weather and Monitoring (FEMO): One person will be assigned to monitor weather and fire behavior during the operation. • Radio Operator (RADO): This person coordinates notifications, flight-follows aircraft and keeps track of communications. • Fire Information Officer (FIO): Normally this fire position is handled by the staff at the Refuge Headquarters.

Figure 3. Suggested Organization for Aerial Burn

4.2.1.11. Smoke Management & Air Quality SCLC must comply with National and State regulations concerning air pollution. To do this, it must take aggressive action to manage smoke from both prescribed burns and wildfires to minimize impacts and maintain air quality.

Since fires are not point sources, but rather tend to be spatially distributed singular events, temporary impacts to visibility must be recognized, expected and managed. The Refuges, including those with exclusive jurisdiction, are required to obtain necessary permits for prescribed fires, comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) both inside and outside Refuge unit boundaries. Additionally, the complex follows the standards and guidelines for smoke management set by the State, (A copy of the South Carolina State Guidelines are included in Appendix M). Additionally, SCLC will strictly adhere to the Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed and Wildland Fire (2001).

Smoke management is always a major consideration when smoke-sensitive areas such as hospitals, airports, and highways are nearby. This is especially so on SCLC mainland refuges.

On wildfires, strategies and tactics will be used that minimize smoke production as a public safety hazard.

• Mop up within 100 feet of any control line adjacent to major roads or residential areas. • Place smoke ahead signs along any public paved road that may have visibility impaired by smoke. Notify the state Highway Patrol and Department of Transportation during incidents where smoke impacts could threaten public safety. • When burning out areas within containment boundaries during indirect attack, ignition methods will be used that provide rapid burnout of fuels and quick smoke dispersion.

Protecting visibility and clean air shall be given full consideration in fire management planning and operation. SCLC will comply with all applicable Federal, State, and Local air pollution

95 control requirements, as specified within Section 118 of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 USO 7418). Aggressive action shall be taken to manage smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires in order to minimize negative impacts to visibility while maintaining air quality.

There are times when the local air quality agency will not allow burns to proceed. This usually has to do with limited suppression forces, poor mixing heights, little or no transport winds or high fire danger.

4.2.1.12. Conversion of a Prescribed Fire to a Wildfire

A prescribed fire must be declared a wildfire by the Prescribed Fire Burn Boss or others identified in the PFP when that person(s) determines that the contingency actions have failed or are likely to fail and cannot be mitigated by the end of the next burning period. A prescribed fire can be converted to a wildfire for reasons other than it spread outside the project area and cannot be contained by the end of the next burning period (i.e. once a prescribed fire is no longer meeting those resources objectives stated specifically in the Prescribed Fire Plan or project level NEPA).

After a prescribed fire is converted to a wildfire, it receives the same reassessment and selection of response objectives as any other wildfire event given the location, current conditions (fuels, weather, etc.), and identified management considerations. An appropriately qualified Incident Commander will be assigned. A new management strategy will be implemented. A formal analysis using WFDSS or another decision support toll will be undertaken to determine management options as needed. The Hatchery Manager and District 2 Fire Management Officer will be notified of a problem fire or a converted prescribed fire.

A wildland fire (wildfire or prescribed fire) may be concurrently managed for one or more objectives, and objectives can change as the fire spreads across the landscape. Objectives are affected by changes in the fuels, weather, topography, varying social understanding and tolerance, and involvement of other governmental jurisdictions having different missions and objectives.

A prescribed fire that has been converted to a wildfire cannot be returned to prescribed fire status.

4.2.1.13. After Action Reviews An After Action Review (AAR) will be completed after all prescribed fires and hazardous fuels activities. The AAR will focus on performance standards to enable agency administrators and firefighters to discuss what was planned, how it was executed, why it happened, how to sustain strengths, and improve on weaknesses.

4.2.1.14. Investigations Every prescribed fire that is converted to a wildfire will receive an investigative review initiated by the Hatchery Manager. Investigations shall be conducted in accordance with the Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, Chapter 18.

4.2.1.15 Reports

96 The completion of an approved PFP is the primary documentation that a prescribed fire has been attempted or completed. Various documents that record weather data or public comments may be attached to the completed plan, which includes a record of observed fire behavior and the kind and amount of resources committed to the burn. All completed PFPs and associated documents will be kept in a binder as a permanent record of the burn day activities.

Within ten days following the completion of a prescribed burn a web-based fire report will be electronically submitted into the Fire Management Information System (FMIS). Prescribed fire accomplishments must also be reported to the National Fire Plan Operations and Reporting System (NFPORS) in the same time frame as FMIS.

NFPORS is an interagency system designed to assist field personnel in managing and reporting accomplishments for work conducted under the National Fire Plan. Projects and accomplishments can be directly viewed by members of Congress and the public in NFPORS.

4.2.1.16. Agreements There are a number of State, local, and Regional agreements in place on SCLC that relate to prescribed fire. Please refer to Appendices H-L.

4.2.1.17. Funding Sources and Guidance SCLC utilizes standard FWS funding guidance. In the rare event that fire severity funding is requested, special funding code instructions would be issued from the national office to the Regional Office to SCLC.

4.2.2. Non-fire Hazardous Fuels Program The SCLC continually assesses and implements new technologies and methodologies for addressing the changing dynamics of vegetative manipulation. It is our intent to utilize the best scientific information to select the most effective biological, chemical and/or mechanical methods, and these may be used singly or in combination with prescribed fire to obtain desired conditions. These treatment activities are monitored and evaluated to determine their effectiveness.

Exotic or non native plan encroachment has become a huge concern in recent years. It is often preferable to treat areas with entrenched exotics/non natives with a combination of biological/chemical/fire/mechanical for optimum results.

4.2.2.1. Processes Used to Identify and Prioritize Non-fire Hazardous Fuels Treatments

SCLC and District Fire Staffs have reviewed the Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment which is a collaborative work by the Southern Area State Foresters, Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and US Fish & Wildlife Service to identify the Communities of Interest and at Risk (COIs & CARs) of potential damage from wildfires. This information and local knowledge has been incorporated in the annual decisions of potential hazardous fuels treatments.

97 An Annual Program of Work will be developed by the SCLC and Fire staff within the Fire Management District. The Annual Program of Work will identify and prioritize specific projects that may be implemented.

SCLC staff, the District Fire Management Officer and District WUI Specialist will continue to work with adjoining neighbors and partners to determine the feasibility and practicality for conducting cooperative hazardous fuels projects and where possible develop cooperative agreements to aid in the implementation of such projects.

4.2.2.2. NEPA Compliance All non-fire project activities must comply with NEPA requirements. Projects that involve exotic and invasive species, chemical or biological methods are required to be addressed in an EA.

4.2.2.3. Annual Preparation Specific fuels reduction projects are selected and implemented annually by the SCLC management staff. Fuel reduction plans detail the individual projects and specify the preparations necessary for implementation.

4.2.2.4. Non-fire Fuels Hazardous Fuel Program Project Complexity and Size Non-fire hazardous fuels projects do not require a complexity analysis as do prescribed fires. These projects vary greatly in size based upon the specific project site. Projects may vary in size from an acre or less to several hundred acres. Projects related to WUI may be very small in size yet carry a sizable cost due to the involvement of specialized equipment, contractors, etc.

4.2.2.5. Non-fire Hazardous Fuel Program Targets SCLC continually evaluates the need for mechanical and chemical hazardous fuels program projects. These projects are largely dependent on growing WUI development adjacent to Refuge boundaries. This function of fire management is projected to grow at the rate of commercial and industrial expansion around the refuges. Once a project is completed, the need for periodic maintenance of this project should be accessed. Ideally, SCLC will treat 10 acres annually in new WUI projects, and 100 acres in WUI maintenance projects. In non-WUI projects, approximately 100 acres are treated annually. This trend should continue for the next five years.

4.2.2.6. Community Wildfire Protection Plans Typically, Community Wildfire Protection Plans(CWPP’s) are initiated by the agency providing the primary fire protection for the community. In most cases this would be the state forestry division. When CWPP’s are being developed for communities adjacent to USFWS lands, USFWS should be an active participant in the process. The District WUI Coordinator located at the Savannah Fire Shop can assist with specific projects involving the need for CWPP’s. The Hatcheries and Fire Management District will provide supporting involvement in the development of a CWPP.

4.2.2.7. Wildland Urban Interface Treatments Wildland urban interface treatments are selected on individual need. The Refuges will employ a variety of methods to accomplish projects. The most common treatments for WUI areas are:

98 • Mechanical • Chemical • Prescribed burns

4.2.2.8. Staffing Staffing for non-fire fuel reduction activities will vary based upon the particular treatment being conducted, and the equipment, biological or chemical methodology being employed.

4.2.2.9. Sensitive Resource Considerations Non-fire fuel reduction activities are coordinated projects that undergo NEPA review and documentation, as well as interdisciplinary input, to assure that sensitive resources are protected.

4.2.2.10. Equipment A variety of equipment may be utilized in non-fire fuel reduction activities. Typical equipment may include mowers, chippers, grinders, roller choppers, or dozers.

4.2.2.11. Documentation and Reporting The National Fire Plan Operations and Reporting System (NFPORS) is an interagency system designed to assist field personnel in managing and reporting accomplishments for work conducted under the National Fire Plan. Fuels reduction projects are reported to the NFPORS system.

In addition to the fuels reduction project accomplishments being reported in NFPORS, an annual pesticide report is required to document the application of specific herbicides, biological agents and active ingredients.

The Fire Management Information System (FMIS) is also used as a reporting system to request fire numbers and request charge codes from the Denver office. Completion of burn data and individual fire information is stored in this system. Fire reports should be input within 10 days after completion of burn.

4.2.2.12. Funding Processes SCLC utilizes two primary funding codes for fuels management. Treatment in WUI areas, (9264), treatment in general Refuge areas (9263).

4.3 Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation and Post Wildfire Activities The US Fish and Wildlife Service takes responsibility for taking prompt action to determine the need for and to prescribe and implement emergency treatments to minimize threats to life or property or to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources from the effects of a fire on refuge lands (Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations). Damages resulting from wildland fires are addressed through four post wildfire activities:

Wildfire Suppression Activity Damage Repair Planned actions taken to repair the damages to resources, lands, and facilities resulting from wildfire suppression actions and documented in the Incident Action Plan. These actions are usually implemented immediately after the containment of the wildfire by the Incident

99 Management Team before demobilization. If necessary, engineers, hydrologists or other specialists will be consulted to determine the extent of damages incurred to refuge resources and facilities from suppression activities (Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations).

All fire lines will be maintained to blend with the existing topography and to not interfere with the normal hydrology and vegetation patterns of the site. Following every suppression action on the refuge that requires the use of hand tools or control lines or causes other surface damage, the affected sites will be repaired. The tractor-plow unit will remain the most common method of establishing firebreaks to serve as control lines on initial attack operations on SCLC wildfires. This method is the most effective and efficient resource in suppressing wildfires in the thick brush and organic soils of SCLC. However, the resulting line, if left open and exposed to the elements, can cause accelerated oxidation of organic soils and be more prone to ground fire following the next ignition. Following every fire on the refuges, plow lines and hand lines will be repaired by pulling the berms back into the line in areas where utilizing equipment would not cause further damage.

Exotic grass seed will not normally be sown on plow lines, but rather they will be allowed to re- vegetate naturally. Emergency seeding of native seed sources and control techniques will be used in areas where erosion control is necessary (e.g. heavily disturbed areas like ICPs, parking areas, pump sites, and etc). Wetlands will be protected as needed. Snags will be preserved for cavity nesting wildlife where they do not pose a threat to life or property. Any snags will be removed if they pose a threat to life or property.

Emergency Stabilization (ES) Planned actions to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, to minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of a wildfire, or to repair/replace/construct physical improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources. Emergency stabilization actions must be taken within one year following containment of a wildland fire and documented in a Burned Area Emergency Response Plan (BAER Plan) (Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations; Interagency Burned Area Emergency Response Guidebook, DOI, 2006; and 620 DM 3 and 095 FW 3.9). Monitoring for treatment effectiveness will be conducted on all approved treatments and the results described in an annual or final report as stated in policy (620 DM 3 and 095 FW 3.9).

Natural recovery is the preferred emergency stabilization treatment for the refuge. No specific actions have been undertaken in the past to stabilize an area or implement a BAER Plan to date, however it is recognized that under certain possible scenarios stabilization treatments could be implemented. Allowable actions permitted on the refuge that may be deemed necessary to stabilize an area under an emergency response include:

Assessments: • Burned area assessments will identify post-fire threats to federal and tribal listed or proposed threatened and endangered species and what, if any, cost effective stabilization measures can be implemented to prevent further post-fire condition degradation.

Cultural Resources:

100 • Site stabilization and Protection • NHPA Section 106 Compliance

Non-native Invasive Control: • Assessments to determine the need for treatment. Contingent upon location of known infestations, possibility of new infestations due to management actions, suspected contaminated equipment use areas • Treatments to prevent detrimental invasion by non-native species (not present on the site) • Treatment of invasive plants introduced or aggravated by the wildfire. The treatment objective when the population is aggravated is to maintain the invasion at no more than pre-wildfire condition. • Treatments to prevent permanent impairment of designated Critical Habitat for Federal and State listed, proposed or candidate threatened and endangered species.

Re-vegetation: • Stabilize a site and minimize water or wind erosion • Reduce invasion of non-native invasive plants • Prevent Critical Habitat for federally listed threatened and endangered species from being more impaired than if nothing was done • See Interagency Emergency Response Guidebook (DOI 2006) for further information

Federal Field Unit Infrastructure: • Emergency stabilization of improvements and minor facilities (e.g., signs, kiosks, guardrails, pit toilets, and others as listed in Section 3) burned or damaged by wildfire is appropriate only for public health and safety reasons. If it is not an immediate threat to public health, it will be reviewed under the Burned Area Rehabilitation Plan • HAZMAT and Facility Assessment and Stabilization • Early Warning Flood and Evacuation Systems • Emergency Road Repairs and Maintenance - Road closure is preferable unless the road is needed to provide immediate access to essential activities (e.g., hospital and post office access, threatened and endangered species management, communication systems). Damages due to suppression activities to roads will fall under “Wildfire Suppression Damage Activity Repair” as stated above.

Burned Area Emergency Response Team (BAER TEAM) and Plan Development: • An ad-hoc team of Agency Administrator (Refuge Manager, or Project Leader) and refuge staff and any additional personnel necessary will form an initial Burned Area Emergency Response Team. If warranted, a National BAER Team will be ordered to meet the refuge’s needs. The team, under the guidance of the Agency Administrator will:

1. Determine the need for burned area assessments 2. Determine what further expertise is needed to conduct assessments 3. Develop a Burned Area Emergency Response Plan with identified treatments 4. Track treatments in NFPORS 5. Implement treatments

101 6. Monitor effectiveness of treatments 7. Write report based on monitoring results including a final report

Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) Efforts taken within three years of containment of a wildland fire to repair or improve wildfire- damaged lands unlikely to recover naturally to management approved conditions, or to repair or replace minor facilities damaged by wildfire. These efforts are documented in a separate Burned Area Rehabilitation Plan (BAR plan) (Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations; Interagency Burned Area Rehabilitation Guidebook, DOI, 2006; and 620 DM 3 and 095 FW 3.9).

Natural recovery is the preferred rehabilitation treatment for the refuge. No specific Burned Area Rehabilitation Plans have been implemented in the past following wildfires to date, however it is recognized that under certain possible scenarios rehabilitation treatments could be necessary. Allowable actions permitted on the refuge that may be deemed necessary to rehabilitate an area following wildfires include:

Cultural Resources: • BAR funds are used to ensure burned area rehabilitation treatments conform to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Funds can not be used for restoration of any cultural resource or heritage sites. • Additional limitations are listed in the Interagency Burned Area Response Guidebook (2006).

Non-native Invasive Control: • Burned area rehabilitation funds can be used to control non-native invasive plants in burned areas only if an approved management plan and existing program is in place addressing non-native species control. • Assessments to determine the need for treatment. Contingent upon 1) known infestations; 2) possibility of new infestations due to management actions; and 3) suspected contamination due to equipment. • Treatments to prevent detrimental invasion (not present on site) by non-native invasive species. • Treatment of invasive plants introduced or aggravated by the wildfire. The treatment objective when the population is aggravated is to maintain the invasion at not more than pre-wildfire conditions. • Systematic inventories can not be funded by rehabilitation funds.

Re-vegetation • Natural recovery by native plant species is preferable to planting or seeding, either of natives or non-natives. Re-vegetation of burned areas is not an appropriate use of BAR funds if natural regeneration will result in a vegetation type that meets BAR objectives. • Planting of seed or seedlings for BAR is an appropriate treatment if seeding or planting of vegetation is prescribed to be effective with Departmental Policy and it repairs or improves land unlikely to recover naturally from wildfire damage by emulating historical or pre-fire ecosystem structure, function, diversity and dynamics consistent with existing land management plans.

102 • Additional limitations are listed in the Interagency Burned Area Response Guidebook (2006).

Forest Management: • Forest management may be considered if the ecosystem is unlikely to recover naturally from wildfire damage as prescribed by a certified silviculturalist to not regenerate for 10 years following fire. Tree planting is limited to the following: the use of BAR funds to plant trees must be addressed in an approved land management plan (see 620 DM 3): 1. facilitating the succession and stabilization of forest ecosystems. 2. re-establishing habitat for federally listed threatened or endangered species, or other special status species. 3. re-introducing or re-establishing native tree species and seed sources lost in a stand replacement fire. 4. reforestation on Indian Trust Lands.

Minor Facilities: • The repair or replacement of minor improvements and facilities (e.g., kiosks, fences, interpretive or boundary signs, recreation facilities, corrals, guzzlers, trails, permanent long-term monitoring plots or other as listed in Section 3 etc.) burned or damaged by wildfire to pre-fire specifications is authorized with the use of BAR funds only if these improvements or facilities are necessary for implementing an approved land management plan. It does not include the construction of new or upgraded facilities that did not exist before the fire. BAR treatments and maintenance of BAR improvements beyond 3 years from wildfire containment is funded with other program funding. Minor facility repair or replacement must be addressed in the BAR plan.

Burned Area Rehabilitation Team and Plan Development: • An ad-hoc team of Agency Administrator (Refuge Manager, or Project Leader) and refuge staff and any additional personnel necessary will form an initial Burned Area Rehabilitation Team. The team, under the guidance of the Agency Administrator will:

1. Determine the need for further burned area assessments 2. Determine what further expertise is needed to conduct assessments 3. Develop a Burned Area Rehabilitation Plan with identified treatments 4. Track treatments in NFPORS 5. Implement treatments 6. Monitor effectiveness of treatments 7. Write reports based on monitoring results including annual reports and a final report

Long Term Restoration Restoration includes continuing the rehabilitation beyond the initial three years or the repair or replacement of major facilities damaged by the wildfire. Land management plans and other funding sources are available to continue the rehabilitation efforts beyond three years.

Historically, the SCLC has not utilized the option of BAER projects; however, with the increasing spread of exotic and non-native plants, it is advisable to strongly consider BAER projects to reduce the impacts of plants whenever possible.

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4.3.1. Planning Rehabilitation involves short-term actions (usually 0-6 months) taken to mitigate damages caused by fire suppression actions. Fire damages resulting from wildfires take two forms: (1) Suppression damages, (2) Resource damages.

Suppression action damages may be the result of suppression operations and may be repaired by rehabilitation actions funded by emergency fire operation accounts. Suppression action damages include tools, equipment, roads, buildings, and resources (in some cases) damaged as a result of the suppression action; not damages actually caused by the fire.

Resource damages are a result of the fire itself as related to the damage to the natural resource. Damages caused to the building by the fire are resource damages. Recovery actions to mitigate resource damage usually must be funded through normal Refuge operations.

Rehabilitation needs should be considered for each fire, and plans prepared for those fires requiring complex rehabilitation efforts. All needs and assessments will follow the guideline set forth in the Interagency Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Handbook. http://fire.fws.gov/fm/policy/HANDBOOK/CHAPTER 5.HTM

• Roads and firelines will be restored to their pre-fire condition. The surface will be stabilized where heavy equipment has broken down the sand/clay mat, by incorporating organic material from ditch areas. Pavement will be repaired where equipment damage has occurred. Damages to bridges, culverts, and signs will be repaired. • Damages to suppression equipment must be repaired. • Suppression damage to refuge and cooperators facilities will be repaired. • Fire cache inventory will be restored. • Incident base, temporary camps, and service areas must be rehabilitated. • All hazardous materials will be disposed of properly. Hazardous material spills and incidents shall be cleaned up and resolved.

4.3.2. Immediate Rehabilitation Actions Rehabilitation should start as part of the fire suppression action and should involve recovery of firelines, replacement of tools and equipment, etc. Also included is resource damage that must be immediately repaired to prevent erosion, further damage to resources, or to ensure safety. Rehabilitation actions carried out as part of the incident are funded by the incident.

4.3.3. Post-Incident Rehabilitation Actions Post-incident rehabilitation actions are more complex and must be specified in a rehabilitation plan approved by the Regional Fire Director, then provided to the Regional Director for signature. Post-incident rehabilitation actions are funded from fire funding when the plan is approved.

4.3.4. Restoration Actions Restoration involves long-term actions to mitigate resource damages and restore an area to its pre-fire appearance and function; including restoration of plant and animal communities,

104 replacement or enhancement of Refuge infrastructure, and the construction of buildings and facilities that were damaged or destroyed by the fire. Restoration actions are funded as part of normal Refuge operations.

Burned areas may be allowed to regenerate naturally. Restoration actions are part of normal refuge operation and funded through the benefiting activity.

4.4 Prevention, Mitigation, and Education

The emphasis of the refuge program will be in educating the local residents and refuge visitors to the importance of prescribed fire in preventing wildfire and the role of fire in restoring and managing the refuge ecosystem. This is vitally important as the demographics of the area are rapidly changing with many new residents moving in from geographic sections of the county other than the south.

Every possible opportunity for public interaction will be utilized and will include but not be limited to: cooperative education efforts with the South Carolina Prescribed Fire Council, through demonstrations and lectures at local schools, clubs and organizations, new paper articles and prescribed fire announcements, and one on one conversation with refuge visitors and local residents.

Educating the public on the impact of fire as a natural process is important to increasing public understanding and support for SCLC and the Service’s fire management program.

The public information program will be developed as follows:

• After fires have burned through an area, appropriate interpretive materials may be prepared and distributed to all visitors entering or viewing these areas. • News releases will be distributed to the media as appropriate when noteworthy fires occur in the Refuge. This will also provide an opportunity to disseminate information about the fire program policy and philosophy. Updates will be posted on the complex fire management website. • The public information outlets to neighboring and cooperating agencies will be provided with all fire management information. • The fire management program will be discussed with all employees and residents. • SCLC will work in cooperation with the South Carolina Forestry Commission and any Fire Prevention/Education Teams deployed in the vicinity of the Refuge Complex.

An important function of the education and mitigation efforts of SCLC is the opportunities to work with rural fire departments. The Service provides Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) and/or Ready Reserve grants to local fire departments to enhance local wildfire protection, purchase equipment, and train volunteer firefighters. The District WUI Specialist located at SCLC works

105 closely with local departments and coordinates efforts on this program with the Regional WUI Specialist in Atlanta, GA.

Chapter 5. Monitoring and Evaluation

5.1 Fire Management Plan Monitoring Fire Management Plans (FMPs) are required to be reviewed annually (Appendix G) and updated as needed upon local Agency Administrator approval.

Revisions of FMPs with Regional review and concurrence are required every five years and are also required following the completion of a new or significantly revised CCP or Habitat Management Plan.

5.1.1. Fire Management Plan Terminology

Terms in the FMP are defined in the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, located at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/glossary. Any terms used that are not found in the glossary are defined in the text.

5.2 Treatment Effectiveness Monitoring – Monitoring Plan Due to staffing restrictions, little monitoring has been conducted on the SCLC. The District FMO and Prescribed Fire Specialist will work to develop a Fuels and Fire Effects Monitoring Plan for all Refuges within the Fire District.

The Monitoring Plan is an overall description for all proposed fuel and fire effects monitoring activities for SCRC, and is required in order to authorize funding for monitoring and research activities.

The Monitoring Plan will be prepared in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Handbook Guidance on Fuel Management Effectiveness Monitoring (FWS 2002). The purpose of this Monitoring Plan is to identify specific measures that will be used by the Refuge to:

• Evaluate the fuels management program and treatment effectiveness • Ensure that Refuge resource management goals and objectives are not compromised by fuels management projects. • Ensure the effective use of prescribed fire and non-fire treatments in meeting Refuge goals and objectives.

The Monitoring Plan will provide for adaptive management “feedback”, and conform to monitoring protocols established by the Service’s Fuels and Fire Effects Monitoring Guide and the Southeast Region Fuels and Fire Effects Monitoring Guide protocols.

When developed, the monitoring plan will tier to the FMP and will be subject to amendments and modifications made periodically. It will note various changes made in stated monitoring objectives, methods and etc., as needed. The plan may also be incorporated into a larger, more general district monitoring plan that incorporates all monitoring activities throughout the Fire District, when developed in the future.

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An effort will be made to monitor wildland fires (wildfires and prescribed fires) occurring on SCLC. The monitoring of wildfires will be appropriate and potentially valuable in mapping and documenting the growth of the fire. It also helps create a record of fire effects for future study. Measuring on-site weather and fuel loading will provide the Complex with expected fire behavior information. Monitoring will help to define the effectiveness of the fire management program by assessing fire effects and firefighting activities on natural and cultural resources.

Photo points have been established on the SCLC Refuges that have an active prescribed fire program, primarily to act as an aid in documenting changes in fuel loading and fuel structure composition. Some first order fire effects have been derived from photo point analysis.

5.2.1. Monitoring Wildfire Suppression Activities Wildfire suppression activities can range from surveillance monitoring of limited fires to indirect attack by utilizing natural barriers and burning out fuel between the barrier and the main fire.

Monitoring for any suppression level involves two phases:

• Phase one is monitoring the fire while it is active and the second phase is monitoring the ecological effects of the fire. During phase one, document the cause and location, size, fuels, management option (limited, modified, full, and critical), spread potential, weather, and smoke characteristics. In addition, document threats, tactics, constraints, public and firefighter safety, cultural resources and other sensitive natural resources. Throughout the duration of the fire monitor spread, weather, fire behavior, smoke characteristics, potential threats, fire intensity and other information commensurate with the appropriate management response. • Phase two monitoring will require specific vegetative transects to be completed as soon as the fire is declared out and at appropriate intervals thereafter.

5.2.2. Review of Post Treatment AARs and Fire Effects Evaluations Monitoring will include a periodic review of all documentation related to the implementation of prescribed fire and fire suppression operations, including the post-treatment AARs and any evaluations of the fire effects.

5.3 Research Currently there is no active fire research ongoing on the SCLC. Opportunities for fire research exist in the following areas: • Natural fire return intervals in freshwater marsh, saltwater marsh. • The effects of seasonality in relation to applied prescribed fire treatments in Chinese tallow, chinaberry, sesbania, and smilax. • Mapping historical fire use and natural fire return intervals. (Recommend Cecil Frost for this work) Maps developed for each individual refuge. • Socioeconomic attitudes toward prescribed fire - development of outreach and education programs for the urban interface. The influx of retirees to the area has created a greater challenge in getting public support for prescribed burning and WUI projects. Targeted educational outreach is needed.

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108 Appendices

109

110 Appendix A. Authorities & Policy Guidance

The following statutes authorize use and provide the means for managing wildland fires on FWS lands or that threaten FWS lands and on adjacent lands:

A. Protection Act of September 20, 1922 (42 Stat. 857; 16 U.S.C. 594) Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to protect, from fire, lands under his/her jurisdiction and to cooperate with other Federal agencies, States, or owners of timber.

B. Economy Act of June 30, 1932 (47 Stat. 417; 31 U.S.C. 1535). Authorizes Federal agencies to enter into contracts and agreements for services with each other.

C. Reciprocal Fire Protection Act of May 27, 1955 as amended by the Wildfire Suppression Assistance Act of 1989 (69 Stat. 66, 67; 42 U.S.C. 1856a)(102 Stat. 1615). Authorizes reciprocal fire protection agreements with any fire organization for mutual aid with or without reimbursement and allows for emergency assistance in the vicinity of agency facilities in extinguishing fires when no agreement exists.

D. National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and the Refuge Recreation Act of 1962.(80 Stat. 927)(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee)(16 U.S.C. 460k-460k4). Governs the administration and use of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

E. Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of December 18, 1971. (88 Stat. 668; 43 U.S.C. 1601). Alaska Natives' lands are to continue to receive forest fire protection from the United States at no cost until they become economically self-sufficient.

F. Disaster Relief Act of May 22, 1974. (88 Stat. 143; 42 U.S.C. 5121). Authorizes Federal agencies to assist State and local governments during emergency or major disaster by direction of the President.

G. Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of October 29, 1974 et seq. (88 Stat. 1535; 15 U.S.C. 2201) as amended. Authorizes reimbursement to State and local fire services for costs incurred in firefighting on Federal property.

H. Federal Grants and Cooperative Act of 1977. (Pub. L. 95-244, as amended by Pub. L. 97-258, September 13, 1982. 96 Stat. 1003; 31 U.S.C. 6301-6308). Eliminates unnecessary administrative requirements on recipients of Government awards by characterizing the relationship between executive agencies and contractors, States and local governments and other recipients in acquiring property and services in providing U.S. Government assistance.

I. Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of December 2, 1980. (94 Stat. 2371, 43 U.S.C. 1602-1784). Designates certain public lands in Alaska as units of the National Park, National Wildlife Refuge, Wild and Scenic Rivers, National Wilderness Preservation, and National Forest systems resulting in general expansion of all systems. Any contracts or agreements with the jurisdictions for fire management services listed above that were previously executed will remain valid.

111 J. Supplemental Appropriation Act of September 10, 1982. (96 Stat. 837). Authorizes Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture to enter into contracts with State and local government entities, including local fire districts, for procurement of services in presuppression, detection, and suppression of fires on any unit within their jurisdiction.

K. Wildfire Suppression Assistance Act of 1989. (Pub. L. 100-428, as amended by Pub. L. 101-11, April 7, 1989). Authorizes reciprocal fire protection agreements with any fire organization for mutual aid with or without reimbursement and allows for emergency assistance in the vicinity of agency facilities in extinguishing fires when no agreement exists.

Other Policy References

1. Departmental Manual, 620 DM 1-3, Wildland Fire Management, General Policy and Procedures; Wildland Fire Management, General Policy and Procedures – Alaska; and Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation.

2. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Manual sections 095 FW 3 Emergency Preparedness and Response -- Wildland Fire Management, 241 FW 7 Wildland Fire Safety, 232 FW 6 Training Standards for Wildland and Prescribed Fire Operations, 621 FW 1 Wildland Fire Policies and Responsibilities, 621 FW 2 Fire Management Planning, and 621 FW 3 Prescribed Fire.

3. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Handbook

4. Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations, also known as the “Red Book.” NFES

5. Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Guide, September 2006

6. National Wildlife Refuge System Wildland Fire Management Strategic Plan, May 2006.

7. Guidance for Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy, February 2009.

8. A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildfire Risks to Communities and the Environment: 10-Year Strategy Implementation Plan, December 2006.

9. National Fire Plan, September 2001 and Healthy Forest Initiative, August 2002.

112 Appendix B. Links

WFDSS

• Up to date information on how to prepare a Wildland Fire Decision Support System Analysis (WFDSS) can be found at: (wfdss.usgs.gov/wfdss/WFDSS_Home.shtml)

Delegation of Authority

• A sample Delegation of Authority Letter from the FS R3 that could be modified for FWS is located at: (http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/administrative/policy_reports/aa_guidelines/pdf_ files/ch8.pdf)

Federal Standards

• Department of Interior Manual (http://fws.elips.doi.gov) • US Fish & Wildlife Service Manual (http://fire.r9.fws.gov/fm/policy/sm.htm) • Interagency Standards for Fire and Fire Aviation Operations Handbook (Redbook) NFES #2724 (http://www.fws.gov/fire/redbook/index.htm) • FWS Fire Management Handbook (linked with the Redbook) (http://www.fws.gov/fire/redbook/index.htm) • Interagency Qualification Certification System (IQCS) (http:/iqcs.nwcg.gov) • Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standards and Guide (IFPM) (http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov)

Federal Guidelines

• Interagency Fire and Aviation Preparedness Review Guide (http://www.fire.blm.gov/textdocuments/PrepReviewGuide2005.pdf) • Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide, NFES 1885 (http://www.nifc.gov/ihog) • National Interagency Mobilization Guide, NFES 2092 (http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/mobguide/index.html) • Southern Area Interagency Mobilization Guide, June 2008 (http://gacc.nifc.gov/sacc/administrative/formsreferences/forms_references.htm) • Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG), NFES #1077 (http:www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/nfes1077/nfes1077.pdf) • Fireline Handbook NFES #0065 (http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/large.html#FirelineHandbook)

Federal Guidelines

113 • Wildland Fire Qualifications System Guide, NFES #1414 (http:www.nwcg.gov/pms/docs/docs.htm) • Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications Standards and Guide (IFPM) (http://www.ifpm.nifc.gov) • Interagency Business Management Handbook, NFES #2160 (http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/IIBMH2/iibmh.pdf) • Interagency Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Handbook (http://elips.doi.gov/elips/) • Fuel and Fire Effects Monitoring Guide, Southeast Region, US Fish & Wildlife Service, September 2006 • Investigating Wildland Fire Entrapments (Missoula Technical Development Center) TE02P16, August 1995. (http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/pubs/pdfpubs/pdf95512845.pdf) • Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Reference Guide . (http://www.nifc.gov/fire_policy/rx/rxfireguide.pdf) • Guidance to Implementation of Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy (February 2009). (http://www.nifc.gov/policies

114 Appendix C. FY 2010 Regional Dispatch Plan

1. Introduction

The purpose of this plan is to detail the proper procedures for obtaining emergency help during wildland fire suppression. Many refuges are currently covered by contracts/agreements with State Divisions of Forestry which are the first source of help. We also have a National agreement with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the Interior agencies (DOI) to furnish assistance during wildland fire suppression.

The objective of this plan is to ensure the cost-efficient use of available fire support services. In most cases the closest resource will be used, but consideration will be given to the use of distant resources to avoid excessive commitments from local units with critical fire weather or suppression activities.

2. Sequence for Requesting Support When Wildland Fire Exceeds Station Suppression Capabilities

• State Division of Forestry. Your local Division of Forestry is the first place you should go for assistance (personnel or equipment).

• Neighboring Refuges. If your State Division of Forestry is unable to assist you, aid from nearby refuges should be solicited.

• State Interagency Coordination Center. If you are unable to obtain local assistance; contact your State Coordination Center. They can provide assistance in locating and dispatching resources for any emergency situation.

OFFICE CELL STATE DISPATCHER TELEPHONE TELEPHONE

Alabama Cathy Cline 334-241-8107 334-324-9254 Arkansas Randy Nichols 501-321-5232 501-622-0284 Florida Eva Moore 850-523-8602 850-524-2676 Georgia Renee Bishop 770-297-3022 770-932-2568 Kentucky Bonnie Truett 859-745-3172 859-986-5643 Louisiana Sheryl Roach 318-473-7152 318-613-7271 Mississippi Herman Hall 601-528-6203 601-408-7139 North Carolina Alyce Harris 828-257-4264 828-777-2075 Puerto Rico Bruce Drapeau 787-888-1880 787-549-0083 South Carolina Dave Kuhn 803-561-4057 803-960-2943 Tennessee Laney Cutshaw 423-476-9761 423-829-1538

115 3. Regional Fire Management Coordinator (RFMC)

IF YOU HAVE A WILDLAND FIRE ON YOUR REFUGE THAT EXCEEDS 80 ACRES IN SIZE OR IS COMPLEX ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A COMMITMENT OF SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES, NOTIFY EITHER THE RFMC OR ARFMC AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT WORK, HOME, OR BY CELL PHONE AND THEY WILL RETURN YOUR CALL.

RFMC (Bob Eaton) Office: 404-679-7190 Home: 770-985-6766 Cellular 404-386-1872

ARFMC (Pete Kubiak) Office: 404-679-7244 Home: 770-886-7683 Cellular: 404-661-4819

The RFMC and Assistant RFMC will obtain help from other U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service installations in the Region or from the Southern Area Coordination Center.

4. Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC), Fish and Wildlife Service, Assistant Area Coordinator (AAC).

AAC (Pat Boucher) Office: 678-320-3003 Home: 678-714-5710 Cellular: 404-229-8440

The Center will obtain the necessary personnel and/or equipment for you from the closest available source. The source may be the USFS, NPS, BLM, BIA, other State agencies or even contract, but they will find what you need. If your needs are not available in the Southern Area, SACC will place your Resource Order request through ROSS to the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) and fill your requests from other Geographic Areas (GACC).

5. Notification of Refuge Supervisors

The respective Refuge Supervisors need to be kept informed of large fire situations at all times. If you are working through the RFMC, he will keep the responsible refuge supervisor informed. However, if you are working through your State Division of Forestry or State Dispatch Center, you should inform your supervisor at the earliest opportunity. You do not need to go through your supervisor when requesting assistance, but as soon as the situation allows you should contact him/her. The supervisor’s home telephone numbers are:

116 Area Area Supervisor Assistant Area Supervisor

Area 1 Ricky Ingram(AR, LA, TN, KY) Steve Reagan 404-679-7167 (Office) 404-679-7267 (Office) 770-517-8684 (Home) 770-452-7308 (Home) 770-329-1740 (Cell) 404-769-6097 (Cell)

Area 2 Elizabeth Souheaver (FL, MS) Holly Gaboriault 404-679-7163 (Office) 404-679-7224 (Office) 678-482-5005 (Home) 770-535-9146 (Home) 404-394-0820 (Cell) 404-825-7014 (Cell)

Area 3 Pete Jerome (AL, NC, SC, GA, PR) Brett Hunter 404-679-7157 (Office) 404-679-7164 (Office) 770-622-4832 (Home) 770-924-1552 (Home) 770-329-1772 (Cell) 404-536-4306 (Cell)

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118

Appendix D. Readiness and Staffing Plan

Preparedness Level Situation

PL I Situation

Fire danger is low to moderate. Little to no initial attack activity on Federal or State protected lands. Potential for fire starts is low. Five Day Average BI (0-23 Coast, 0-20 Piedmont), days since last .50” storm period 0-7. KBDI 0-150.

PL II Situation

Fire danger is moderate. Five day average BI (24-50 Coast, 21-30 Piedmont), days since last .50” storm period 8 to 14. Class A or B fires may be occurring on Federal and State protected lands. KBDI 151-350. Refuge personnel who are red carded carry IA gear.

PL III Situation

A) Fire danger high. Five day average BI (51-68 Coast, 31-41 Piedmont), days since last .50” storm period 15-21. Fires are occurring daily with rapid spread rates and are difficult to suppress. KBDI 351-550. District FMO notifies Refuge Managers of potential and district resources available. District Engine and Tractor Plow unit available for dispatch.

B) Same as above. With multiple fire starts, Fire Weather Watch or Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service.

PL IV Situation

Fire danger high to very high. Five day average BI (69-85 Coast, 42-49 Piedmont), days since last .50” storm period 22-30. Fires may be occurring requiring assistance from off- station. KBDI 551-625. District FMO notifies Refuge Managers of potential and district resources available. Discusses options for staging district fire resources on SCLC. District Engine and Tractor Plow unit available for dispatch. Severity package is developed and ready for submission should long term conditions warrant off station support.

PL V

119 Situation

Fire danger very high to extreme, five day average BI (86+ Coast, 50+ Piedmont), days since last .50” storm 31+. Multiple fires are occurring, with potential for one or more project fires. KBDI 626 +. District FMO notifies Refuge Managers of potential and district resources available. Discusses options for staging district fire resources on SCLC. District Engine and Tractor Plow unit available for dispatch. Additional resources may be requested from off station sources. District FMO will submit severity packet for long term conditions.

120 Appendix E. Environmental Action Statement

US Fish & Wildlife Service Environmental Action Statement for Categorical Exclusion

Within the spirit and intent of the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and other statutes, orders, and policies that protect fish and wildlife resources, I have established the following administrative record and determined that the following proposed action is categorically excluded from NEPA documentation requirements consistent with 40 CFR 1508.4, 516 DM 2.3A, 516 DM 2 Appendix 1, and 516 DM 6 Appendix 1.4.

Proposed Action

To revise the 2001 version of Fire Management Plans for Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin, Cape Romain, Santee and Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuges. These plans are to be consolidated into one Fire Management Plan known as the South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex Fire Management Plan.

Categorical Exclusion

Revisions of Fire Management Plans (FMP) can be considered “routine and continuing government business, including such things as supervision, administration, operations, maintenance, and replacement” (516 DM 2, Appendix 1.7). Revising the South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex Fire Management Plan could also be considered “administration”, while wildland fire suppression and prescribed burning can be considered “operations”.

Service actions that are designated as categorical exclusions in 516 DM 6, Appendix B (5) “The issuance or new or revised site, unit or activity-specific management plans for public use, land use, or other management activities when only minor changes are planned. Examples could include a revised public use plan or fire management plan” (516 DM 6, Appendix 1.4 B (10). Wildland fire suppression can be considered as “Fire management activities, including prevention and restoration measures, when conducted in accordance with Department and Service Procedures” (516 DM 6, Appendix 1.4 B (5) and prescribed burning is covered under categorical exclusion 516 DM 6, Appendix 1.4 B (4) “The use of prescribed burning for habitat improvement purposes, when conducted in accordance with local and State ordinances and laws”.

/S/ Raye Nilius 03/10/10 Raye Nilius Date Project Leader South Carolina Lowcountry Refuge Complex

121

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122 Appendix F. Scott and Burgan Fuel Models

1 2 3 Grass Fuel Type Short Grass Timber and Grass Tall Grass Understory GR1 For very sparse or heavily grazed grass; for lower spread rate and flame length GR2 For slightly lower For comparable spread rate and spread rate and comparable flame slightly lower flame length length GR3 For lower spread rate and slightly lower flame length GR4 For slightly lower For higher spread spread rate and rate and slightly much higher flame higher flame length length GR5 For lower spread rate and slightly lower flame length GR6 For slightly lower spread rate and comparable flame length 1 2 3 Grass Fuel Type Short Grass Timber and Grass Tall Grass Understory For comparable For much higher For comparable GR7 spread rate and spread rate and spread rate and significantly higher flame length slightly higher flame flame length length GR8 For comparable spread rate and higher flame length GR9 For higher spread rate and much higher flame length GS1 For slightly lower spread rate and lower flame length GS2 For Slightly lower spread rate and flame length Scott and Burgan Fuel Models Shrub fuel type 4 5 6 7 Chaparral Brush Dormant Brush Southern Rough

123 SH1 For lower For Lower spread rate and spread rate and flame length flame length SH2 For lower For lower spread rate and spread rate and slightly lower flame length flame length SH3 For lower spread rate and flame length SH4 For slightly For comparable lower spread spread rate and rate and flame length comparable flame length Shrub fuel type 4 5 6 7 Chaparral Brush Dormant Brush Southern Rough SH5 For slightly For much lower spread higher spread rate and flame rate and flame length length SH6 For slightly For slightly lower spread lower spread rate and higher rate and higher flame length flame length SH7 For slightly For slightly lower spread higher spread rate and flame rate and much length higher flame length SH8 For slightly lower spread rate and higher flame length SH9 For slightly higher spread rate and much higher flame length

124 Scott and Burgan Fuel Models

Shrub fuel 4 5 6 7 type Chaparral Brush Dormant Southern Brush Rough TU5 For lower spread rate and slightly higher flame length GS2 For comparable spread rate and slightly lower flame length; with grass component Timber Fuel type 8 9 10 Compact Timber Hardwood Litter Timber (Understory) Litter TL1 For lower spread rate and slightly lower flame length TL2 For lower spread rate and flame length TL3 For comparable spread rate and flame length TL4 For slightly higher spread rate and flame length TL5 For much higher spread rate and flame length TL6 For slightly lower spread rate and slightly higher flame length TL7 For slightly higher spread rate and higher flame length

125 Scott and Burgan Fuel Models

TL8 For slightly lower spread rate and higher flame length TL9 For comparable spread rate and higher flame length TU1 For higher spread For lower spread rate and flame rate and flame length length TU2 For slightly higher spread rate and slightly lower flame length; high extinction moisture Timber Fuel type 8 9 10 Compact Timber Hardwood Litter Timber Litter (Understory) TU3 For much higher spread rate and slightly higher flame length; high extinction moisture TU4 For slightly higher spread rate and comparable flame length TU5 For comparable spread rate and slightly higher flame length SH2 For lower spread rate and flame length

126 Scott and Burgan Fuel Models

Slash Fuel Type 11 12 13 Light Logging Medium Logging Heavy Logging Slash Slash Slash TL5 For slightly lower spread rate and flame length SB1 For comparable For lower spread spread rate and rate and flame flame length length SB2 For much higher For comparable For comparable spread rate and spread rate and spread rate and higher flame slightly lower slightly lower length flame length flame length SB3 For much higher For higher spread spread rate and rate and comparable flame comparable flame length length SB4 For significantly higher spread rate and slightly higher flame length

127 Intentionally Blank

128

Appendix G. Annual Fire Management Plan Review Procedures Memorandum

To: Regional Fire Management Coordinators

From: Brian McManus, Chief, Fire Management Branch

Subject:: Fire Management Plan Policy Clarification and Update Process

Re: June 28, 2010

Fish and Wildlife Service Manual Policy (621 FW2) regarding fire management plan review and revision states that: “Refuges will review and/or revise plans at a minimum of 5-year intervals or when we propose significant changes. When land use changes occur adjacent to our lands, we will review the plan to determine the need for revisions in fuel management or hazard reduction procedures.”

The Service’s Fire Management Handbook (FMH) is a program reference guide that defines the implementation standards, requirements and procedures of the wildland fire management program for the Service, and provides further clarification and guidance related to policies included in the Service Manual. The March 2009 version of the Fire Management Handbook includes the following guidance concerning unit level fire management plans:

“FMPs must be revised every five years, or when a significant change in land use or other circumstance occurs that significantly impacts the ability to implement the approved FMP. Extensions not to exceed six months for meeting the 5-year revision timeframe may be granted by Regional Directors. Without a current FMP, prescribed fires cannot be conducted and response to unplanned ignitions can only consider suppression strategies. Pre- suppression and prevention activities can continue in the interim period as outlined in the expired plan.”

During the 2009 meetings of the National Fire Leadership Team (NFLT), concerns were raised related to the difference in policy interpretation between the Service Manual and the FMH. Additional concerns focused on the effectiveness of having a formal revision cycle for FMP’s that did not correspond to the revision cycle of larger plans such as habitat management, land management, or comprehensive conservation planning (CCP) processes.

The Fire Branch has queried our interagency partners to determine their policies concerning FMP review and revision, and found that policies of partnering agencies tie revision cycles of their FMPs to the established revision cycle of the broader plans such as CCPs that their FMPs tier from. The updating of policy that provides for tiered plans such as FMPs to have a revision cycle equal to that of the master plan makes sense.

The NFLT has recommended that the guidance included in the FMH be updated to reflect more closely the policy included in the Service Manual, provide for management efficiencies and flexibility where warranted, and that revision cycles be directly linked to those of the overarching planning documents that FMPs are tiered from as outlined in DOI policy.

The NFLT also recommended additional guidance requiring an annual review and certification by line officers that the FMP was still current and that no significant changes occurred on the unit in the past year that may require an amendment.

129 The NFLT tasked the Service’s national and regional fire management planners to develop a standardized process for annual FMP review and certification. The revised procedures and guidelines will further clarify our Service Manual policy and will be included in the Fire Management Handbook update scheduled for the fall of 2010.

This task has been completed and the new policy and guidance attached to this memo was approved by the National Wildlife Refuge System Leadership Team at their meeting the week of June 21 in Maine and is ready for full and immediate implementation. This memo serves as notification of interim language change for the Fire Management Handbook, and is effective immediately. The new language for section 9-4 of the FMH will read as follows:

“To maintain currency, fire management plans must be reviewed each year using the nationally established annual review process. Plans must be revised when significant changes occur or substantial changes in management are proposed. Minor plan revisions may be accomplished through an amendment added to the plan and signed by the line officer and servicing fire management officer. Major scheduled revisions to fire management plans will follow the 15 year Comprehensive Conservation Plan revision cycle to provide consistency in objectives and management strategy formulation. Without a current FMP, prescribed fires cannot be conducted and response to unplanned ignitions can only consider suppression strategies. Preparedness and prevention activities can continue in the interim period as outlined in the expired plan.”

This memo and the attached updated fire management handbook page 9-4 will be used as an amendment to the language in our Fire Management Handbook until the formal annual handbook revision process occurs later this year. It should be attached to the current FMH hard copies that have been sent to the units. The Fire branch will exchange this page in the web based version of the FMH to facilitate this guidance change. Additionally, a checklist has been developed to facilitate the annual review process mentioned above, along with a review of the various FMP plan templates from 2002, 2007 and 2009. The intent is to ensure that all appropriate components of the FMP are reviewed annually, and the checklist may be modified in the future upon agreement between the NFLT and FMB as needed.

The 2002, 2007 and 2009 template review found that there were no significant differences between the plan content of these template versions, so all plans written utilizing these versions should still provide for currency needs (see review findings document attached). However, plans using the 2002 template should be reviewed more closely to insure several elements that were not specifically identified in the 2002 template are indeed included in these plans. Plans utilizing templates earlier than 2002 are likely out of currency due to the significant changes that occurred between earlier versions and the 2002 template, and may require a formal revision. Regions should work with their field stations to substantiate the need for a complete revision for any plans using templates from before 2002.

130 Replacement page 9-4 for 2010 Fire Management Handbook:

To maintain currency, FMPs must be reviewed each year using the nationally established annual review process. Plans must be revised when significant changes occur or substantial changes in management are proposed. Minor plan revisions may be accomplished through an amendment added to the plan and signed by the line officer and servicing fire management officer. Major scheduled revisions to fire management plans will follow the 15 year Comprehensive Conservation Plan revision cycle to provide consistency in objectives and management strategy formulation. Without a current FMP, prescribed fires cannot be conducted and response to unplanned ignitions can only consider suppression strategies. Preparedness and prevention activities can continue in the interim period as outlined in the expired plan.

All new FMPs and those needing revisions due to significant change in land use or other circumstances will use the most recent Interagency Fire Management Plan Template (in Exhibit 2 or as amended) and apply the most recent Service-specific guidance (in Exhibit 3 “FWS Guidance for the Interagency Fire Management Plan Template” or as amended).

While subject to all the requirements, a simple FMP describing wildland fire operations is sufficient for small refuges, hatcheries, wildlife management areas, and waterfowl production areas (WPA) scattered among private lands, where local fire departments will suppress wildfires.

An appropriate response must be determined for any unplanned ignition. The FMP must address a full range of potential wildfires and outline the potential range of strategies and limitations and constraints on tactical operations, local approval needed, etc.

As practicable, development of FMPs should take place on an interagency basis with involvement of local partners, especially those with adjoining boundaries or who provide fire management services through agreements or other approved instruments.

FMPs should describe the approval process and approving official for prescribed fire plans and any other related operational plans as needed. Required elements and components of prescribed fire plans are listed and described in the current version of the Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Procedures Guide.

National Environmental Policy Act Compliance As required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Fish and Wildlife Service has procedures for assessing environmental effects of specific Service actions. For actions not categorically excluded, an Environmental Assessment (EA), and if necessary, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is prepared before making any land use decision, including fire management actions. See the Service NEPA guidance in 30 AM 2-3, 550 FW 1-3, and Departmental procedures in 516 DM 1-6; or consult with the Regional Environmental NEPA Coordinator for details on the NEPA process. The NEPA checklist (Exhibit 1) is required to determine whether a Categorical Exclusion or an Environmental Assessment document is necessary for unit project and activity implementation by the Service. The completed NEPA Checklist is to be included with the documentation for any project plan conducted by the Service.

131 Intentionally Blank

132 Annual Fish and Wildlife Fire Management Plan Review Checklist Process

The annual review of the Fire Management Plan (FMP) is a requirement of the Service which is documented in the Fire Management Handbook, Chapter 9 – section 4. The language in the Handbook states: “To maintain currency, fire management plans must be reviewed each year using the nationally established annual review process. Plans must be revised when significant changes occur or substantial changes in management are proposed. Minor plan revisions may be accomplished through an amendment added to the plan and signed by the line officer and servicing fire management officer. Major scheduled revisions to fire management plans will follow the 15 year Comprehensive Conservation Plan revision cycle to provide consistency in objectives and management strategy formulation. Without a current FMP, prescribed fires cannot be conducted and response to unplanned ignitions can only consider suppression strategies. Preparedness and prevention activities can continue in the interim period as outlined in the expired plan.” The review is essential to ensure that the FMP continues to contain relevant information for the management of the unit and that it conforms to current laws, objectives, procedures, and strategies. The review is intended to keep the FMP as current as possible and in line with changes that may occur in components of the FMP. Updating federal fire policy, terminology, agreements, and wildland urban interface acres in close proximity to the refuges/units are examples of appropriate revisions to an FMP using this review and update format.

This review process requires the refuge/unit line officer and servicing fire management officer to review the FMP currently in place using the annual review checklist. During the review, they will discuss and update the sections as needed and complete an amendment containing the updates. Once this update/amendment is complete and signed off by the reviewing officials, the Fire Management Plan is deemed to once again be current and meeting Service requirements.

The process will be more efficient if the fire management officer (FMO) does some pre-work on the checklist prior to meeting with the line officer. The regional and national fire planners will be filing changes to policy, terminology, etc. in a Sharepoint file as they receive them and these changes, recommendations can be added as needed during the annual review.

The Review Process Steps are as Follows: 1. Select the appropriate review form for the process – Short or Long. Note: For the first review of the FMP, it is suggested that the Long Form of the template be used so that a solid baseline of update information is completed and documented for future reviews. 2. The Fire Management Officer should look through the file in Sharepoint for suggested updates placed there by regional and national planners. 3. The FMO incorporates all the update changes found in the Sharepoint file into the document before meeting with the refuge/line officer. 4. The FMO then schedules a discussion with the line officer to determine other changes that may be needed to the remaining portions of the document. 5. The FMO and line officer then determine if the changes warrant a rewrite or just local approval. 6. If determined to not need a rewrite, the line office and the FMO must sign signature blocks to show approval of the review. 7. The FMO will list the changes addressed in the FMP in an amendment. 8. The completed amendment and signature page must be stapled to the fire management plan that was reviewed.

133 9. The Fire Management Officer faxes the signed signature page to the regional fire planner for filing. 10. The regional fire planner will insert the review completion date into the Sharepoint spreadsheet.

If there are any questions about this process, please call Becky Brooks at (208) 387-5345.

134 FWS REVIEW CHECKLIST (SHORT FORM) FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANS Based on the template of April 9, 2009

Name of Plan Reviewed for Annual Update Process: Review Date:

Refuge or Unit Name (Include Complex if applicable):

Fire Management Officer Reviewer(s) Name and Phone Fire Management Officer Reviewer(s) Signature Number: (for review concurrence):

Line Officer Reviewer(s) Name and Phone Number: Line Officer Reviewer(s) Signature (for review approval):

Amendment Completed and attached to Plan Date:

Review information sent to Regional Office Date:

Review date entered in Database (Regional Office) Date:

‘Short Form’ of the Review Checklist was developed to be used the year(s) following the completion of the Long Form. The Long Form, with the required amendment, will provide baseline data to the reviewers. The significant headers from the 2009 Interagency Fire Management Plan Template make up the rows of the document and are intended to spark talking points between the FMP reviewers. The Long Form and Amendment should be utilized as reference documents during this discussion. Please review the Fire Management Plan (FMP) and complete the columns as follows: A check-mark in the “No Update” column means that this portion of your FMP has been reviewed and determined not to need an update; if an element requires an update (answering yes to the question (s)), check the “Update Needed” column and provide an explanation of the changes in the “Notes/Comments” section. This information will be included in the amendment (including chapter, section and comments) to be attached to the plan annually following the review. Be sure to adequately describe the changes so they are easily understandable to the outside reader. Put an N/A in the “No Update” column for lines that do not pertain to your refuge/unit to document the element was considered and to make it easier for future reviewers to complete the annual review process. If the reviewers determine that the changes are substantial, the original intent of the document is compromised, or necessary changes cannot be accomplished with an amendment, then a formal revision of the document must be completed. The review discussion between the line officer and lead fire staff may support the conclusion that a formal revision is required, but the responsibility for making this decision ultimately rests with the unit line officer.

135

No Update Section Title – Content Notes/Comments Date Upda Needed te or N/A Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the FMP 1.2 General Description (of FMP area) 1.3 Significant values to Protect Chapter 2. Policy, Land Management Planning, and Partnerships 2.1 Fire Policy 2.2 Land/Resource Management Planning 2.2.2 Environmental Compliance • National Environmental Policy Act What type? (NEPA) • Endangered Species Act (ESA) Date of consultation: 2.3 Partnerships (internal/external) Chapter 3. Fire Management Unit Characteristics 3.1 Area -wide Management Considerations 3.1.1 CCP Goals, strategies, and actions 3.1.2 CCP Standards and Guidelines/Desired Conditions 3.1.3 FMU Common Characteristics 3.2 Fire Management Unit - Specific Descriptions 3.2.1 FMU Description(s) 3.2.2 FMU Values to Protect 3.2.3 FMU Fire Management Guidance 3.2.4 FMU Safety Considerations 3.2.5 FMU Wildfire Response Objectives 3.2.6 FMU Fuels Treatments and Methods Chapter 4. Wildland Fire Operational Guidance 4.1 Management of Unplanned Ignitions 4.1.1 Preparedness 4.1.2 Incident Management 4.1.3 Emergency Stabilization (ES) 4.2 Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) 4.3 Management of Planned Fuels Treatments 4.3.1 Processes to Identify and Prioritize Fuels Treatments 4.3.2 Prescribed Fire Project Implementation 4.4 Prevention, Mitigation, and Education Chapter 5. Monitoring and Evaluation 5.1 FMP Monitoring 5.2 Treatment Effects Monitoring References Appendices 136 FWS REVIEW CHECKLIST (LONG FORM) FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE FIRE MANAGEMENT PLANS Based on the template of April 9, 2009

Name of Plan Reviewed for Annual Update Process: Review Date:

Refuge or Unit Name (Include Complex if applicable):

Fire Management Officer Reviewer(s) Name and Phone Fire Management Officer Reviewer(s) Signature Number: (for review concurrence):

Line Officer Reviewer(s) Name and Phone Number: Line Officer Reviewer(s) Signature (for review approval):

Amendment Completed and attached to Plan Date:

Review information sent to Regional Office Date:

Review date entered in Database (Regional Office) Date:

Please review the Fire Management Plan (FMP) and complete the columns as follows: A check-mark in the “No Update” column means that this portion of your FMP has been reviewed and determined not to need an update; if an element requires an update (answering yes to the question (s)), check the “Update Needed” column and provide an explanation of the changes in the “Notes/Comments” section. This information will be included in the amendment (including chapter, section and comments) to be attached to the plan annually following the review. Be sure to adequately describe the changes so they are easily understandable to the outside reader. Put an N/A in the “No Update” column for lines that do not pertain to your refuge/unit to document the element was considered and to make it easier for future reviewers to complete the annual review process. If the reviewers determine that the changes are substantial, the original intent of the document is compromised, or necessary changes cannot be accomplished with an amendment, then a formal revision of the document must be completed. The review discussion between the line officer and lead fire staff may support the conclusion that a formal revision is required, but the responsibility for making this decision ultimately rests with the unit line officer.

137

No Update Section Title – Content Notes/Comments Date Update or Needed N/A Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the FMP 1.2 General description of the FMP area (location/vicinity map, size, land ownership, etc.) • Has your vicinity map changed due to new acres added or from complexing for FMP? • Total acreage changed? If it is the same management? • Are there significant changes in land ownership in lands surrounding unit and/or in-holdings? New subdivisions? • FWS units included in the FMP – have you recently complexed multiple units or added new units to a complex? 1.3 Are there any new Significant values to Protect? If so, add them in the spaces provided below. mission, special resource/ management designations (e.g., wilderness, cultural sites, T & E species, etc. • • Chapter 2. Policy, Land Management Planning, and Partnerships 2.1 Fire Policy 2.1.1 Federal Interagency Policy change? • Terminology changes? 2.1.3 DOI policy change? (e.g., Departmental manuals). 2.1.4 Service policy change? 2.1.5 Regional/unit-specific policy change? 2.2 Land/Resource Management Planning 2.2.1 Planning Documents: • Does Habitat Management Plan (HMP) align with FMP at unit? Is it being revised? Does management want HMP and FMP revisions to take place simultaneously? • Is the Comprehensive Conservation Plan CCP date: (CCP) currently being developed? Revised? • Others: (list) •

138

2.2.2 Environmental Compliance – are your compliance documents up to date in the following areas?

• National Environmental Policy Act What type? (NEPA) • Endangered Species Act (ESA) Date of consultation: • National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) • Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) • Others: (list)

2.3 Partnerships 2.3.1 Internal Partnership changes? (Use spaces below to add new partnerships) 2.3.2 External Partnerships changes? 2.3 Partnerships

Chapter 3. Fire Management Unit Characteristics 3.1 FMP-wide Management Considerations 3.1.1 Have the CCP Goals, strategies, and actions for FMP-wide fire management changed? If so, describe the changes in the comment box. 3.1.2 Have the Standards and guidelines/desired conditions from the CCP or other planning documents/handbooks changed? If so, describe the changes in the comment box.

3.1.3 Common Characteristics of the FMUs

• • •

• • • • •

3.2 Fire Management Unit - Specific Descriptions

139

Have the FMUs changed in your FMP? Do they need to be revised or more 3.2.1 added/deleted? If so, fill out the information below. Description of the FMU (add new

information about FMU below) • FMU name • vicinity map • adjacent ownership and jurisdiction • fire management objectives • vegetation types • fuel models • burnable acres • Unique physical characteristics affecting fire management (topography, soils, access, fire effects, etc.) • values to protect / uses that affect (or are

affected by) fire management decisions Values to Protect (use space below to add 3.2.2 new) • • • 3.2.3 Fire Management Guidance Have any of the following changed? If so, add comments/changes in comment box or use space below to add new. • Wildfire response objectives • Potential size and scope of fuels treatments • Approved fuels treatments and methods • Restrictions, limitations, constraints • Suppression Damage Repair, ES, and BAR considerations

3.2.4 FMU Safety Considerations (use space below to add new)

Chapter 4. Wildland Fire Operational Guidance 4.1 Management of Unplanned Ignitions 4.1.1 Preparedness Have any of the following changed? If so, describe changes in the comment box. 4.1.1.1 Training and Qualifications 4.1.1.2 Refuge/Unit Delegation of Authority to Fire Staff 4.1.1.3 Readiness 4.1.1.4 Aviation Management 4.1.1.5 Fire Detection 4.1.1.6 Initial Report of Fire and Initial Attack dispatch 4.1.1.8 Mutual Aid and Cross Boundary Operations 4.1.2 Incident Management

140

Have any of the following changed? If so, describe changes in the comment box. 4.1.2.1 Dispatching beyond IA 4.1.2.2 Delegation of Authority to Incident Commander 4.1.2.3 Resource Allocation and Prioritization 4.1.2.4 Regulatory Compliance for Managing Unplanned Ignitions 4.1.2.5 Use of Decision Support Tools – (WFDSS etc.) 4.1.2.6 Wildfire Reporting Requirements 4.1.2.7 Suppression Damage Repair

If no potential for ES and BAR exist on your unit, please skip sections 4.1.3 and 4.2 4.1.3 Emergency Stabilization (ES) 4.1.3.1 ES Planning and Post-fire Assessments 4.1.3.2 ES Post-wildfire Issues and Values to Protect 4.1.3.3 ES Treatment Maintenance and Monitoring 4.1.3.4 ES Reporting Requirements 4.2 Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) 4.2.1 BAR Planning 4.2.2 BAR Issues and Values to Protect 4.2.3 BAR Regulatory Compliance 4.2.4 BAR Monitoring Protocols 4.2.5 BAR Contact Information 4.2.6 BAR Public Information and Public Concerns 4.2.7 BAR Reporting Requirements 4.3 Management of Planned Fuels Treatments 4.3.1 Processes to Identify and Prioritize Fuels Treatments 4.3.2 Prescribed Fire Project Implementation Have any of the following changed? If so, describe changes in the comment box. 4.3.2.1 Prescribed Fire Planning 4.3.2.2 Prescribed Fire Operations 4.3.2.3 Prescribed Fire Public Notification 4.3.2.4 Multiple Prescribed Fires 4.3.2.5 Prescribed Fire on Private Lands 4.3.2.6 Prescribed Fire Conversions and Reviews 4.3.3 Planning, Preparing, Implementing Non-fire Fuels Treatments 4.3.4 Fuels Treatment Regulatory Compliance 4.3.5 Fuels Treatment Monitoring 4.3.6 Fuels Treatment Reporting Requirements 4.3.7 Fuels Committees/Local Coordinating groups 4.3.8 Funding Processes 4.3.9 Debris Burning (if applicable) 4.4 Prevention, Mitigation, and Education Have any of the following changed? If so, describe changes in the comment box.

141

4.4.1 Wildfire Investigation and Trespass Policies 4.4.2 Prevention/Mitigation Activities 4.4.3 Education/Outreach Activities

Chapter 5. Monitoring and Evaluation 5.1 FMP Monitoring 5.1.2 FMP Terminology (update as needed) 5.2 Treatment Effects Monitoring Have any of the following changed? If so, describe changes in the comment box. 5.2.1 Fire Effects Monitoring 5.2.2 Non-fire Treatment Effects Monitoring 5.2.3 Collaborative Monitoring with other Disciplines 5.2.4 Fuels Treatment Performance Information/Targets

Chapter 6. References (Review Optional) Appendices ( Dynamic process - updated annually - Review Optional)

142

COMPARISON BETWEEN INTERAGENCY FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN TEMPLATES FROM 2002, 2007 AND 2009 This comparison was developed to display the required elements of the three Interagency Fire Management Plan Templates that have been in use since the major plan revision required by policy in 2001. This document was prepared by the Fire Management Branch (FMB) in April 2010 to discern differences between the different templates to identify sections from earlier templates that may not meet current requirements as of April 2010. After this review it was determined by the FMB that there are no substantial requirements from 2002 or 2007 templates that would warrant formal updates of fire management plans written using either 2002, 2007 or 2009 interagency templates. It was further determined that the 2007 and 2009 templates contained the same element requirements, just in a slightly different order, and the elements in the 2007 and 2009 templates that were not specifically included in the 2002 template were either not of significant importance to warrant a formal update, or were likely included in the 2002 plans even if they were not specifically included in the template elements. Plans written using the 2002 template should be examined during the annual review process to insure that this assumption is correct, and if not, any missing information should be included using the established review and amendment process. The cells that are highlighted in the ’02 column reflect what is required in the 2007 and 2009 templates but not specifically discussed in the 2002 template, and will assist reviewers in determining if these elements are adequately addressed in the FMP. Each highlighted cell will give a description for update direction. The ’02 template has an additional chapter ‘Fire Organization and Budget’ which has been left out (by consensus) in the ’07 and ’09 templates. Units can decide to leave this chapter in, or remove it during the review process as desired. Any FMP written using a pre-2002 template will likely not meet current requirements and will require a formal revision.

2009 FMP Template 2007 FMP Template 2002 FMP Template Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 1 - Introduction Purpose of the FMP X = same as ‘09 X ‘General Description’ is not specifically requested in template. A description should General description of the X be included in Chapter 1 - if this is not in FMP area your document, please include it here during the update Not requested - Update with General Significant Resources X Description Mission for Area X Authorities for developing plan Summary of collaborative process for Different Management X development of CCP, FMP and Designations opportunities when implementation occurs Environmental and Cultural Compliances

Chapter 2 - Policy, Land Chapter 2 - Policy, Land Chapter 2 - Relationship to Land Management Planning, and Management Planning, and Management Planning/Fire Policy Partnerships Partnerships Reference Agency Policy and enabling Fire Policy X legislation for FMP

143 Goals, Objectives, Standards & Guidelines Land/Resource Management and Desired Future Conditions from LMP X Planning (relating to fire) (Chapter 3 for ‘07,’09) Environmental Compliance X ( Chapter 1 above) Partnerships X (Chapter 3 below)

Chapter 3 - Fire Management Chapter 3 - Fire Management Chapter 3 – Wildland Fire Management Unit Characteristics Unit Characteristics Strategies General Management Considerations – Area-wide Management X includes area wide considerations, Considerations Partnerships (chapter 2 -‘07,’09) --Chapter 2 – Area Wide description Standards and --Chapter 3, section D – (For Specific Guidelines/Desired Conditions X FMU) – Description of Wildland Fire (Area Wide) Management Strategies by FMU Common Characteristics Not specifically requested in template – across all the FMUs (e.g. – X need to include this in Chapter 3 during fuels, topography) update ‘Individual FMU Description’ is not Fire Management Unit - specifically requested in template. A Specific Description X description should occur in Chapter 3 - if (individual FMU) this is not in your document, please include it here during update This section will need to be updated with current information - assure Wildland Values to Protect (at risk) X Urban Interface (WUI) is included if appropriate FMU Fire Management Chapter 3 – Section C – Wildland Fire Guidance (including X Management Options Emergency Stabilization) Chapter 3 - Section B –Wildland Fire FMU Safety Considerations X Management Goals Wildfire response objectives X Chapter 4 - Section E Approved fuels treatments and Under Section H – Non-Fire Fuel X methods Application

Chapter 4 - Wildland Fire Chapter 4 - Wildland Fire Wildland Fire Management Program Operational Guidance Operational Guidance Components Management of Unplanned Appropriate Management Chapter 4 – Section E - Wildland Fire Ignitions Response Suppression Preparedness X Chapter 4 – Section E Under Appropriate Management Incident Management Response – not broken out into Chapter 4 – Section E Incident Management Emergency Stabilization (ES) Not under Incident Management – Chapter 4 – Emergency Rehabilitation and – this is under Incident Mgmt AAR in this chapter. Restoration Burned Area Rehabilitation Chapter 4 – Emergency Rehabilitation and X (BAR) Restoration (terminology change)

144 Management of Planned Fuels Fuels Management Chapter 4 – Section G – Prescribed Fire Treatments Processes to Identify and X Chapter 4 – Section G Prioritize Fuels Treatments Prescribed Fire Project X Chapter 4 – Section G Implementation Prevention, Mitigation, and Chapter 4 – Section E X Education Under Preparedness

Intentionally excluded (by Intentionally excluded (by Chapter 5 – Organization and Budget consensus) consensus) (only in ’02 template) Identify Fire Organization needed to

achieve LMP and FMP objectives and goals Identify Budget needs for workforce and

equipment etc. Identify Contract Resources Development supplemental and cooperative

agreements

Chapter 5 - Monitoring and Chapter 5 - Monitoring and Chapter 6 – Monitoring and Evaluation Evaluation Evaluation FMP Monitoring X Chapter 6 – Monitoring and Evaluation Treatment Effects Monitoring X Chapter 6 Address National Wildland Fire

Performance Measures

References Cited Glossary Glossary Appendices Appendices Appendices

145

Intentionally Blank

146 Appendix H. Cooperative Agreements

FIRE MANAGEMENT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT Between U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REGION IV and THE NATURE CONSERVANCY SOUTHEAST REGION

This Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region IV), hereinafter referred to as the Service”, and The Nature Conservancy (Southeast Region: AL, AR, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN), hereinafter referred to as “Conservancy”, is hereby entered into under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 US 761) which permits the Service to act on non- Service lands to benefit wildlife and habitat. Further authorization is provided by Chapter VIII of the 1982 Supplemental Appropriation act (P.L. 97-257) which allows the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts with local, nonprofit organizations. This Agreement is to facilitate the cooperation of the two parties in the use of prescribed fire to maintain or restore wildlife habitats, ecosystems, and endangered or threatened species. The Agreement provides for the limited interchange of personnel, equipment, information, and funds to obtain this goal.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Conservancy’s mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on earth by protecting the lands and water they need to survive; and

WHEREAS, the Conservancy owns and manages the largest private system of nature sanctuaries in the world; and

WHEREAS, the Service manages over 100 National Wildlife Refuge Units in Region IV, which contain a diverse array of plants and animals; and

WHEREAS, proper management of many Conservancy and Service lands requires the use of prescribed burning; and

WHEREAS, the Conservancy and the Service have expertise in prescribed burning and fire management; and

WHEREAS, the Service and the Conservancy currently employ or have under contract personnel and equipment capable of performing prescribed burning; and

WHEREAS, it will be the mutual benefit of both parties to combine resources on certain prescribed burn projects.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:

147 1. Personnel and equipment shall be provided by the Service to the Conservancy, or the Conservancy to the Service, as requested. Release of personnel and equipment shall be at the discretion of the affected Refuge Manager or Conservancy land manager depending on station workloads, priorities, and fire danger. Staff and equipment may be used for:

a. Technical assistance including preparation or review of fire management plans and prescribed burn plans.

b. Preburn preparations including vegetation and fuel load sampling, control line construction and maintenance, environmental monitoring, and fuels manipulation.

c. Burn implementation including project supervision, ignition, holding, fire behavior and weather monitoring, and mop-up.

d. Postburn monitoring and evaluation.

3. A chief-of-party will be designated for the assisting party’s employees and equipment. The chief-of- party will work closely with the prescribed burn boss. If the chief-of-party determines that the proposed burn is unsafe or has serious concerns about the advisability of burning, and is unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with the burn boss to rectify the situation, he or she retains the option of withdrawing the assisting party’s resources.

4. Normally, each party will provide for salary or wage costs of its own employees and operation and maintenance of its own equipment. However, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Service and Conservancy representatives within a particular local area of the region from exchanging funds or services. Provisions for exchange of funds, or services not covered under this agreement, shall be outlined in an Attachment to this Agreement and signed by the appropriate regional, state or local representative.

5. Each party shall honor the prescribed burn qualifications standards of the cooperating party for that party’s employees. Service employees will adhere to agency standards; Conservancy employees will adhere to Conservancy standards.

6. All aircraft and pilots used to transport Service personnel or directly controlled by the Service shall be certified by a qualified Office of Aircraft Services inspector prior to Service use.

148 7. Each of the parties waive all claims against the other party for compensation for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring in the consequence of the performance of this Agreement.

8. It is understood that for the purpose of Federal worker’s compensation coverage, employees of the Federal government assisting in prescribed burns on Conservancy lands are to be considered as employees of the Federal government and not the Conservancy’s employees.

9. It is understood that for purposes of the Conservancy’s worker’s compensation coverage, employees of the Conservancy assisting in prescribed burns of Federal lands are to be considered as employees of the Conservancy and not the Federal government.

10. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as binding the Service to expend in any one fiscal year any sum in excess of appropriations made by Congress or administratively allocated for the purpose of this Agreement for that fiscal year or to involve the Service in any contract or other obligation for the further expenditure of money in excess of such appropriations or allocations.

11. Each party to this agreement shall appoint a Project Officer responsible for implementation of this agreement.

(put appropriate names here)

12. REQUIRED CLAUSES: a. During the performance of this Agreement, the participants agree to abide by the terms of Executive order 11246 on nondiscrimination and will not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The participants will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin. b. No member or delegate to Congress, or resident Commissioner shall be admitted to any share or part of this Agreement, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom, but this provision shall not be construed to extend to this Agreement if made with a corporation for its general benefit. c. All activities pursuant to the Agreement shall be in compliance with the requirement of Executive Order 11246, as amended: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252:42 US 200d); and with all other federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on grounds of race, color, national origin, handicap, religion, or sex in employment and in providing facilities and services to the public.

13. Period of Performance:

This Agreement will be effective from signature date by both parties and will continue in effect for 5 years. The Agreement will be reviewed every two years beginning with July 1, 2000 and may be amended as needed. The Agreement may be terminated by either party thirty days following written notification to the other party.

14. Modification of Agreement:

This agreement constitutes the full, complete, and entire agreement between the parties hereto. No modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding on either party unless such modification or amendment shall be

149 in writing executed in duplicate by both parties hereto, attached to this Agreement, and incorporated in and by reference made a part of this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by an authorized official on the date and year set forth below their signature.

US DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE BY: /S/ Donald Calder BY: /S/ Katherine D. Skinner

TITLE: Chief, Contracting & Grant Services Division TITLE: Vice President

DATE: 2/18/2009 DATE: 2/12/2009

TNC legal approved by: Joan Dwoskin on 2/9/2009

150 Appendix I. Cooperative Agreements

FIRE MANAGEMENT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT Between U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REGION IV, FIRE DISTRICT 2 and SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM, CHERAW AND SANTEE STATE PARKS

This Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region IV, Fire District 2), hereinafter referred to as the Service”, and the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, Cheraw and Santee State Parks), hereinafter referred to as “SC State Parks”, is hereby entered into under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 US 761) which permits the Service to act on non-Service lands to benefit wildlife and habitat. Further authorization is provided by Chapter VIII of the 1982 Supplemental Appropriation act (P.L. 97-257) which allows the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts with local, nonprofit organizations. This Agreement is to facilitate the cooperation of the two parties in the use of prescribed fire to maintain or restore wildlife habitats, ecosystems, and endangered or threatened species. The Agreement provides for the limited interchange of personnel, equipment, and information to obtain this goal.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the SC State Park’s mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on earth by protecting the lands and water they need to survive; and

WHEREAS, the SC State Parks owns and manages Cheraw and Santee State Parks; and

WHEREAS, the Service manages over 100 National Wildlife Refuge Units in Region IV, which contain a diverse array of plants and animals; and

WHEREAS, proper management of many SC State Parks and Service lands requires the use of prescribed burning; and

WHEREAS, SC State Parks and the Service have expertise in prescribed burning and fire management; and

WHEREAS, the Service and SC State Parks currently employ or have under contract personnel and equipment capable of performing prescribed burning; and

WHEREAS, it will be the mutual benefit of both parties to combine resources on certain prescribed burn projects.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:

151

1. Personnel and equipment shall be provided by the Service to the SC State Parks or the SC State Parks to the Service, as requested. Release of personnel and equipment shall be at the discretion of the affected Refuge Manager or SC State Park Superintendent depending on station workloads, priorities, and fire danger. Staff and equipment may be used for:

a. Technical assistance including preparation or review of fire management plans and prescribed burn plans.

b. Preburn preparations including vegetation and fuel load sampling, control line construction and maintenance, environmental monitoring, and fuels manipulation.

c. Burn implementation including project supervision, ignition, holding, fire behavior and weather monitoring, and mop-up.

d. Postburn monitoring and evaluation.

e. Reciprocation of fire training facilities and fire training opportunities.

2. The party requesting assistance to burn that party’s land or land owned by a third party shall provide staff to perform as the prescribed burn boss and shall be ultimately responsible to produce a prescribed burn plan. In the event that each party’s land will be burned in one prescribed burn, then the prescribed burn boss shall be provided, and the prescribed burn plan completed, by that party which is chosen by, and mutually agreed to, by the Service and the SC State Parks. The assisting party will be given an opportunity to assist in the development of individual prescribed burn plans, or review and provide comments to the administering party. In all cases, when Service owned lands are burned, the prescribed burn plan will demonstrate the connection between the existing Fire Management Plan or Comprehensive Conservation Plan, as appropriate, and clearly state the need and reasoning to support the burn. The prescribed burn plan will clearly state the individuals to be assigned responsibilities of prescribed burn boss, ignition specialist, holding specialist, and fire behavior and weather specialist. Contingency planning in the event of an escaped fire will be an essential element of each plan. The burn plan will also clearly state that all parties involved in fireline operations will strictly adhere to NWCG guidelines for training and personal protective gear requirements.

3. A chief-of-party will be designated for the assisting party’s employees and equipment. The chief-of- party will work closely with the prescribed burn boss. Prior to the burn, if the chief-of-party determines that the proposed burn is unsafe or has serious concerns about the advisability of burning, and is unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with the burn boss to rectify the situation, he or she retains the option of withdrawing the assisting party’s resources.

4. Each party shall honor the prescribed burn qualifications standards of the cooperating party for that party’s employees. Service employees will adhere to agency standards; SC State Park employees will adhere to SC State Park standards. As a minimum, all SC State Park employees will have received and successfully completed S-130 Basic Firefighter and S-190 Introduction to Fire Behavior Training, passed the NWCG Work Capacity Test, and have all NWCG recommended personal protective gear for line operations. PPE items may be loaned through the local fire cache by the Service to SC State Park employees as needed.

152

5. All aircraft and pilots used to transport Service personnel or directly controlled by the Service shall be approved by the Department of Interior, Aviation Management.

6. Each of the parties waive all claims against the other party for compensation for any loss, damage, personal injury or death occurring in the consequence of the performance of this Agreement.

7. It is understood that for the purpose of Federal worker’s compensation coverage, employees of the Federal government assisting in prescribed burns on SC State Park lands are to be considered as employees of the Federal government and not the SC State Park’s employees.

8. It is understood that for purposes of the SC State Park’s worker’s compensation coverage, employees of the SC State Parks assisting in prescribed burns of Federal lands are to be considered as employees of the SC State Parks and not the Federal government.

9. Nothing herein contained shall be construed as binding the Service to expend in any one fiscal year any sum in excess of appropriations made by Congress or administratively allocated for the purpose of this Agreement for that fiscal year or to involve the Service in any contract or other obligation for the further expenditure of money in excess of such appropriations or allocations.

10. Each party to this agreement shall appoint a Project Officer responsible for implementation of this agreement.

REQUIRED CLAUSES:

1. During the performance of this Agreement, the participants agree to abide by the terms of Executive order 11246 on nondiscrimination and will not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The participants will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

2. No member or delegate to Congress, or resident Commissioner shall be admitted to any share or part of this Agreement, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom, but this provision shall not be construed to extend to this Agreement if made with a corporation for its general benefit.

3. All activities pursuant to the Agreement shall be in compliance with the requirement of Executive Order 11246, as amended: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252:42 US 200d); and with all other federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on grounds of race, color, national origin, handicap, religion, or sex in employment and in providing facilities and services to the public.

ENACTMENT AND DURATION:

This Agreement will be effective from signature date by both parties and will continue in effect for 5 years. The Agreement will be reviewed every two years beginning with July 1, 2004 and may be amended as needed. The Agreement may be terminated by either party thirty days following written notification to the other party.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said parties hereunto subscribe their names

153

US Fish and Wildlife Service Santee National Wildlife Refuge 2125 Ft. Watson Road Summerton, SC 29148

______Refuge Manager, Santee National Wildlife Refuge Date

US Fish and Wildlife Service Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge 23734 US Highway 1 McBee, SC 29101

______Refuge Manager, Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge Date

South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Santee State Park 251 State Park Road Santee, SC 29142

______Superintendent, Santee State Park Date

South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Cheraw State Park 251 State Park Road Cheraw, SC 29520

______Superintendent, Cheraw State Park Date

154 Appendix J. Cooperative Agreements

AGREEMENT NO. 401816K006

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Between

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

And

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

I. Background:

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is intended to benefit waterfowl, rare and endangered species, migratory birds and the diversity and abundance of other wildlife within the State of South Carolina by emphasizing habitat conservation, enhancement of wetlands and uplands, maintaining water quality, identifying and maintaining biodiversity, and minimizing development threats to these natural resources.

Both the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuges, have a vested interest in protecting and managing quality habitat as is exhibited by the Service managing eight South Carolina Refuges totaling more than 177,764 acres, and SCNDR managing numerous Wildlife Management Areas and Heritage Preserves totaling no less than 157,014 acres scattered all across the state.

II. Authority:

This MOU is entered into under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of February 18, 1929 (16 U.S.C. 715-715r), as amended; Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act of March 16, 1934 (48 Stat. 451) as amended (16 U.S.C. 71 8 et seq.); Fish and Wildlife Act of August 8, 1956 (70 Stat 1119), as amended; Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1956 (16 U.S. C. 669-669i) as amended; Emergency Wetlands Resources Act (16 U.SC. 3901-3932), Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977, Public Law 95- 22A and Code of Laws of South Carolina (1976), section 50-3-100, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 US 761).

III. Purpose

This MOU between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 4, Atlanta, Georgia, Here inafter referred to as the "Service", and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources hereinafter referred to as the "Department" is entered into to facilitate cooperation and achieve a habitat protection and enhancement program within the State of South Carolina. Both parties to this MOU shall select an

155 individual ("Project Officer") to represent it. It is a mutual desire of both parties to work toward the following common objectives.

A. To protect and enhance wetland and upland habitats where appropriate throughout South Carolina;

B. To improve land use practices and habitat management on State and Federal land for the benefit of the entire natural ecosystem;

C. To promote the wise use of natural resources within the State and specifically, to ensure that traditional uses, such as farming, hunting, fishing, and forest management, continue as an integral part of the objective of this agreement in a manner that is compatible with the above objectives;

D. To collaborate and promote the conservation efforts of both parties.

This agreement provides for the interchange of funds, personnel, and facilities to obtain these objectives.

IV. Coordination:

The Service and the Department collectively have major responsibilities for management and protection of wetland and upland habitats in concert with other resource objectives. It is therefore appropriate and desirable that these agencies join together in this MOU to fulfill mutual objectives and individual agency and organization objectives for biological diversity and wildlife species population numbers.

V. Scope of Effort:

For a period as hereinafter set forth, the Service and the Department shall cooperate as necessary for the performance of work as set forth below:

A. General:

The parties hereby agree as follows:

1. To cooperate in identifying and delineating lands of high value to migratory birds, rare and endangered species, and resident wildlife, as well as natural communities that are worthy of protection and enhancement. 2. That each and every provision of this MOU is subject to the laws of the State of South Carolina; the laws, rules and regulations of the United States, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed as obligating the Service or the Department in the expenditure of funds, future payment of money, or in the use of equipment or facilities unless specifically identified within this document.

B. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources shall:

1. Provide support, when possible, in the form of staff technical assistance, use of state owned equipment and facilities (subject to the limitations set forth below) and/or available funding for projects to achieve the objectives of this MOV. 2. In accordance with Department policy, procedure, and subject to Department needs, the Department will make available Department facilities and equipment to support official activities of the Service and the

156 Department. 3. Provide professional staff expertise and support to the Service where appropriate. 4. Protect, manage and administer all lands and interests in lands acquired and held by the Department.

C. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shall:

1. Provide support, when possible, in the form of staff technical assistance, use of Service owned facilities and/or available funding for projects to achieve the objectives of this MOV.

Specifically the Service will provide assistance in the following areas to include, but not limited to:

a. Provide personnel for preparation of special events on Service/Department owned property. b. Provide personnel for joint spraying operations for invasive species. c. Provide personnel to serve as technical assistants/consultants for biological reviews and other aspects of Comprehensive Conservation P1anning. d. Provide personnel to monitor animals on public and private lands. e. Provide personnel for waterfowl banding operations. f. Contribute to jointly funded operations. All funding will be accomplished through a separate instrument such as a purchase order or Challenge Cost Share Agreement. g. Provide personnel to assist with prescribed burns.

1. Manage and administer all lands and easements acquired and held by the Service. 2. Provide professional staff expertise and support to the Department where appropriate.

VI. Period of Performance The period of performance of the Memorandum of Understanding is from the effective date of signature by all parties, through a scheduled completion date of five (5) years. If, at the end of the five year period, and both parties are in agreement, the MOU can be extended for an additional five years.

VII. Project Officers

A. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

John Frampton South Carolina Department of Natural Resources P.O. Box 167 Columbia, SC 29202

B. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Jon Andrew Chief of Refuges for Southeast Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1875 Century Blvd Atlanta, GA 30345

VIII. Modification of Agreement: This MOU constitutes the full, complete, and entire agreement between the parties hereto. No modification or

157 amendment of this MOU shall be binding on either party unless such modification or amendment shall be in writing executed in duplicate by both parties hereto, attached to this MOU, and incorporated in and by reference made a part of this MOU.

IX. Termination of Agreement:

This MOU may be terminated by either party upon 30 days written notice of such termination to the other party.

X. Other Terms and Conditions:

1 It is agreed by the parties hereto that, in the performance of this MOU, employees or agents of the Department are not to be considered employees of the Service. 2 It is hereby understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the Service shall not be bound to make any expenditures under the terms of this MOU, except as funds are available by appropriation of the Congress of the United States. 3 The participation of the service and Department in activities conducted pursuant to this MOU is not intended to place either party or its representatives in a position of incurring tort liability arising from an action of the other party. Each party is responsible for any injury or property damage to third parties caused by negligence of its own employees acting within the scope of their employment/official duty subject to such limitation as may be prescribed by applicable laws. Specifically, tort liability arising from negligent or wrongful acts or omissions of Service employees acting within the scope of employment shall be adjudicated pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 USC 2671 2689). Likewise, tort liability arising from negligent or wrongful acts or omissions of Department employees while acting within the scope of official duty shall be governed by the provisions of the South Carolina Tort Claims Act (South Carolina Code of Laws Title 15, Chapter 78). 4 No member or delegate to Congress, or resident commissioner, shall be admitted to any share or part of this MOU, or to any benefit that may arise there from. 5 Employee injury or death arising from activities conducted in fulfillment of this memorandum and within the scope of employment/official duty of the respective party shall be exclusively considered as a workers' compensation matter respective of the involved party as substantiated by the employer/employee relationship. Service employees are afforded workers' compensation coverage via provisions of the Federal Employee's Compensation Act (FECA -5 USC 8101), whereas, Department employees are afforded coverage via provisions oft he South Carolina Workers' Compensation Law (South Carolina Code of Law Title 42, Chapter 1). 6 Both the Service and the Department will ensure that its employees have the proper training and certification required to conduct activities under this MOU. 7 During the performance of this MOU, the parties hereto agree to abide by the terms of Executive Order 11246 on nondiscrimination and will not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this MOU to be executed by an authorized official on the date and year set forth below their signature.

U.S. DEPARMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TITLE: Chief of Refuges for Southeast Region

Signed: /S/Jon Andrew Date: 12/12/2009

158 Intentionally Blank

159 Appendix K. Cooperative Agreements

MASTER COOPERATIVE WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT AND STAFFORD ACT RESPONSE AGREEMENT

Between

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Southeast Region -- DUNS # 030044705

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Southeast Region 4 -- DUNS # 025438875

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE Francis Marion and Sumter NFs -- DUNS# 929332484 USDA Forest Service, Savannah River—DUNS# 929332484

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina Forestry Commission -- DUNS # 136981029

160 MASTER COOPERATIVE WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT AND STAFFORD ACT RESPONSE AGREEMENT

Between

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Southeast Region -- DUNS # 030044705

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Southeast Region 4 -- DUNS # 025438875

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE Francis Marion and Sumter NFs -- DUNS# 929332484 USDA Forest Service, Savannah River—DUNS# 929332484

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA South Carolina Forestry Commission -- DUNS # 136981029

I) By THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITIES:

Reciprocal Fire Protection Act of May 27, 1955, (69 Stat. 66; 42 U.S.C. 1856) (Federal Agencies) Economy Act of June 30, 1932, (31 U.S.C., 1535 as amended) (Federal Agencies) Disaster Relief Act of May 22, 1974, (42 U.S.C. 5121 as amended) (Federal Agencies) Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288) (Federal Agencies) Homeland Security Act of 2002 (H.R. 5005-8) Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5) Watershed Restoration and Enhancement Act of 1998, P.L. 105-77; National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (P.L. 101-630, Title III) (Interior Agencies) Taylor Grazing Act of June 28, 1934, (48 Stat. 1269; 43 U.S.C. 315) (BLM, FS) Granger-Thye Act of April 24, 1950, (16 U.S.C., Sec 572) (FS) Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act of Dec 12, 1975, (P.L. 94-148, 16 U.S.C. 565) (FS) Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of July 1, 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 2101) (FS) Cooperative Funds Act of June 30, 1914, (16 U.S.C. 498) (FS) Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999, as included in P.L. 105-277, section 101(e); Federal Land Policy and Management Act of Oct. 21, 1976, (P.L.94-579; 43 U.S.C.)(BLM) NPS Organic Act (16 U.S.C.1) (NPS) National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee, 80 Stat. 927, as amended) (FWS) National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-57) (FWS) Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (DOE)

161

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I) AUTHORITIES 2

II) PURPOSE 4

III) RECITALS 5

IV) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION 6

7. National Incident Management System 6 8. Annual Operating Plans 6 9. South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center 6 10. Southern Area Coordination Center 7 11. Interagency Resources 7 12. Standards 7 13. Definition of Responsibilities 7 14. Protection Planning 7 15. Protection Areas and Boundaries 7 16. Methods of Fire Protection and Suppression 7 17. Joint Projects and Project Plans 8 18. Fire Prevention 8 19. Public Use Restrictions 9 20. Burning Permits 9 21. Prescribed Fire and Fuel Management 9 22. Smoke Management 9

V) OPERATIONS 23. Closest Forces Concept 9 24. Fire Notifications 9 25. Boundary Line Fires 9 26. Independent Action 10 27. Escaped Prescribed Fires 10 28. Wildland Fire Use Incidents 10 29. Appropriate Management Response 10 30. Delegation of Authority 10 31. Preservation of Evidence 10

VI) USE AND REIMBURSEMENT OF INTERAGENCY FIRE RESOURCES 32. Appropriated Fund Limitation 11 33. Duration of Assignments 11 34. Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement 11 35. Procurement 11 36. Loaned Equipment and Supplies 11 37. Licensing 11 38. Training 11

162 39. Communication Systems 12 40. Fire Weather Systems 12 41. Aviation Operations 12 42. Billing Procedures 12 43. Cost Recovery 12

VII) GENERAL PROVISIONS 44. Personnel Policy 12 45. Mutual Sharing of Information 12 46. Accident Investigations 12 47. Purchaser, Contractor, Operator, Permittee, Etc., Fires 12 48. Waiver 13 49. Modifications 13 50. Annual Review 13 51. Duration of Agreement 13 52. Previous Agreements Superceded 13 53. Authorized Representatives 13 Signatures 14

EXHIBIT A. GLOSSARY OF TERMS 15 EXHIBIT B. PRINCIPAL CONTACTS 18 EXHIBIT C. OPERATING PLAN OUTLINE GUIDE 19 EXHIBIT D. REIMBURSABLE BILLINGS AND PAYMENTS 25 EXHIBIT E. SUPPLEMENTAL PROJECT PLAN 27 EXHIBIT F. SUP. FIRE SUPPRESSION AND COST SHARE AGREEMENT 28 EXHIBIT G. USE AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR STAFFORD ACT SHARED RESOURCES 32 EXHIBIT H. GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR STAFFORD ACT RESPONSE 36

163 II) PURPOSE

The purpose of this Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management Agreement (hereinafter called the Agreement) is to document the commitment of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement to improve efficiency by facilitating the coordination and exchange of personnel, equipment, supplies, services, and funds among the Agencies signatory to this Agreement.

[NOTE: The underlined text in this agreement is applicable only to coordination of Stafford Act responses through this agreement.]

In addition to improving efficiency in addressing wildland fire, this agreement facilitates improved coordination regarding other incidents. The Nation’s domestic incident management landscape changed dramatically following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Today’s threat environment includes not only the traditional spectrum of manmade and natural hazards – wildland and urban fires, floods, oil spills, hazardous materials releases, transportation accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, pandemics, designated special events requiring security, and disruptions to the Nation’s energy and information technology infrastructure – but also the deadly and devastating terrorist arsenal of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive weapons. Pre-planning through this agreement will enable better use of shared response to these types of situations.

The National Response Plan (NRP) applies to all Federal departments and agencies that may be requested to provide assistance or conduct operations during Presidential/Stafford Act declared disasters. These disasters also require a coordinated response by an appropriate combination of State and Tribal entities, along with the Agencies. This agreement documents the commitment of the Parties to provide cooperation, resources, and support to the Secretary of Homeland Security in the implementation of the NRP, as appropriate and consistent with their own authorities and responsibilities. Only wildland fires and non-wildland emergencies or disasters that are Presidentially-declared emergencies and disasters are covered under this Agreement.

The Agencies signatory to this Agreement are:

The State of South Carolina, South Carolina Forestry Commission, hereinafter called the “Commission”;

The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 8 – Francis Marion and Sumter NFs and the USDA Forest Service- Savannah River, hereinafter called the “Forest Service”;

The United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Southeast Region’s Kings Mountain National Military Park, Congaree National Park, Ft. Sumter National Historic Site, Cowpens National Battlefield, Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, and Ninety-Six National Historic Site, hereinafter called the, “Park Service”;

The United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region 4 District 2, comprised of Pinckney Island, Savannah, Tybee Island, Wolf Island, Carolina Sandhills, ACE Basin, Cape Romain, Santee, and Waccamaw Refuges hereinafter called the “Fish and Wildlife Service”.

164 The United States Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service, hereinafter be jointly called the "Federal Agencies."

All Federal and State Agencies signatory to this Agreement will hereinafter be referred to as the "Agencies signatory to this Agreement."

Words and phrases used herein may have different meanings or interpretations for different readers. To establish a "common" understanding, words and phrases as used herein are defined in the Glossary of Wildland Fire Terminology found on the “Publications” page of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group web-page (www.NWCG.gov, or by direct link at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/glossary/index.htm) and in the Glossary attached as Exhibit A.

1) Incorporation of exhibits into agreement

The following exhibits are hereby incorporated into this Agreement (Note that Exhibits G and H relate only to Stafford Act responses):

Exhibit Contents A Glossary of Terms B Principal Contacts C Statewide Annual Operating Plan (AOP) D Reimbursable Billings and Payments E A sample Project and Financial Plan F A sample Cost Share Agreement G Use and Reimbursement for Stafford Act Shared Resources H Glossary of Terms for Stafford Act Response

Exhibits to this Agreement may be revised upon request of the Agencies through execution of the Statewide Annual Operating Plan (AOP). The latest revision of any Exhibit will automatically be incorporated into this Agreement without necessitating a formal modification as defined in Agreement Provision #50.

2) Acknowledgement of supplements to the agreement

Supplements to this Agreement, AOP, Project and Financial Plans, and Cost Share Agreements will further describe working relationships, financial arrangements, and joint activities not otherwise specified under the terms of this Agreement.

3) Hierarchy and precedence for agreements, exhibits, etc.

165

Any inconsistencies in this Agreement and attachments thereto shall be resolved by giving precedence in the following order: 1. This Agreement 2. Statewide AOP 3. Exhibits to this Agreement 4. Zone or local AOP 5. Project and Financial Plan

III) RECITALS

1. Lands for which the Commission is responsible for wildland fire protection in South Carolina, and the lands for which the respective Federal Agencies are responsible, are intermingled or adjacent in some areas, and wildland fires on these intermingled or adjacent lands may present a threat to the lands of the other;

2. The Agencies signatory to this Agreement maintain fire protection and fire management organizations;

3. It is to the mutual advantage of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement to coordinate efforts for the prevention, detection, and suppression of wildfires, fuels management, use of wildland fire, non wildland fire emergencies (as authorized), and cooperative projects for resource protection in and adjacent to their areas of responsibility, and to limit duplication and improve efficiency and effectiveness;

4. It is the intent of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement that Commission resources be available to assist in fire management activities on all federal lands, and on other lands upon which the Federal Agencies are responsible to protect;

5. It is the intent of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement that federal resources be available to assist in fire management activities on all state and private lands that Commission is responsible to protect; and the Federal Agencies have entered into a national Interagency Agreement for Fire Management to cooperate in all aspects of fire management.

6. It is to the benefit of all federal, state and local agencies to coordinate assistance and operations during Presidential/Stafford Act declared disasters under The National Response Plan (NRP). This agreement documents the commitment of the Parties to provide cooperation, resources, and support to the Secretary of Homeland Security in the implementation of the NRP, as appropriate and consistent with their own authorities and responsibilities.

In consideration of the mutual commitments and conditions herein made, it is agreed as follows:

166 IV) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION

7. National Incident Management System: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement will operate under the concepts defined in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Incident Management System (NIMS). In implementing these concepts, Agencies signatory to this Agreement will be expected to follow the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s (NWCG) National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) minimum standards as defined in the Wildland Fire Qualifications Systems Guide (PMS-310). These NWCG minimum standards are DHS NIMS compliant. The following NIMS concepts will be followed as they are implemented: Incident Command System (ICS), qualifications system, training system, the management of publications, and participating in the review, exchange and transfer of technology as appropriate for providing qualified resources, and for the management of incidents covered by this Agreement.

8. Annual Operating Plan: will address issues affecting statewide cooperation and will be approved by the signatory State and Federal Unit Administrators

A. Project Plans

Project plans are plans developed for specific non-suppression, fire related projects. Such projects will be documented in local agreements, or other appropriate written documents. Documentation will include the objectives, specific authorizing law, role of each Agency, and each Agency’s share of cost (See Exhibit E for a Supplemental Project Plan).

9. South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement recognize the South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center (SCC) located in Columbia, SC, as the State Coordination Center for South Carolina and agree to maintain and support SCC as appropriate. Staffing, funding, and level of participation will be agreed to by the affected Agencies signatory to this Agreement and documented in the AOP. The Agencies signatory to this Agreement will coordinate Emergency Response activities and interagency resource movements through SCC, as appropriate. This Agreement does not precluded Agencies from independent movement of resources within their own Agencies.

10. Southern Area Coordination Center: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement recognize the Southern Area Coordination Center (SACC) in Atlanta, GA, as the Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC). Agencies will coordinate fire management activities and resource movements through SACC, via SCC, as appropriate. Agencies signatory to this Agreement are not precluded from independent movement of resources within their own agencies.

11. Interagency Resources: Interagency funding, staffing, and utilization of resources and facilities will be pursued by the Agencies signatory to this Agreement whenever an interagency approach is appropriate and cost effective. Shared staffing and funding will be commensurate with each Agency's use of resources, will be agreed to and documented in the AOP and will be subject to the availability of appropriations. To the extent practical, additional preparedness resource requests will be coordinated. The coordination process will be identified in the AOP.

12. Standards: It is the goal of the signatory Agencies signatory to achieve common standards within the Agencies’ best interest, recognizing differing agency missions and mandates. Each Agency to this Agreement recognizes that other agency standards are reasonable, prudent, and

167 acceptable. This clause is not intended to affect the Jurisdictional Agency’s land management standards.

PREPAREDNESS

13. Definition of Responsibilities: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement shall be distinguished as follows:

Jurisdictional Agency - The Agency having the overall land and resource management, and/or protection responsibility, for a specific geographical or functional area, as provided by federal or state law. Under no circumstances will a Jurisdictional Agency abdicate legal responsibilities as provided by federal or state law.

Protecting Agency - The Agency responsible for providing direct incident management and services to a given area pursuant to its jurisdictional responsibility or as specified by federal or state law, contract or agreement. .

Supporting Agency – An Agency providing suppression or other support and resource assistance to a Protecting Agency.

14. Protection Planning The Agencies may determine efficiencies to be gained from reciprocal assistance and acquisition of protection services. The AOP will document decisions. Plans should be reviewed and agreement reached concerning such items as placement of crews, engines, air tankers, helicopters, fixed and aerial detection, regulated use, closures and other joint fire suppression efforts.

15. Protection Areas and Boundaries: Protection areas, as defined by boundaries, will be mapped and/or described, and made a part of AOP.

16. Methods of Fire Protection and Suppression: One agency may provide fire protection services on lands under the jurisdiction of another, within their authority and as authorized by law. The following are different methods to provide those services:

A. Reciprocal (Mutual Aid) Fire Protection: As deemed appropriate, the Agencies may, by agreement in the AOP, establish reciprocal initial attack zones for lands of intermingled or adjoining protection responsibility. Within such zones, a Supporting Agency will, upon request or voluntarily, take initial attack action in support of the Protecting Agency.

The Protecting Agency will not be required to reimburse the Supporting Agency for costs incurred following the initial dispatch of any ground resources to the fire for the duration of the mutual aid period, unless specifically stated by contract or agreement. The length of the mutual aid period should not exceed 24 hours.

B. Reimbursable (Cooperative) Fire Protection: The Protecting Agency may request suppression resources of other Agencies for its protection work. Such resources shall be paid for by the Protecting Agency, as specified in the AOP. See applicable Exhibit item regarding Reimbursable Billings and Payments.

168 C. Exchange (Offset) Fire Protection: Agencies may exchange responsibility for fire protection for lands under their jurisdiction. The rate of exchange will be based upon comparable cost, acreage involved, complexity, and other factors as appropriate and mutually agreed to by the Agencies. Exchange zones will be documented in the AOP.

If an imbalance exists, the Protecting Agency with the surplus of acres will bill the Jurisdictional Agency for the difference on a per acre basis as computed under Contract or Fee Basis Protection. Imbalance means a deviation exceeding the range of variation agreed to between the parties.

When a Protecting Agency takes suppression action on lands it protects for the Jurisdictional Agency, and the Jurisdictional Agency is requested to assist, the Protecting Agency will reimburse the Jurisdictional Agency for their assistance. The exception is if the parties involved are Federal Agencies. The National Agreement between the Department of the Interior Agencies and the USDA Forest Service states that the parties agree not to bill each other for suppression services.

D. Contract (Fee Basis) Fire Protection: For an agreed upon fee, one Agency may assume fire protection responsibilities on lands under the jurisdiction of another Agency. The terms and conditions of such arrangements must be included in the AOP.

17. Joint Projects and Project Plans: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement may jointly conduct cooperative projects, within their authority and as authorized by law, to maintain or improve their fire management services and activities. These projects may involve such activities as prescribed fire/fuels management, presuppression, fire analysis/planning, rehabilitation, training, prevention, public affairs, and other beneficial efforts. Such projects will be documented in the AOP, or other appropriate written documents, referencing the appropriate authority. Documentation will include the objectives, role of each Agency, and each Agency's share of costs.

Project plans may be executed by Unit Administrators of Agencies signatory to this Agreement and Bill according to Exhibit D, Reimbursable Billings and Payments, and Exhibit E, Supplemental Project Plan.

18. Fire Prevention: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement agree to cooperate in the development and implementation of fire prevention programs. Unit Administrators will assure that fire prevention goals and activities are planned at local levels and are addressed in the AOP. Specific fire prevention plans should be developed by local interagency fire management personnel. The Agencies signatory to this Agreement may pool resources and share costs. Unit Administrators are encouraged to participate in local fire prevention cooperatives, organizations, or groups, where applicable.

19. Public Use Restrictions: Guidelines for implementing restrictions and closures shall be established in the AOP.

20. Burning Permits: Non-applicable.

21. Prescribed Fire and Fuel Management: The Agencies agree to cooperate in the development and implementation of prescribed fire and fuels management programs, whose primary intent is to reduce hazardous fuels.

169 Any Agency within this Agreement may provide assistance to another Agency, as requested and agreed to, for the purposes of performing prescribed fire or other fuels management work. Conditions of the assistance and details related to reimbursement will be agreed to and documented, through the procurement or project plan process (see Exhibit E, Supplemental Project Plan).

Any instrument processed under this clause shall be in accordance with each agency’s applicable laws, regulations, and policy requirements.

22. Smoke Management: Within their authorities, the Agencies signatory to this Agreement agree to cooperate in smoke management programs.

V) OPERATIONS

For Stafford Act responses, procedures and requirements established in the National Response Plan shall be utilized by Agencies signatory to this Agreement to authorize and accomplish any required response or support tasks. Any agency requesting support pursuant to a Stafford Act response shall issue written instructions and funding limitations to any agency providing cooperation, resources or support. Mobilization activities will be accomplished utilizing established dispatch coordination concepts per the current National Interagency Mobilization Guide.

170 23. Closest Forces Concept: For this agreement applies to boundary line fires. The guiding principle for dispatch of initial attack suppression resources is to use the closest available resource regardless of which Agency the resources belong, and regardless of which Agency has protection responsibility

24. Fire Notifications: Each Agency will promptly notify the appropriate Protecting Agency of fires burning on or threatening lands for which that Agency has protection responsibility. Likewise, protecting Agencies will immediately inform jurisdictional agencies whenever they take action on fires for which the Protecting Agency is responsible. Fire reports, or information needed to complete agency-specific fire reports, will be sent to jurisdictional agencies within 30 days after a fire is declared out.

25. Boundary Line Fires: A boundary line fire, as defined in Exhibit A, Glossary of Terms, will be the initial attack responsibility of the protecting Agencies on either side of the boundary. Neither Agency will assume the other Agency is aware of the fire or that the other Agency will take action. Each Agency dispatch centers will make immediate notification to the other or make every reasonable effort to contact the other agency duty officer concerning the fire. The most qualified individual of the Protecting Agency, arriving first on the fire, will act as Incident Commander. When other protecting agencies have arrived, the agencies will mutually agree to the designation of an Incident Command organization, including a unified command.

26. Independent Action: Except as otherwise limited in annual operating plans, nothing herein shall prohibit any Agency, on its own initiative, from going upon lands known to be protected by another Agency to this Agreement to engage in suppression of wildfires, when such fires are a threat to lands that are that Agency's protection responsibility. In such instances, the Agency taking action will immediately notify the Protecting Agency. These Protecting Agencies’ actions will be commensurate with the jurisdictional agencies land management considerations, and subject to the policies, laws and regulations of the Jurisdictional Agency.

27. Escaped Prescribed Fires: A wildfire resulting from any escaped prescribed fire that was ignited by, managed at the direction of, and/or under the supervision of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement shall be the responsibility of the Jurisdictional Agency of said prescribed fire. Unless otherwise agreed, all suppression costs are the responsibility of the Jurisdictional Agency.

If the Agencies signatory to this Agreement conduct a cooperative prescribed fire, the responsibility for suppression costs, should it escape, shall be agreed upon and documented in the project plan.

28. Wildland Fire Use Incidents: A wildfire resulting from any wildland fire use incident that was managed at the direction of, and/or under the supervision of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement shall be the responsibility of the Jurisdictional Agency of said

171 wildfire use incident. Unless otherwise agreed, all suppression costs are the responsibility of the Jurisdictional Agency.

If the Agencies signatory to this Agreement manages a wildland fire use incident, the responsibility for suppression costs, should it escape, shall be agreed upon and documented in the project plan.

29. Appropriate Management Response: All fire suppression action conducted on lands of another Agency shall be consistent with that Agency’s fire suppression policy and the terms of this Agreement.

A “Special Management Considerations” section in the AOP, addressing resources and other management concerns, will be used by unit administrators of the Agencies to identify areas of special management consideration, and to communicate appropriate fire management actions and any restrictions in firefighting tactical techniques to an Incident Commander. All suppression costs with respect to application of special management considerations will be paid by the Protecting Agency.

Unless otherwise agreed, the Jurisdictional Agency will provide an Agency representative or appropriate environmental technical specialist to advise a Protecting Agency of any special management considerations that may influence suppression action. The cost of these individuals shall be paid by the Jurisdictional Agency. The Incident Commander will incorporate special management considerations into the incident planning process, subject to the delegation of authority.

30. Delegation of Authority: The AOP will document procedures and criteria for Unit Administrators to specify direction, authority, and financial management guidelines to Incident Commanders for large incidents.

31. Preservation of Evidence: As initial action is taken on a fire, the initial attack forces will preserve information and evidence pertaining to the origin and cause of the fire. Protecting and jurisdictional agencies shall render mutual assistance in the gathering of evidence to the fullest extent practicable. Affected Agencies will meet to determine an investigation process.

VI) USE AND REIMBURSEMENT OF INTERAGENCY FIRE RESOURCES

The Use and Reimbursement for resources when responding under the Stafford Act, shall be governed by the provisions contained in Exhibit G.

32. Appropriated Fund Limitation: Nothing herein shall be considered as obligating the Agencies signatory to this Agreement to expend funds, or as involving the United States, the State of South Carolina, or the other agencies in any contract or other obligation for the future payment of money in excess of or in advance of appropriated funds available for

172 payment to meet the commitments of this Agreement and modifications thereto, except as specifically authorized by law.

33. Duration of Assignments: Consideration must be given to the health and safety of personnel when assigned to fires. The Agencies signatory to this Agreement agrees that Incident Commanders will release suppression resources to their primary responsibilities as soon as priorities allow. Incident Commanders shall adhere to work/rest policies of respective responding Agencies.

34. Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement: Whenever both Federal and state jurisdictions are affected due to the placement of a fire. It is mandatory to develop and implement a Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement, if the mutual involvement exceeds the first 24, and is outside of the reciprocal area. Acceptable forms of the cost share mix are limited to those listed in item #10 of Exhibit F, Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement. Except as otherwise provided by Clauses 27 (Independent Action), and 43 (Billing Procedures), a supplemental fire suppression and cost share agreement will be approved by the responsible Unit Administrators (as defined in Exhibit A, Glossary of Terms) or their authorized representatives when the incident involves lands of both Federal and state jurisdictions (see Clause 26, Boundary Line Fires, and Exhibit F, Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement).

A Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement, in order to document cost sharing, may be used for temporary support functions or facilities established during periods of high fire danger or activity.

35. Procurement: At the time of the incident, the affected agencies will determine the appropriate procurement procedures that will be utilized.

36. Loaned Equipment and Supplies: Equipment and supplies, (i.e. commonly used fire cache items such as pumps, hoses, nozzles, etc.) loaned to another Agency shall become the responsibility of that Agency, and shall be returned in the same condition as when received, reasonable wear and tear excepted. As determined by the loaning agency, the receiving Agency will repair or reimburse for damages in excess of reasonable wear and tear and will replace or reimburse for items lost, destroyed, or expended.

37. Licensing: Drivers and equipment operators will hold appropriate operating licenses to meet state and federal laws. Employees of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement may operate each other's vehicles provided the operator is qualified by the current operating guidelines and training requirements of their own Agency. Driving will be for official purposes only.

38. Training: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement will cooperate to assure that training needs are provided that will produce safe and effective fire management and aviation

173 programs. The intent is to champion high quality training, to minimize training costs by sharing resources, and to standardize training.

39. Communication Systems: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement may mutually agree to allow one another the use of communications systems such as radio frequencies, computer system access, data transmission lines, and communication sites when there is a mutual benefit to the agencies. Such agreement shall be approved only by Agency authorized personnel.

40. Fire Weather Systems: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement will cooperate in the gathering, processing, and use of fire weather data, including the purchase of compatible sensing systems and the joint use of computer software. The Agencies signatory to this Agreement will jointly evaluate and agree to any deletions or additions to the system. National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) is the common and agreed upon fire danger rating system for the Southern Geographic Area.

41. Aviation Operations: The Agencies signatory to this Agreement agree to cooperate in use of aviation resources to foster effective and efficient use of aircraft and personnel. Refer to the Annual Operating Plan for specific direction in the use of aircraft.

42. Billing Procedures: Specifics are detailed in Exhibit D, Reimbursable Billings and Payments.

43. Cost Recovery: Authority to recover suppression costs and damages from individuals causing a fire varies depending on contracts, agreements, permits and applicable laws. The Authorized Representatives of affected agencies will attempt to reach mutual agreement as soon as possible after a fire on the strategy that will be used to recover suppression costs and damages from the individuals liable for such costs and damages. Such strategy may alter interagency billing procedures, timing and content as otherwise provided in this Agreement. Any Agency may independently pursue civil actions against individuals to recover suppression costs and damages for only those wildland fires that burn on to lands within their jurisdiction. In those cases where costs have been recovered from an individual, reimbursement of initial attack, as well as suppression costs to the extent included in the recovery, will be made to the Agency taking reciprocal action.

VII) GENERAL PROVISIONS

44. Personnel Policy: Employees of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement shall be subject to the personnel rules, laws and regulations of their respective agencies, unless they are employed temporarily by another agency to this Agreement and the authority under which such temporary employment is authorized provides that such employees shall be subject to the employing agency’s personnel laws and regulations.

45. Mutual Sharing of Information: Subject to applicable state and federal rules and regulations, including the Privacy Act, Agencies signatory to this Agreement may furnish

174 to each other, or otherwise make available upon request, such maps, documents, GIS data, instructions, records, and reports including, but not limited to, fire reports, employment records, and investigation reports as either Agency considers necessary in connection with the Agreement.

46. Accident Investigations: When an accident occurs involving the equipment or personnel of a supporting Agency, the Protecting Agency shall immediately notify the jurisdictional and supporting agencies. As soon as practical, the Protecting Agency shall initiate an investigation of the accident. The investigation shall be conducted by a team made up of representatives from affected Agencies, as appropriate.

47. Purchaser, Contractor, Operator, Permittee, Etc., Fires: The Protecting Agency will notify the Jurisdictional Agency of any fire suspected to have been caused by a purchaser, contractor, operator or permittee, etc., of the Jurisdictional Agency as soon as it becomes aware of the situation. The Protecting Agency will be responsible for management of the fire under the provisions of this Agreement. Agencies will meet to determine a cost recovery process as outlined in Clause 44.

48. Waiver: It is mutually agreed that the Agencies signatory to this Agreement shall each be responsible for their own losses arising out of the performance of this Agreement and each Agency hereby waives any claim against any other Agency for any loss, damage, personal injury, or death of the Agency, or its employees or agents, occurring as a consequence of the performance of this Agreement; provided, this provision shall not relieve any Agency from responsibility for claims of third parties for losses for which the Agency is otherwise legally liable. Third party claims will be processed by the Protecting Agency.

The Stafford Act shall govern liability issues arising with regard to response actions under that Act.

49. Modifications: Modifications within the scope of this Agreement shall be made by mutual consent of the Agencies, by the issuance of a written modification, signed and dated by all Agencies, prior to any changes being performed. No Agency is obligated to fund any changes not properly approved in advance.

50. Annual Review: If deemed necessary, representatives of the Agencies signatory to this Agreement will meet and review matters of mutual concern. The AOP will be reviewed annually by September 15 or no later than January 1 of each year. If appropriate only the annual revisions need be submitted, and the approved AOP becomes part of this agreement by attachment.

51. Duration of Agreement: The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date the last Agency signs below and shall remain in effect for five years (December 31, 2013) from that date.

175

Any Agency shall have the right to terminate their participation under this Agreement by providing 60 day advance written notice to the other Agencies.

52. Previous Agreements Superceded: Upon execution, this Agreement supersedes the following: Other existing agreements and operating plans remain in effect to the extent that they do not conflict with the provisions of this Agreement, but only until such time that all activities and conditions covered by those agreements can be incorporated into annual operating plans provided for under this Agreement, and not later than six months from the date of the last signature.

176 53. Authorized Representatives: By signature below, all signatories to this agreement certify that the individuals (Agency Representative, Agency Administrator, Unit Administrator) listed in this document are authorized to act in their respective areas for matters related to this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Agencies hereto have executed this Cooperative Wildland Fire Management Agreement as of the last date written below

USDI FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE USDI NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Southeast Region 4 Southeast Region

_/S/ Sam D. Hamilton______/S/Pat Frederick______SAM D. HAMILTON for DAVID VELA Regional Director Regional Director Date:___12/08/08______Date:__10/03/08______

/S/ Donald Calder______/S/ Gnetry Sharpe______DON CALDER GENTRY SHARPE Contracting Officer Contracting Specialist Date:__12/05/08______Date:__10/01/08______

USDA FOREST SERVICE USDA FOREST SERVICE Francis Marion and Sumter NFs US Forest Service, Savannah River

_/S/ Jerome Thomas______/S/ Keith Lawrence______JEROME THOMAS KEITH LAWRENCE Forest Supervisor Forest Manager Date:___08/12/08______Date:__08/12/08______

_/S/ Vinda W. Anderson______VINDA ANDERSON Agreements Coordinator, GW & Jefferson NFs Date:___08/06/08______

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA Forestry Commission

/S/ Henry E. Kodama GENE KODAMA State Forester

Date:__01/07/09______

MASTER COOPERATIVE WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

177 GLOSSARY OF TERMS EXHIBIT A

Note that terms relating to Stafford Act responses are found in a separate glossary, Exhibit H.

Agency Representative: This Incident Command System position serves as the point of contact for an assisting or cooperating agency which has been delegated authority to make decisions on all matters affecting that agency’s participation at the incident and reports to the Liaison Officer.

Agency Administrator: Officials who are signatories to this Agreement, as follows: Forest Service, Forest Supervisor; National Park Service, Regional FMO; Fish and Wildlife Service, Regional Director; and South Carolina Forestry Commission, State Forester.

Annual Operating Plan (AOP): A plan which will include all statewide considerations. This will be developed at the state level and approved by affected federal, tribal, state and local Coordinating Group member agencies.

Boundary Line Fire: Fire occurrences on lands of intermingled and/or adjoining protection responsibilities within 1 mile for all agencies except US Forest Service. For which the following will apply, US Forest Service, Savannah River 2 miles, and the Francis Marion and Sumter NFs ¼ mile.

Closest Forces Concept: Dispatch of the closest available initial attack suppression resources applies only to boundary line fires regardless of which agency they belong to, and regardless of which agency has protection responsibility.

Escaped Fire: A fire which has exceeded, or is expected to exceed initial attack capabilities or prescription.

Fee Basis Acquisition of Services: One agency provides fire management services on the lands under the jurisdiction of another and payment is provided for the service. For a given fee, one agency can become the Protecting Agency for the other. The fee (or cost) is the price for the work agreed to be performed on each acre of land.

Fire Management Activities and/or Services: Any or all activities that relate to managing fire or fuels on lands under the jurisdiction of any agency to this Agreement. Activities include, but are not limited to: suppression, prescribed fire/fuels management, fire analysis/planning, rehabilitation, training, prevention, public affairs, and other beneficial efforts.

178 Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC): The physical location of an interagency, regional operation center for the effective coordination, mobilization and demobilization of emergency management resources.

Indirect Cost: A fixed percentage rate as determined by a process provided for in the Indirect Cost Negotiation Agreement as in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87, to recover those costs that cannot be directly charged to the project. The rate will be specified in the Annual Statewide Operating Plan.

Initial Attack Period: The first 24 hours.

Initial Attack Zone: An identified area in which predetermined resources would normally be the initial resource to respond to an incident.

Interagency: Involvement of two or more Agencies signatory to this Agreement.

Jurisdictional Agency: The Agency having land and resource management and/or protection responsibility for a specific geographical or functional area as provided by federal, state or local law.

Area: The lands within the State of South Carolina managed and/or protected by the Agencies within this Agreement.

Offset: Exchange of fire management services in specific locations that is anticipated to be approximately equal value between Agencies.

Preparedness: Activities that lead to a safe, efficient, and cost effective fire management program in support of land and resource management objectives through appropriate planning and coordination.

Prescribed Fire: Any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives.

Prevention: Activities directed at reducing the incidence of fires, including public education, law enforcement, personal contact and the reduction of fuel hazards (fuels management).

Procurement Documents: Agency specific financial obligation documents.

Protecting Agency: The Agency responsible for providing direct incident management and services to a given area pursuant to its jurisdictional responsibility or as specified and provided by federal or state law, contract, and agreement.

Protection: The actions taken to limit the adverse environmental, social, political, and economical effects of fire.

179 Protection Area: That area for which a particular fire protection organization has the primary responsibility for attacking and uncontrolled fire and for directing the suppression actions.

Protection Boundaries: The exterior perimeter of an area within which a specified fire agency has assumed a degree of responsibility for wildland fire control.

Protection Area Maps: Official maps which identify areas of direct fire protection responsibility for each agency.

Reciprocal Fire Suppression: Reciprocal fire suppression is the act of helping the Protecting Agency, at no cost for the first 24 hours or by written agreement. Reciprocity is attained by agreeing among agencies regarding the kind, location and numbers of firefighting resources which will automatically be made available as part of the initial response to a wildfire, regardless of the Protecting Agency. The kind, locations, and numbers of resources which constitute reciprocity are defined in or through local operating plans. Reciprocity may be thought of as the implementing mechanism of the closest forces concept.

Reimbursable Costs: All costs associated with operations and support ordered on a resource order or project plan by or for an incident or project within the provisions of this Agreement. Such costs may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Agency costs for transportation, salary, benefits, overtime, and per diem of individuals assigned to the incident or project.

• Additional support dispatching, warehousing or transportation services supporting a resource order.

• Cost of equipment in support of the incident, contract equipment costs and operating costs for agency equipment.

• Operating expenses for equipment assigned to the incident such as fuel, oil, and equipment repairs.

• Aircraft, airport fees, and retardant and other fire chemical costs.

• Agency-owned equipment and supplies lost, damaged, or expended by the supporting agency.

• Cost of reasonable and prudent supplies expended in support of the incident.

• Charges from the state-provided resources such as inmate crews, National Guard resources, and county and local resources.

• Indirect costs will be applied on joint state and federal non-suppression projects.

180 Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement: A document prepared to distribute costs on a multi-jurisdictional incident (see Exhibit F).

Supporting Agency: An agency providing suppression or other support and resource assistance to a Protecting Agency.

Suppression: All the work of extinguishing or confining a fire beginning with its discovery.

Third Party: A municipal or rural fire district that does not have a local agreement with a federal agency but is formally recognized by their respective state and has entered into a local agreement with the state for fire management services.

Unit Administrator: The individual assigned administrative responsibilities for an established organizational unit, such as Forest Supervisor for the Forest Service, Park Superintendent for the National Park Service, Refuge Manager for Fish and Wildlife Service, and State Forester for the South Carolina Forestry Commission

Wildfire: An unplanned, unwanted wildland fire, including unauthorized human-caused fires, escaped wildland fire use events, escaped prescribed fire projects and all other wildland fires where the objective is to put the fire out.

Wildland Fire Use: The application of the appropriate management response to naturally ignited wildland fires to accomplish specific resource management objectives in predefined designated areas outlined in Fire Management Plans. Wildland Fire: Any non-structure fire, that occurs in the wildland. Three distinct types of wildland fire have been defined and include wildfire, wildland fire use and prescribed fire.

181 Principal Contacts

Exhibit B.

G. PRINCIPAL PROJECT CONTACTS. The principal project contacts for this instrument are as follows. These points of contact will review this Agreement at least annually.

National Park Service, Southeast Region US Fish and Wildlife, Southeast Region 4

Chris Revels Terri Jenkins NPS Fire Mgt Officer, Kings Mtn. Natl Military Park USFWS Fire Mgt Officer, District 2, Savannah 2625 Park Road Coastal Refuges Blacksburg, SC 29702 1000 Business Center Dr. Suite 10 Savannah , Ga. 31405 Phone: 864-936-7921 FAX: 864-936-9897 Phone: 843-784-6351 E-Mail: [email protected] FAX: 843-784-2400 E-Mail: [email protected]

USDA Forest Service, Savannah River State of South Carolina Stephen Lenzo, Fire Mgt. Staff Officer USDA Forest Service, Savannah River Paul Watts, Fire Chief PO Box 700 South Carolina Forestry Commission New Ellington, SC 29809 PO Box 21707 Columbia, SC. 29221 Phone: 803-725-3866 FAX: 803-725-0517 Phone: 803-896-8837 E-Mail: [email protected] FAX: 803-798-8097 E-Mail: pwatts@ forestry.state.sc.us USDA Forest Service, Francis Marion & Sumter NFs Dave Kuhn, Dispatch Ctr. Mgr. (SC-SCC) USDA Forest Service 4931 Broad River Road Columbia, SC 29212

Phone: 803-561-4057 FAX: 803-561-4085 E-Mail: [email protected]

182 MASTER COOPERATIVE WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT C

ANNUAL OPERATING PLAN

National Park Service, Southeast Region Kings Mountain, Congaree, Ninety-Six, and Cowpens Parks State of South Carolina, Forestry Commission US Forest Service, Francis Marion and Sumter NFs US Forest Service, Savannah River US Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region 4, District 2

PREAMBLE This operating plan is prepared pursuant to the Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management and Stafford Act Response Agreement signed and dated ______.

INTERAGENCY COOPERATION

South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center: The South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center (SC-SCC) located at the Supervisors Office, Francis Marion and Sumter NFs , in Columbia, SC. serves as the State Interagency Coordination Center for agencies in this agreement for wildfire and all-hazard incident response coordination, and some planned events such as prescribed fire. SC-SCC provides incident support by coordinating the mobilization of resources, and initial attack dispatching for the Francis Marion and Sumter NFs. Initial attack dispatching will be the responsibility of each respective agency.

Requests for resources will be handled as received on a first come, first served basis. When multiple incidents require the setting of priorities for the allocation of limited resources, agencies Fire Management Staff will establish priorities for distribution.

Incident priorities during periods of scarce or inadequate resources will be based on criteria such as life and personnel safety, structure protection, special Congressionally- delegated areas with high or unusual resource values, sensitive habitats agency designated special areas, and general incident management.

Roles and Responsibilities: SC-SCC’s roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Coordinate incident resource mobilization between incidents, agencies, and the Southern Area Coordination Center as needed.

183 • Provide incident intelligence, including incident activity, prescribed fire activity, resource commitment, and resource availability to SACC. • Determine Preparedness Level for SC-SCC accordingly. • Coordinate mobilization of South Carolina Interagency Crews. • Provide support for fire weather forecasts and fire danger products..

Staffing: SC-SCC will be staffed by a full-time Center Manager and Dispatcher. These positions will be provided and administered by the USFS. Detailers will be utilized to increase staffing when activity warrants.

Initial Attack Dispatch Centers: Each agency is responsible for its own initial attack dispatching. Agency Dispatch Centers are located in the following locations;

South Carolina Forestry Commission: Newberry, Florence, and Walterboro, SC. US Forest Service, Savannah River: New Ellington, SC US Forest Service, Francis Marion and Sumter NFs: Columbia, SC USFWS, District 2 HQ: Hardeeville, SC

Interagency Resources: All wildfire resources shall be qualified in assigned positions as per agency requirements. When personnel dispatched between agencies within South Carolina for incident support, the receiving agency will accept the sending agencies qualifications. Personnel dispatched to federal incidents outside South Carolina for incident support shall meet NWCG 310.1 or higher qualification standards..

PREPAREDNESS Protection Planning: Agency wildfire personnel and equipment may be made available to assist between agencies upon request utilizing the “closest forces” concept.

Protection Areas and Boundaries:

National Park Service

The National Park Service has wildfire protection responsibilities on lands within the legislative boundaries of the following NPS units in South Carolina.:

• Southeast Region: o Kings Mountain National Military Military Park o Congaree National Park o Ninety-Six National Historic Site o Cowpens National Historic Site o Fort Sumter National Historic Site. o Charles Pinckney National Historic Site

184 South Carolina Forestry Commission

• All private and state owned land as directed by the South Carolina Law..

US Fish and Wildlife

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has wildfire protection responsibilities on lands within legislative boundaries of the following Wildlife Refuges in South Carolina.

- Each Refuge located within SE Region 4 in South Carolina.

USDA Forest Service

• All Lands administered by the Francis Marion and Sumter NFs. • Lands administered by US Forest Service - Savannah River at the Savannah River Site (DOE) under Interagency Agreement DE-AI09-00SR22188.

Reciprocal Fire Assistance: The closest available resources will initiate suppression action on any wildfire on reciprocally protected lands regardless of land ownership. The reciprocal area is identified by a one mile buffer adjacent to National Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service, Savannah River (DOE). One quarter mile (¼) adjacent to US Forest Service, Francis Marion and Sumter NFs ownership boundaries. The Protecting Agency will not be required to reimburse the Supporting Agencies for its costs of fire suppression within the reciprocal area within the first 24 hours, with the exception of aviation resources.

For wildfires located outside of the reciprocal areas, agencies may provide assistance upon request of the Protecting Agency. Supporting federal agencies will not bill the State, or vise versa, for the first 24 hours.

Training: Agency partners will perform joint fire training whenever possible. Notice to other agencies will be given as far in advance as possible of scheduled training sessions.

Communications: It is agreed that each agency may program the other’s tactical radio frequencies into their radios. Personnel engaged in joint suppression efforts will utilize common radio frequencies, such as the Southeastern Forest Fire Compact Frequency (159.285), which will be programmed into each agency’s multi-channel radios.

Aircraft involved in joint operations will be equipped with multi-channel compatible radios use and monitor 122.925 for air-air communications.

185 Maps and Directories: Agency maps and fire telephone directories will be exchanged as needed.

Public Use Restrictions: Agencies shall notify appropriate partners of any area closures, burning bans, or other restrictions. Whenever such closures, restrictions or burning bans are established, the other agencies will comply with them to the extent possible within their own agency’s rules and regulations.

Prescribed Fire and Fuels Management: Agencies will notify the adjoining agencies of planned prescribed fire projects, and will assist each other with prescribed fire projects as agency policy allows.

OPERATIONS

Special Management Considerations: All fire suppression action conducted on lands of another Agency shall be consistent with that Agency’s fire suppression policy and the terms of this Agreement.

• National Park Service – The use of Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) shall be used on all National Park Service lands. The use of heavy mechanized equipment is forbidden unless approved by the Park Superintendent. No Chemical application (retardant, foam) on NPS lands unless approved by Park Superintendent.

• USFWS- The use of Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) shall be used on all USFWS nationally designated Wilderness areas. No application of foam or retardant within 300 feet of water ways. The use of heavy mechanized equipment is within the range of appropriate management responses for suppression activities on general refuge lands.

• USFS- Wilderness areas use MIST and no mechanized heavy equipment or chainsaws, leaf blowers, dozers, etc. except by approval of the Regional Forester or Forest Supervisor. US Forest Service - Savannah River: The Savannah River Site (SRS) is a controlled access federal facility. All fire suppression access on the SRS must be approved by the US Forest Service - Savannah River and coordinated through Savannah River Site (DOE) Security System.

• Use of certain All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) on Forest Service lands and lands protected by the US Forest Service – Savannah River are prohibited. See FSH 6709.11 chapter 10, 13.2 All Terrain Vehicles, for operating requirements.

186 suppression action. The cost of these individuals shall be paid by the Jurisdictional Agency. The Incident Commander will incorporate special management considerations into the incident planning process, subject to the delegation of authority.

Delegation of Authority: Agency Administrators will issue a Delegation of Authority to Incident Commanders on extended attack incidents. Delegation of Authority will outline budgetary constraints and expectations. Incident Commander will return Delegation of Authority back to host unit at the incident close out meeting.

USE AND REIMBURSEMENT OF INTERAGENCY FIRE RESOURCES

Aircraft:

Contract aircraft: The ordering agency will be responsible for payment of the established hourly flight rate, additional pilot (s), fuel truck mileage, extended standby, helicopter module personnel, and retardant costs, except when initial attack boundary line fires are managed under a unified command structure.

Agency owned aircraft: Flight rates will be reimbursed at the rate established by the owning agency, except when initial attack boundary line fires are managed under a unified command structure

All aircraft: The ordering agency will be responsible for payment of overnight per diem expenses for the crew when the aircraft is held overnight away from their home or designated base, except when initial attack boundary line fires are managed under a unified command structure

Commission Incident Payment and Reimbursement Options

If Commission personnel are dispatched to an incident which is beyond the scope of established reciprocal requirements, each individual has the option to select one of two pay options.

Option 1 - Administratively Determined (AD) Pay Plan

When Commission personnel elect the Administratively Determined Pay Plan option (AD), the employees rate of pay and employment conditions will be those currently in use at the time of dispatch as outlined in the Pay Plan for Emergency Firefighters. The AD rates are inclusive and no additional pay will be added for hazardous duty or other pay differentials. These rates are established annually and appended to the Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook as an Interim Directive (See NWCG

187 Handbook 2, PMS 902-1). When hired as an AD each individual must complete the following documents.

1) Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Form I-9 (valid for 3 years) 2) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) W-4 or W-5 (annual) 3) Single Resource Casual Hire Form (one per dispatch)

Option 2 - Reimbursement for Time and Expense Plan

When Commission employees are dispatched employees are dispatched to an incident under the Reimbursement for Time and Expense Plan, costs for salary, retirement, and Social Security are included. In addition, fringe benefits (Health Insurance, Workers Compensation Insurance, and Unemployment Insurance that the state is normally responsible for paying) are included. Salary rates and benefits will be those current at the time of the rendered services. The Commission will be reimbursed for actual cost (including overtime) to the Commission incurred for the dates actually assigned to an incident.

Billing Procedures/Fire Suppression Billings: Agencies agree to provide as a minimum on each invoice/bill:

• Cooperator name, address, phone number, and agency financial contact, • Invoice or bill number • Agreement number • Incident name and number • Dates of the incident covered by the billing, • Location and jurisdictional unit • Appropriate incident number (State code or Forest Service P-code/override) • Summary cost data for the amount being billed. Use incident generated cost information or standard generated cost reports generated by the Agency to support the billing whenever possible.

Generally cost source documents will not be required unless summary cost data is disputed or another agency requires source documents (i.e. FEMA). Summary cost data will include, but not be limited to, a list of personnel expenses including base, overtime and travel and a listing by vendor name and amount spent for supplies and services procured. If available, also include a list of resource unit numbers or Agency equivalent covered by the billing.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Agencies hereto have executed this Annual Operating Plan for the Cooperative Wildland Fire Management Agreement as of the last date written below

188

USDI FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE USDI NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Southeast Region 4 Southeast Region

_/S/ Sam D. Hamilton______/S/ Art Frederick______SAM D. HAMILTON SAMUEL LARRY Regional Director Regional FMO Date:__12/08/08______Date:___10/03/08______

_’S/ Donald Calder______/S/ Gentry Sharpe______DON CALDER GENTRY SHARPE Contracting Officer Contracting Specialist Date:__12/05/08______Date:__10/01/08______

/S/ Jane Griess _/S/ Erin Broadbent______JANE GRIESS ERIN BROADBENT Project Leader, Savannah Coastal Refuges Superintendent, King Mtn, Military Park Date: 10/27/08 Date: 09/09/08

/S/ Allyne Askins _/S/ Tim Stone______ALLYNE ASKINS TIM STONE Project Leader, Carolina Sandhills Refuge Date: 11/10/08___ Date: 09/17/08___

/S/ Raye Nilius _/S/ Tracy Swartout______RAYE NILIUS TRACY SWARTOUT Project Leader, SC Low Country Complex Superintendent, Congaree National Park Date: 11/19/08 Date: 09/12/08

USDA FOREST SERVICE _/S/ Bob Dodson______Francis Marion and Sumter NFs BOB DODSON Superintendent, Fort Sumter and Charles _/S/ Jerome Thomas______Pinckney NHS JEROME THOMAS GENE KODAMA Forest Supervisor State Forester Date:__08/12/08______Date:__09/12/08______

/S/ Vinda W. Anderson VINDA ANDERSON Agreements Coordinator, GW & Jefferson NFs Date:_08/06/08______

USDA FOREST SERVICE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA US Forest Service, Savannah River Forestry Commission

/S/ Keith Lawrence______/S/ Henry E. Kodama______KEITH LAWRENCE GENE KODAMA Forest Manager State Forester Date:___08/21/08______Date:__01/07/09______

Reimbursable Billings and Payments

189

Exhibit D

A) Suppression Billings

1. Federal Billings: Federal Agencies will not bill each other for fire suppression support. Federal Agencies will submit bills for their reimbursable costs to the Commission whenever the Commission is the Protecting Agency and a billing is appropriate.

2. State or Association Billings: When the Commission is the supporting Agency and billing is appropriate. The Commission will bill the Protecting Agency for reimbursable costs through the US Forest Service, Francis Marion and Sumter NFs, the Commission resource must be requested through SC-SCC and assigned to a resource order with a valid federal job code. Otherwise, the Commission will bill the Protecting Agency direct.

3. Billing Estimates and Time Frames: Each Agency will notify the respective administrative headquarters of any reimbursable claims that they intend to make and will provide an estimate of the amount involved within 60 days in each reimbursable action. Absent a written extension of time granted by the reimbursing agency, the final itemized claim will be submitted to the reimbursing agency within 120 days of the suppression action.

B) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT): The Commission shall designate a financial institution or an authorized payment agent through which a federal payment may be made in accordance with U.S. Treasury Regulations, Money, and Finance at 31 CFR 208, which requires that federal payments are to be made by EFT to the maximum extent possible. A waiver may be requested and payments received by check by certifying in writing that one of the following situations apply:

1. The payment recipient does not have an account at a financial institution, or 2. EFT creates a financial hardship because direct deposit will cost the payment recipient more than receiving the check, or 3. The payment recipient has a physical or mental disability, or a geographic, language, or literacy barrier.

In order to receive EFT payments, the commission shall register in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) at www.ccr.gov and follow the instructions on line. For assistance, contact the CCR Assistance Center at 888-227-2423 or 269-961-4725.

B) Billing Content: Bills will contain, at a minimum

190 • Cooperator name, address, phone number and agency financial contact • Invoice or bill number • Agreement number • Inclusive dates • Name of incident and incident number • Location and jurisdictional unit • Appropriate incident number and State and Federal job code • Summary cost reports generated by the Agency to support the billing, including applicable cost share agreements. (See Exhibit B, Operating Plan Outline Guide, for suggested additional details.)

Cost source documents will not be required unless summary cost data is disputed or another agency requires source documents (i.e. FEMA). Summary cost data will include, but not limited to, a list of personnel expenses including base, overtime, and travel and a listing by vendor name and amount spent for supplies and services procured. Billings for fire suppression assistance may include reimbursable costs (see Exhibit A, Glossary), but will not be assessed indirect cost rates. Federal Agencies will not bill each other for indirect costs for preparedness activities.

D) Payment Due: Whenever this Agreement provides for billing, the agency receiving the bill has an obligation to pay in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. All bills will be paid in accordance with the paying Agency’s prompt payment procedures.

i. Contested Billings: Written notice that a bill is contested will be mailed to the billing Agency within 60 days of issuance of the final bill and will fully explain the contested items. Contested items will be resolved not later than 60 days following receipt of the written notice. The uncontested portion of the bill will be paid and a new bill will be issued for the contested amount. ii. Obligations: For yearend obligation purposes, the Federal Agencies will submit unpaid obligation figures to the State by June 30, of said calendar year. The State will submit unpaid obligation figures to the Federal Agencies by September 15 for the current billing year. All obligations will be submitted by incident name, date, incident number and federal job code and override code.

G) Fee Basis Acquisition of Services:

Annual Statewide or local operating plans and procurement documents will establish billing procedures for Fee Basis Protection Services. An indirect cost rate will not be assessed.

191 H) Non-Suppression (e.g., Fuels Treatment) Billings:

The Agencies signatory to this Agreement may bill for activities not related to fire suppression within their authorities. For example, within existing legal authorities, this may include reimbursement to states for expenses incurred in accepting dispatches in response to non-wildfire emergencies. Billing arrangements for such activities will be documented on procurement documents or project plans (see Exhibit E) and an indirect cost rate will be assessed. Provisions described above also apply to these billings. Billings will outline services performed and include a copy of, or reference, the applicable operating plan.

I. Third Party Payments:

Third parties may be utilized for fire management services by the Agencies signatory to this Agreement, when agreed to by the affected agencies. Resource orders for third parties’ personnel and equipment will be made through and tracked by the parent state. To receive payment for services rendered, the third party will submit all billing invoices to their parent state. Each invoice shall contain a “remit to address” and a “tax ID” number. All third party invoices will be sent to the parent state within 120 days of completion of the fire management services, unless a written request for an extension has been granted by the State. For federal fire management services, the third party shall comply with the above stated billing requirements. The State, after ensuring that the conditions of the local agreement have been complied with, will submit the invoice to the appropriate federal agency and request that payment is made directly to the third party. Upon receipt of the invoice from the state, the federal agency may make payment as requested.

192 Supplemental Project Plan

EXHIBIT E

SUPPLEMENTAL NUMBER ______TO MASTER COOPERATIVE WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

PROJECT AND FINANCIAL PLAN I. INTRODUCTION Brief description, where located, status of environment analysis, status compliance if applicable, design/specifications status.

List authorizing law (Examples: Reciprocal Fire Protection Act, 42 U.S.C. 1856 or Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act, PL 94-148).

II. SCOPE AND DURATION The description of this project is to ______. It is anticipated that this project will begin ______and will end ______.

III. PRINCIPAL CONTACTS Principal contacts for each Agency for the administration of the project are: Name Address Telephone FAX

IV. DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION A. Specific duties and tasks to be performed. Identify desired end results. B. Identify tools and equipment needed and who will supply them. C. Identify size of crew and who will be providing transportation D. Other

V. SUPERVISION AND TECHNICAL OVERSIGHT VI. REIMBURSEMENT Describe any relevant reimbursement and billing procedures, including to whom to send payment and the billing address.

193 VII. FINANCIAL PLAN List which Agency is reimbursing the other and detail items to be reimbursed. If this is a Cost Share Supplemental Project Plan, list all Agencies, contributions, cash, non-cash, and in-kind. Include: salaries, travel, supplies, equipment use, indirect cost, project total, estimated reimbursement, and job code to be charged. Reimbursement shall be made only for actual expenses incurred, not to exceed the estimated total reimbursement. Itemized documentation in support of all expenses is required.

VIII. SIGNATURES ______Unit Administrator Date ______Agency ______Unit Administrator Date

______Agency

194 SUPPLEMENTAL FIRE SUPPRESSION AND COST SHARE AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT F

INSTRUCTIONS – SUPPLEMENTAL FIRE SUPPRESSION AND COST SHARE AGREEMENT

Numbered instructions correspond to form items that require further explanation. Supplemental agreements will be numbered consecutively following the original (#1) for each fire. Supplements may be added at any time. Where insufficient room is available for necessary information, additional sheets or addendums may be added. Small revisions to this agreement may be completed on a single page, describing the change to the original agreement, and obtaining new signatures from those involved.

A Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management Agreement exists between all major wildland fire protection agencies in the South Carolina. This agreement authorizes general mutual aid, including reciprocal and cooperative fire protection services elaborated upon in local annual operating plans. Other cooperative agreements exist between fire management agencies that authorize fire management services between Agencies at the sub-geographic level. The objective of the Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreement is to establish and document the cost sharing and basic organizational structure in response to specific fires.

Supplemental Fire Suppression and Cost Share Agreements will be negotiated between agencies involved in specific on-the-ground fire suppression activities. These agreements are mandatory when more than one jurisdictional responsibility for fire protection is affected by the placement of the fire. The agreement will not affix liability for fire cost payment by either Agency based upon responsibility for the fire origin. The designated representatives of each Agency with forces on the fire are responsible for completing and signing the agreement.

1. List the fire name agreed upon by Agencies involved.

2. Give the origin or best estimate of origin location by legal description.

3. Estimate the size at the time of the Supplemental Agreement.

4. List the Agencies involved in fire suppression operations and respective agency fire numbers. 5. List the date and time that the agreement is in effect. That time could be prior to or following the time that negotiations are made for the agreement.

195 Error! Unknown document property name.

6. Check the appropriate command structure for the fire. Definitions:

UNIFIED COMMAND – A method for all Agencies with jurisdictional responsibility to contribute to determining the overall objectives for the incident; interagency ICS team structure.

SINGLE COMMAND STRUCTURE – One Agency manages the incident with liaison and concurrence of objectives from other involved Agencies.

List the appropriate personnel filling ICS positions on the fire.

7. List any special conditions or resource objectives, i.e., dozer restrictions, mechanized restrictions, bald eagle nest, high value plantation. Operational responsibility for the fire will be defined in this section (if appropriate). Respond to this item only if Agency forces have specific segments of the fire. This information will not determine cost responsibility, unless specified in Item 11. Examples are: Divisions A and B; all structural protection areas; specific campground. 8. List the Agency responsible for structural protection, and any pertinent control information or contacts.

9. List operation conditions or directions pertaining specifically to: air operations, base camp and food service, and fire investigation. Costs pertaining to these decisions shall be documented in Item #10.

10. Fire suppression costs shall be determined from the information supplied in this item. There are several ways to determine the best cost share mix. A, B, and C are typically used on smaller, less complex incidents on lands with similar values and uses; D and E on larger, more complex incidents, such as those with both wildland urban interface and wildlands:

A. Each Agency pays for its own resources – fire suppression efforts are primarily on jurisdictional responsibility lands.

B. Each Agency pays for its own resources – services rendered approximate the percentage of jurisdictional responsibility, but not necessarily performed on those lands.

C. Cost share by percentage of ownership or Agency jurisdictional responsibility.

D. Cost is apportioned by geographic division. Examples of geographic divisions are: Divisions A and B (using a map as an attachment); privately owned property with structures; or specific locations such as campgrounds.

E. Reconciliation of daily estimates (for larger, multi-day incidents). This method relies upon daily agreed to cost estimates, using Incident Action Plans

196 Error! Unknown document property name. or other means to determine multi-Agency contributions. Reimbursements can be made upon estimates instead of actual bill receipts.

The following are not reimbursable: • Responsibility for tort claims or compensation for injury costs. • Non suppression rehabilitation costs are the responsibility of the Jurisdictional Agency. • Non-expendable property purchases will be the responsibility of the Agency making the purchase. • Support costs (i.e. office dispatchers, warehouse workers, etc.), unless they are charging to an emergency code assigned to the incident.

The cost centers that should be considered in this agreement: • Fireline Resources: Dozers, engines, fallers, transports, water tenders, hand crews, line overhead. • Fire Camp Operations and Support: Overhead, buses, camp crews, communications, food, refrigerator units, showers, toilets, water trucks, cache supplies, rescue/med, camp facility. • Air Support: Helicopters, (with support) air tankers. • Cost apportionment by period (i.e. state mobilization or conflagration, Fire Management Assistance Grant declaration, additional jurisdictional involvement).

12. List any specific conditions relative to this agreement, such as: dispatch procedures, one Agency representing another, notifications, incident information, coordinated intelligence, etc.

13. Signatures of authorized personnel. List any attachments to the agreement. Give the date of the last revision or former Supplemental Agreement for the same fire.

197 Error! Unknown document property name.

Exhibit F. SUPPLEMENTAL FIRE SUPPRESSION AND COST SHARE AGREEMENT

The purpose of this agreement is to provide for a coordinated cooperative fire suppression operation on this fire and to describe the cost divisions. This agreement is a supplement to the Master Cooperative Wildland Fire Management Agreement between the Agencies listed.

1. Fire Name: Origin Date Time 2. Origin: Latitude Longitude (deg, min, sec) 3. Estimated Size Acres at the time of this agreement. 4. Agency Fire # Accounting Code______Agency Fire # Accounting Code______Agency Fire # Accounting Code______Agency Fire # Accounting Code______Agency Fire # Accounting Code______5. This agreement becomes effective on: __

at and remains in effect until amended or terminated. 6. Overall direction of this incident will be by ( ) Unified Command, or by ( ) Single Command structure. Identify below personnel filling the following positions:

Position Name(s) Agency Incident Commander Agency Administrator Representative Liaison Finance Operations

198 Error! Unknown document property name. 7. Suppression action will be subject to the following special conditions and land management considerations: ______8. Geographic responsibility (if appropriate) by Agency is defined as follows: Agency Geographic Responsibility Agency Geographic Responsibility Agency Geographic Responsibility Agency Geographic Responsibility

1. The Agency responsible for structural protection will be:

2. Special operational conditions agreed to (include as appropriate air operations, base camp, food service, fire investigation, security, etc.) List cost share information in Item #11: ______

3. Fire Suppression COSTS will be divided between Agencies as described: Cost Centers: Agency: Agency: Agency:

199 Error! Unknown document property name. 4. Other conditions relative to this agreement (Notifications, incident information, etc):

______13.

Agency Agency Agency Agency

Signature Signature Signature Signature

Title/Date Title/Date Title/Date Title/Date

List of Attachments (if any): / /

200 Error! Unknown document property name. USE OF AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR SHARED RESOURCES IN STAFFORD ACT RESPONSE ACTIONS Exhibit G

1. Stafford Act Declarations: Transfers performed for this Agreement are under the Disaster Relief Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5147. This Agreement is automatically incorporated by reference into any Resource Order that is issued under it, constituting a binding obligation. The billings, inclusive of copies of this Agreement, the Mission Assignment and subsequent Resource Order(s), and expenditure documentation, will define the specific services, supplied goods and costs (by sub-object class code) for each order, and subsequent obligation and payment. Reimbursement payments for all-hazard incident response activities will be accomplished by submission of billings, which are inclusive of copies of the Resource Orders that reflect the Mission Assignment- requested services and goods, and the expenditure back-up documentation, to the primary Emergency Support Function (ESF) agency (i.e. the agency to issue the mission assignment or sub- tasking). The primary ESF agency will review, approve the documentation, and return to the sub-tasked agency for forwarding to FEMA for reimbursement.

2. Federal Reimbursable Assistance: Federal Reimbursable Assistance resources must be requested by the primary ESF Federal agency or supplied through established dispatch systems and must be recorded by the Mission Assignment and subsequent Resource Order process. Resources not documented in this manner are not reimbursable. Funds to cover eligible expenses will be provided through and limited by reimbursement from FEMA. Expenditures eligible for reimbursement for Federal Agencies in accordance with 44 CFR 206, subpart A, section 206.8 paragraph c include:

a) Overtime, travel and per diem of permanent Federal agency personnel. b) Wages, travel and per diem of temporary Federal agency personnel assigned solely to performance of services directed by the (FEMA) Associate Director or the (FEMA) Regional Director in the major disaster. c) Cost of work, services, and materials procured under contract for the purposes of providing assistance directed by the (FEMA) Associate Director or the Regional Director. d) Cost of materials, equipment, and supplies (including transportation, repair and maintenance) from regular stocks used in providing directed assistance. e) All costs incurred which are paid from trust, revolving, or other funds and whose reimbursement is required by law. f) Other costs submitted by an agency with written justification or otherwise agreed to in writing by the (FEMA) Associate Director or the (FEMA) Regional Director and the agency.

3. State/Tribe Reimbursement Process: State/Tribe Reimbursement refers to those resources that are to be reimbursed by the primary ESF Federal agency. State/Tribe Reimbursement resources must be requested by the primary ESF Federal agency or supplied through established dispatch systems and must be recorded by the Mission Assignment and subsequent Resource Order process. Resources not documented in this

201 Error! Unknown document property name. manner are not reimbursable. Funds to cover eligible expenses will be provided through and limited by reimbursement from FEMA. Expenditures eligible for reimbursement include:

a) Wages, overtime, travel and per diem of State/Tribal personnel. b) Wages, travel and per diem of temporary State/Tribal personnel assigned solely to performance of services directed by the (FEMA) Associate Director or the (FEMA) Regional Director in the major disaster. c) Cost of work, services, and materials procured under contract for the purposes of providing assistance directed by the (FEMA) Associate Director or the Regional Director. d) Cost of materials, equipment, and supplies (including transportation, repair and maintenance) from regular stocks used in providing directed assistance. e) All costs incurred which are paid from trust, revolving, or other funds and whose reimbursement is required by law. f) Other costs submitted by an agency with written justification or otherwise agreed to in writing by the (FEMA) Associate Director or the (FEMA) Regional Director and the agency.

4. Duration of Assignments: Consideration must be given to the health and safety of personnel when assigned to incidents. Parties agree that Incident Commanders will release resources to their primary responsibilities as soon as priorities allow. Incident Commanders shall also adhere to rest and rotation policies of respective responding agencies. Mobilization activities shall be accomplished utilizing established dispatch coordination concepts per the current National Interagency Mobilization Guide.

5. Procurement: The State of South Carolina receives its procurement authority from its own laws, and is therefore not subject to Federal procurement laws. Whenever the State of South Carolina is responsible for the management of an incident (including an incident within the Direct Protection Area of a Federal Agency), the State of South Carolina will comply with its own laws and regulations covering procurement. Procurement costs by one Party in support of another that are reasonable and prudent may be charged back to the Protecting Agency. All property procured under a Mission Assignment becomes the property of FEMA.

6. Loaned Equipment: Equipment loaned by one Party to another shall become the responsibility of the borrower, and shall be returned in the same condition as when received, reasonable wear and tear excepted. The borrower will repair or reimburse for damages in excess of normal wear and tear and will replace or reimburse items lost or destroyed.

202 Error! Unknown document property name. 7. Billing Procedures

A. Incident Billings:

1. When Commission is the supporting agency and the incident is within the State of South Carolina, the Commission will bill the jurisdictional Federal Agency. When the Commission is the supporting agency and the incident is outside the State of South Carolina’s jurisdiction, the Commission submits its billing to the Primary Federal Agency.

2. Agencies will share their respective individual incident Resource Order numbers for cross referencing purposes, if requested.

3. Billing Estimates/Timeframes: On incidents where costs are incurred pursuant to Annual Operating Plans, the billing Party shall submit a bill or estimate for reimbursement as soon as possible, but not later than 180 days after the incident is controlled. If the total cost is not known at the time of initial billing, a partial bill, so identified, may be submitted. A final bill, so identified, will be issued within 270 days after control of the incident. After the final billing has been sent, and if additional costs are identified, a supplemental billing may be issued if agreeable to applicable Parties.

For obligation purposes, the Federal Agencies will submit unpaid obligation figures to the Commission by no later than June 30. The Commission will submit unpaid obligation figures to the appropriate Federal Agency by September 15 for the previous Federal fiscal year. All obligations will be submitted by incident name, date, mission assignment number (MA), and federal job code.

4. Billing Content: Bills will be identified by incident name, date, MA. location, jurisdictional unit, and supported by documentation to include but not limited to: separate invoice by MA; list of personnel expenses including base, overtime, and travel; and supplies/services procured by vendor name and dollar amount. Billings for the Commissions incident assistance may include administrative overhead, not to exceed the predetermined State of South Carolina indirect cost rate negotiated annually with the cognizant Federal Agency for the South Carolina (OMB Circular A-87).

203 Error! Unknown document property name. 8. Billing Addresses:

All bills for services provided to the State of South Carolina Forestry Commission will be mailed to the following address for payment:

South Carolina Forestry Commission P.O. Box 21707 Columbia, SC 29221

All bills for services provided to the Forest Service and all Federal and State units party to this Agreement will be mailed to the following address:

USDA Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management 4931 Broad River Road Columbia, SC. 29212

All bills for services provided to the Department of the Interior/NPS will be mailed to:

National Park Service Southeast Regional Office 100 Alabama St, NW Atlanta, Ga.30303

All bills for services provided to the Department of the Interior/Fish and Wildlife Service will be mailed to the following address:

US Fish and Wildlife Service 1875 Century Boulevard Suite 234 Atlanta, Ga. 30345

204 Error! Unknown document property name.

9. Payment Due Dates: All bills will have a payment due date 60 days after the date of issuance. If payment cannot be made before the 60 days expire, then a 30- day extension, with oral or written justification, may be requested.

10. Disputed Billings: Written notice that a bill is contested will be mailed to the billing agency within 60 days of issuance of the final bill, and will fully explain the area of dispute. Contested items will be resolved not later than 60 days following receipt of written notice. The uncontested portion of the bill will be paid and a new bill will be issued for the contested amount.

11. Payments: Payments will refer to the bill number and incident name and will be sent to the appropriate billing address.

205 Error! Unknown document property name. GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR STAFFORD ACT RESPONSE Exhibit H When the following terms are used in the context of a Stafford Act response under this Agreement, or in the Annual Operating Plan, such terms will have the meanings stated below. Many of these terms are defined in the National Emergency Response Plan and/or the Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook.

Administrative Costs (Charges): Any expenses not charged directly to a program, project, or incident. They include general overhead personnel and administrative services. For the state, the administrative charge is identified as those charges and expenses used to determine the "indirect rate". All activities that can be identified and charged to specific projects, and not excluded elsewhere in this agreement, are considered direct costs and may be billed with proper documentation.

Agency: A division of government with a specific function offering a particular kind of assistance. In ICS, agencies are defined either as jurisdictional (having statutory responsibility for incident management) or as assisting or cooperating (providing resources or other assistance).

Agency Administrator: Agency officials who are signatory to this agreement.

Agency Representative: A person assigned by a primary, assisting, or cooperating Federal, State, local, or tribal government agency or private entity that has been delegated authority to make decisions affecting that agency’s or organization’s participation in incident management activities following appropriate consultation with the leadership of that agency.

Annual Operating Plan: An annually updated document authorized by the appropriate officials for implementing the Cooperative Incident Management Agreement in their respective areas of responsibilities.

Area Command (Unified Area Command): An organization established (1) to oversee the management of multiple incidents that are each being handled by an ICS organization or (2) to oversee the management of large or multiple incidents to which several Incident Management Teams have been assigned. Area Command has the responsibility to set overall strategy and priorities, allocate critical resources according to priorities, ensure that incidents are properly managed, and ensure that objectives are met and strategies followed. Area Command becomes Unified Area Command when incidents are multijurisdictional. Area Command may be established at an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) facility or at some location other than an ICP.

Catastrophic Incident: Any natural or manmade incident, including terrorism that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions. A catastrophic event could result in sustained national impacts over a prolonged period of time; almost immediately exceeds resources normally

206 Error! Unknown document property name. available to State, local, tribal, and private-sector authorities in the impacted area; and significantly interrupts governmental operations and emergency services to such an extent that national security could be threatened. All catastrophic events are Incidents of National Significance.

Chain of Command: A series of command, control, executive, or management positions in hierarchical order of authority.

Cyber: Pertaining to computers and their support systems, such as servers, routers, and switches, that support critical infrastructure.

Direct Costs: All costs associated with direct incident operations and incident support ordered by or for the incident. Excludes Overhead Costs.

Direct Protection Area: That area which, by law or identified or authorized pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, is provided protection by the Parties. This may include land protected under exchange or payment for protection.

Disaster: See Major Disaster.

Emergency: As defined by the Stafford Act, an emergency is “any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States.”

Emergency Support Function (ESF): A grouping of government and certain private- sector capabilities into an organizational structure to provide the support, resources, program implementation, and services that are most likely to be needed to save lives, protect property and the environment, restore essential services and critical infrastructure, and help victims and communities return to normal, when feasible, following domestic incidents. The ESFs serve as the primary operational-level mechanism to provide assistance to State, local, and tribal governments or to Federal departments and agencies conducting missions of primary Federal responsibility.

ESF Primary Agency: A Federal Agency designated as an Emergency Support Function primary agency serves as a Federal executive agency under the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) to accomplish the ESF Mission.

Federal: Of or pertaining to the Federal Government of the United States of America.

First Responder: Local and nongovernmental police, fire, and emergency personnel who in the early stages of an incident are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property, evidence, and the environment, including emergency response providers as defined in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101), as well as emergency management, public health, clinical care, public works, and other skilled

207 Error! Unknown document property name. support personnel (such as equipment operators) who provide immediate support services during prevention, response, and recovery operations. First responders may include personnel from Federal, State, local, tribal, or nongovernmental organizations.

Hazard: Something that is potentially dangerous or harmful, often the root cause of an unwanted outcome.

Hazard Mitigation: Any cost-effective measure which will reduce the potential for damage to a facility from a disaster event.

Hazardous Material: For the purposes of ESF #1, hazardous material is a substance or material, including a hazardous substance, that has been determined by the Secretary of Transportation to be capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce, and which has been so designated (see 49 CFR 171.8). For the purposes of ESF #10 and the Oil and Hazardous Materials Incident Annex, the term is intended to mean hazardous substances, pollutants, and contaminants as defined by the NCP.

Incident Command System (ICS): A standardized on-scene emergency management construct specifically designed to provide for the adoption of an integrated organizational structure that reflects the complexity and demands of single or multiple incidents, without being hindered by jurisdictional boundaries. ICS is the combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and communications operating with a common organizational structure, designed to aid in the management of resources during incidents. ICS is used for all kinds of emergencies and is applicable to small as well as large and complex incidents. ICS is used by various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private, or organized field-level incident management operations. Incident Commander (IC): The individual responsible for all incident activities, including the development of strategies and tactics and the ordering and release of resources. The IC has overall authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations and is responsible for the management of all incident operations at the incident site.

Incident Management Team (IMT): The Incident Commander and appropriate Command and General Staff personnel assigned to an incident.

Incident Mitigation: Actions taken during an incident designed to minimize impacts or contain the damages to property or the environment.

Incident of National Significance: Based on criteria established in HSPD-5 (paragraph 4), an actual or potential high-impact event that requires a coordinated and effective response by and appropriate combination of Federal, State, local, tribal, nongovernmental, and/or private-sector entities in order to save lives and minimize damage, and provide the basis for long-term community recovery and mitigation activities.

208 Error! Unknown document property name. Infrastructure: The manmade physical systems, assets, projects, and structures, publicly and/or privately owned, that are used by or provide benefit to the public. Examples of infrastructure include utilities, bridges, levees, drinking water systems, electrical systems, communications systems, dams, sewage systems, and roads.

Initial Response: Resources initially committed to an incident.

In-Kind Donations: Donations other than cash (usually materials or professional services) for disaster survivors.

Local Government: A county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (regardless of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government; an Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization or, in Alaska, a Native Village or Alaska Regional Native Corporation; or a rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity. (As defined in section 2(10) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, et seq. (2002).)

Major Disaster: As defined by the Stafford Act, any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought) or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this act to supplement the efforts and available resources of States, local governments, and disaster relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.

Mission Assignment: The vehicle used by DHS/EPR/FEMA to support Federal operations in a Stafford Act major disaster or emergency declaration. It orders immediate, short-term emergency response assistance when an applicable State or local government is overwhelmed by the event and lacks the capability to perform, or contract for, the necessary work.

Mitigation: Activities designed to reduce or eliminate risks to persons or property or to lessen the actual or potential effects or consequences of an incident. Mitigation measures may be implemented prior to, during, or after an incident. Mitigation measures are often developed in accordance with lessons learned from prior incidents. Mitigation involves ongoing actions to reduce exposure to, probability of, or potential loss from hazards. Measures may include zoning and building codes, floodplain buyouts, and analysis of hazard-related data to determine where it is safe to build or locate temporary facilities. Mitigation can include efforts to educate governments, businesses, and the public on measures they can take to reduce loss and injury.

209 Error! Unknown document property name. Mobilization: The process and procedures used by all organizations—Federal, State, local, and tribal—for activating, assembling, and transporting all resources that have been requested to respond to or support an incident.

Move-Up and Cover: Identifies a relocation of incident resources from their established location to a temporary location to provide protection coverage for an initial attack response area.

Multijurisdictional Incident: An incident requiring action from multiple agencies that each have jurisdiction to manage certain aspects of an incident. In ICS, these incidents will be managed under Unified Command.

Mutual Aid Agreement: A written agreement between agencies, organizations, and/or jurisdictions that indicating they will assist one another on request by furnishing personnel, equipment, and/or expertise in a specified manner.

National: Of a nationwide character, including the Federal, State, local, and tribal aspects of governance and policy.

National Incident Management System (NIMS): A system mandated by HSPD-5 that provides a consistent, nationwide approach for Federal, State, local, and tribal governments; the private sector; and NGOs to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity. To provide for interoperability and compatibility among Federal, State, local, and tribal capabilities, the NIMS includes a core set of concepts, principles, and terminology. HSPD-5 identifies these as the ICS; multi-agency coordination systems; training; identification and management of resources (including systems for classifying types of resources); qualification and certification; and the collection, tracking, and reporting of incident information and incident resources.

Natural Resources: Natural resources include land, fish, wildlife, domesticated animals, plants, biota, and water. Water means salt and fresh water, surface and ground water, including water used for drinking, irrigation, aquaculture, and recreational purposes, as well as in its capacity as fish and wildlife habitat, including coral reef ecosystems as defined in 16 U.S.C. 64501. Land means soil, surface and subsurface minerals, and other terrestrial features.

Nongovernmental Organization (NGO): A nonprofit entity that is based on interests of its members, individuals, or institutions and that is not created by a government, but may work cooperatively with government. Such organizations serve a public purpose, not a private benefit. Examples of NGOs include faith-based charity organizations and the American Red Cross.

Overhead Costs: Indirect administrative costs that cannot be readily identified with specifically financed programs and functions.

210 Error! Unknown document property name. Party: Entities that are signatory to this Agreement.

Preparedness: The range of deliberate, critical tasks and activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the operational capability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents. Preparedness is a continuous process involving efforts at all levels of government and between government and private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to identify threats, determine vulnerabilities, and identify required resources.

Prevention: Actions taken to avoid an incident or to intervene to stop an incident from occurring. Prevention involves actions taken to protect lives and property. It involves applying intelligence and other information to a range of activities that may include such countermeasures as deterrence operations; heightened inspections; improved surveillance and security operations; investigations to determine the full nature and source of the threat; public health and agricultural surveillance and testing processes; immunizations, isolation, or quarantine; and, as appropriate, specific law enforcement operations aimed at deterring, preempting, interdicting, or disrupting illegal activity and apprehending potential perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

Private Sector: Organizations and entities that are not part of any governmental structure, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, formal and informal structures, commerce and industry, private emergency response organizations, and private voluntary organizations.

Protection Area Maps: Official maps of the annual operating plans.

Protection Boundaries: Mutually agreed upon boundaries which identify areas of direct incident protection responsibility and are shown on maps in the annual operating plans.

Public Health: Protection, safety, improvement, and interconnections of health and disease prevention among people, domestic animals and wildlife.

Recovery: The development, coordination, and execution of service- and site-restoration plans for impacted communities and the reconstitution of government operations and services through individual, private-sector, nongovernmental, and public assistance programs that: identify needs and define resources; provide housing and promote restoration; address long-term care and treatment of affected persons; implement additional measures for community restoration; incorporate mitigation measures and techniques, as feasible; evaluate the incident to identify lessons learned; and develop initiatives to mitigate the effects of future incidents.

Reimbursable (Assistance by Hire): Incident resources that will be paid for by the requesting Protecting Agency per the conditions of this Agreement and its annual operating plans. Excludes Mutual Aid.

211 Error! Unknown document property name. Resources: Personnel and major items of equipment, supplies, and facilities available or potentially available for assignment to incident operations and for which status is maintained. Resources are described by kind and type and may be used in operational support or supervisory capacities at an incident or at an EOC.

Response: Activities that address the short-term, direct effects of an incident. Response includes immediate actions to save lives, protect property, and meet basic human needs. Response also includes the execution of emergency operations plans and of incident mitigation activities designed to limit the loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and other unfavorable outcomes. As indicated by the situation, response activities include: applying intelligence and other information to lessen the effects or consequences of an incident; increased security operations; continuing investigations into the nature and source of the threat; ongoing public health and agricultural surveillance and testing processes; immunizations, isolation, or quarantine; and specific law enforcement operations aimed at preempting, interdicting, or disrupting illegal activity, and apprehending actual perpetrators and bringing them to justice.

State: Any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any possession of the United States. (As defined in section 2(14) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, et seq. (2002).)

Strategic: Strategic elements of incident management are characterized by continuous, long-term, high-level planning by organizations headed by elected or other senior officials. These elements involve the adoption of long-range goals and objectives, the setting of priorities, the establishment of budgets and other fiscal decisions, policy development, and the application of measures of performance or effectiveness.

Sub-Object Class Code: Detailed codes used by the Federal Government to record its financial transactions according to the nature of services provided or received when obligations are first incurred.

Telecommunications: The transmission, emission, or reception of voice and/or data through any medium by wire, radio, other electrical electromagnetic or optical means. Telecommunications includes all aspects of transmitting information.

Terrorism: Any activity that (1) involves an act that (a) is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources; and (b) is a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State or other subdivision of the United States; and (2) appears to be intended (a) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (b) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (c) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

Threat: An indication of possible violence, harm, or danger.

212 Error! Unknown document property name. Transportation Management: Transportation prioritizing, ordering, sourcing, and acquisition; time phasing plans; fleet management; and movement coordination and tracking.

Tribe: Any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaskan Native Village as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C.A. and 1601 et seq.], that is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

Unified Command: An application of ICS used when there is more than one agency with incident jurisdiction, or when incidents cross political jurisdictions. Agencies work together through the designated members of the Unified Command to establish their designated Incident Commanders at a single ICP and to establish a common set of objectives and strategies and a single Incident Action Plan.

Unit Administrator (Line Officer): The individual assigned administrative responsibilities for an established organizational unit, such as Forest Supervisors or District Rangers for the Forest Service, District Manager for the Bureau of Land Management, Area Forester, Unit Forester, or Regional State Forester as designated for the State Forest Service, Agency Superintendent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Park Superintendent for the National Park Service, and Refuge Manager (Project Leader) for Fish and Wildlife Service.

United States: The term “United States,” when used in a geographic sense, means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S.Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, any possession of the United States, and any waters within the jurisdiction of the United States. (As defined in section 2(16) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 116 Stat. 2135, et seq. (2002).)

Volunteer: Any individual accepted to perform services by an agency that has authority to accept volunteer services when the individual performs services without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services performed. (See, for example, 16 U.S.C. § 742f(c) and 29 CFR § 553.101.)

Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD): As defined in Title 18, U.S.C. § 2332a: (1) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas, bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than 4 ounces, or missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, or mine or similar device; (2) any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors; (3) any weapon involving a disease organism; or (4) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life.

213 Error! Unknown document property name. Appendix L. Cooperative Agreements – Brookgreen Gardens

LA-South Carolina Waccamaw NWR Brookgreen Gardens (115LS)

LEASE AGREEMENT

Between BROOKGREEN GARDENS and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THIS LEASE AGREEMENT, made as of the __7th____ of __October______, 2008, by and between BROOKGREEN GARDENS and the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, acting by and through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, hereinafter referred to as the Service,

Brookgreen Gardens is a non-profit corporation whose purposes include the preservation, protection and propagation of wild flora and fauna, and

The Service is an agency of the United States of America whose mission is to conserve, manage, and restore ecosystems, fish, wildlife, plants, and related habitat, and to provide for compatible, wildlife oriented public use for educational and recreational purposes, and

Brookgreen Gardens is the owner of land on Sandy Island in Georgetown County, South Carolina, and these lands have extremely valuable ecological and cultural resources such as long leaf pine forests, freshwater tidal wetlands, rare species such as red-cockaded woodpeckers, and historical and archaeological sites of statewide significance, and

Brookgreen Gardens has stewarded its lands and their ecological and cultural resources since 1932, such that these lands now represent a rare and outstanding example of South Carolina’s natural and cultural heritage, and

The ecological values of these lands are especially significant because of their proximity to lands that have already been conserved on Sandy Island, and along the Waccamaw River as part of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, and because many species of wildlife depend on all of these adjoining lands for their survival, and

Approximately 1,815.74 acres of the property owned by Brookgreen Gardens lies within the boundary of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, a refuge managed by the Service, and

214 Error! Unknown document property name. Brookgreen Gardens and the Service both recognize the value of managing for the health of ecosystems and natural resources across ownership boundaries as an essential approach to the conservation of biological diversity, and

Brookgreen Gardens and the Service share the mutual objective of conserving and protecting the ecological and cultural values of these lands, and providing for compatible uses, including interpretation and education about the lands’ values, and

Brookgreen Gardens and the Service each recognize the other’s demonstrated long-term commitment to conservation, and

Brookgreen Gardens has resources and expertise on the interpretation and education of the public regarding the cultural and archaeological significance of these lands, and the relationship of historical human uses of these lands to their ecological values, and these resources and expertise are of value to the Service’s long-term conservation and education objectives, and

The Service has resources and expertise in habitat management, invasive species control, and enforcement that are of value to Brookgreen Gardens’ long-term conservation and education objectives, and

It is the desire of both Brookgreen Gardens and the Service to enter into a long- term, on-going collaboration to protect and conserve natural and cultural resources on lands owned by Brookgreen Gardens, and this protection and conservation are of value to the Service, and consequently, to the goals and purposes of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, and

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the rental to be paid by the Service to Brookgreen Gardens, Brookgreen Gardens does hereby lease to the Service and the Service hereby leases from Brookgreen Gardens the real property described in Exhibit “A” subject to the terms and conditions set forth within this lease agreement [EXHIBIT A MUST BE COMPLETED], and

PARTIES. Brookgreen Gardens is a South Carolina non-profit public benefit corporation whose corporate purposes include the exhibition and preservation of the flora and fauna of South Carolina and objects of art; the acquisition of land; and the provision of instruction upon and the promotion of the advancement of learning with regard to such subjects. The Service is a governmental agency under the Department of the Interior whose mission is to conserve, manage, and restore ecosystems, fish, wildlife, plants, and related habitat, and to provide for compatible, wildlife oriented public use for educational and recreational purposes.

TERM; RENTAL. The term of this Lease shall be thirty (30) years, beginning at 12:00 A.M., _October 7_, 2008__, and expiring midnight, _October 6, 2038_. The Service shall pay to Brookgreen Gardens rent in annual installments in advance. For the first five (5) years of the term, the annual rent shall beSeven Thousand Six Hundred and

215 Error! Unknown document property name. Ninety-Six Dollars ($7,696.00) per year, The first installment thereof shall be due upon execution of this Lease, and each subsequent annual installment shall be due and payable on the _7th_ day of _October_ each year. The amount of the annual rent shall be adjusted every five (5) years, by mutual consent, to reflect the appraisal referenced in “ADJUSTMENT TO RENTAL” below.

ADJUSTMENT TO RENTAL. A new appraisal will be prepared by a qualified appraiser approximately every five (5) years. Such appraisal shall be delivered to the parties at least sixty (60) days before the end of each fifth year of the term of this Lease, to enable the parties to agree as to the adjusted annual rental for the next five (5) years of such term.

PURPOSE. The lands leased are described in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made a part hereof, and are hereby referred to collectively as the “Premises.” The Service represents that the Premises are within the boundaries of Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose of this Lease is to set forth terms for the cooperative management and maintenance of the Premises by Brookgreen Gardens and the Service to achieve the objectives outlined in this Lease and described in the “Statement of Management Activities” attached hereto as Exhibit “B.”

USE. The Premises shall be used for open space conservation; ecological research, preservation and restoration; environmental education and research; and low impact, compatible recreational purposes, including but not limited to hiking, bird watching, nature study, photography and education. The Premises and the waters abutting the Premises or comprising a portion of the Premises shall be managed as a wildlife sanctuary, except where necessary to control non-native invasive species, to protect native species, or to conduct a controlled burn of forests on the Premises to improve the health of such forests. Equipment and temporary improvements placed on the Premises by the Service or by any employee, representative, third party contractor, or invitee of the Service shall be placed and operated so as to minimize any detrimental impact therefrom to the Premises and/or wildlife on the Premises, shall not become part of the real property, and shall be removed from the Premises by the Service at the expiration or earlier termination of the lease agreement in such manner as reasonably minimizes any detrimental impact therefrom to the Premises and/or wildlife thereon. No motorized vehicle of any kind shall be permitted on the Premises other than those appropriate for or reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of Brookgreen Gardens and the Service as expressed herein and as expressed in the Statement of Management Activities, and vehicles of third parties legally using rights of way crossing the Premises. For the purposes of this lease agreement, compatible uses shall not significantly interfere with or thwart the objectives and purposes otherwise set forth in this lease agreement, and shall be in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee). The Service shall have sole responsibility for the enforcement of all restrictions and general policing, management in accordance with Exhibit “B” attached hereto, and maintenance of the Premises.

216 Error! Unknown document property name. The Service shall provide all funds required for the foregoing uses, subject to (i) the “ANTI-DEFICIENCY ACT” section below, and (ii) Brookgreen Garden’s decision, in its sole and absolute discretion and communicated to the Service in writing, to provide any such funding, or any personnel or equipment to achieve the foregoing uses.

PREMISES. The Premises are described in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and are subject to all easements, deed restrictions, and rights-of-way of record and to all easements, rights-of-way, and other matters visible in a physical inspection of the Premises. Brookgreen Gardens believes the description stated in Exhibit A is accurate but it has not had the Premises surveyed in a number of years and gives no warranty as to the area of the Premises. Brookgreen Gardens has fee simple title, subject to recorded deed restrictions, to that portion of the Premises above the mean high water mark. Brookgreen Gardens is the grantee of record of that portion of the Premises below the mean high water mark. Brookgreen Gardens may have a King’s Grant title thereto but the existence or absence of any such King’s Grant title is not material to this lease agreement.

NON-CANCELLABILITY. It is understood and agreed by both the Service and Brookgreen Gardens that this Lease is non-cancelable by Brookgreen Gardens. This lease agreement can only be terminated by the Service upon sixty days prior written notice to Brookgreen Gardens. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Brookgreen Gardens may terminate this Lease for cause attributable to the Service upon sixty days prior written notice to the Service. For purposes of this Lease, “cause attributable to the Service” is defined as

(a) the failure of the Service to perform timely and properly any of its duties under this lease agreement other than those duties implicated in subsections (b), (c), or (d) of this “NON-CANCELLABILITY” section; or

(b) the failure of the Service to implement timely and properly any corrective action agreed to in writing by Brookgreen Gardens pursuant to item 12 of Exhibit B hereto; or

(d) the Service’s permitting the Premises to be used for a purpose incompatible with the “USE” section above or the Service’s suffering any use of the Premises in violation of such “USE” section; or

(e) the Service’s failure to pay fully when due the annual payments as described in the “RENTAL” section above or, as applicable, the Adjusted Rent; or

(f) the parties’ failure to agree on the appropriate rental adjustment pursuant to “ADJUSTMENT TO RENTAL” above;

217 Error! Unknown document property name. provided that, with respect to subsections (a) and (d) of this “NON- CANCELLABILITY” section, Brookgreen Gardens shall give the Service written notice thereof and at least sixty days to cure the same, provided further that (y) Brookgreen Gardens shall have no duty to give such notice with respect to a subsequent occurrence or re-occurrence of the same act or omission, and (z) the sixty days notice and cure period for acts or omissions in subsections (a) and (d) of this “NON-CANCELLABILITY” section shall run concurrently with the sixty-days notice period referenced in the third sentence of this “NON-CANCELLABILITY” section. Upon any termination of this lease agreement, (i) the Service and all persons and entities claiming through the Service shall have no right to use or possess any portion of the Premises after the effective date of such termination, (ii) the Service shall remove all of its personal property in a manner reasonably anticipated to minimize resulting damages to the Premises, (iii) all claims of breach of contract then existing against either Party shall survive, and (iv) all other then- existing claims against the Service pursuant to the “LIABILITY” section below shall survive. Otherwise, no Party shall have any right, duty, or obligation under this lease agreement after the effective date of any such termination.

ANTI-DEFICIENCY ACT. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as binding the Service to expend in any one fiscal year any sum in excess of appropriations made by Congress and allocate for the purposes of this Agreement for that fiscal year, or any other obligation for the further expenditure of money in excess of such appropriations. Brookgreen Gardens understands that any research and management assistance provided by the Service to Brookgreen Gardens is conditioned on the availability of adequate staff and funding. Brookgreen Gardens agrees that the Service shall have no obligation to incur any unforeseen or unbudgeted costs in connection with the management of the Premises.

LIABILITY. The Service shall be liable for property damage, personal injury or death arising out of or attributable to the use or management of the Premises only to the maximum extent that is then allowed by the Federal Tort Act 28 U.S.C. Section 1346(b), 2671-80.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF BROOKGREEN GARDENS. Brookgreen Gardens has undertaken the execution of this lease agreement in accordance with its authority set forth in Brookgreen Gardens’ Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as requiring Brookgreen Gardens at any time to incur any debt or expend any funds not agreed upon with the Service.

RESTRICTIONS ON THE PREMISES AND OTHER ADJACENT OR NEARBY PROPERTIES OWNED BY BROOKGREEN GARDENS.

(a) The Service acknowledges that it is very familiar with the Premises, the mainland property of Brookgreen Gardens near the Premises, and the means of access to the Premises; and that the Service accepts the Premises and the means of access to the Premises in their “AS IS” condition. The Service represents that Brookgreen Gardens will not be required or expected to change any of its mainland

218 Error! Unknown document property name. properties or facilities, or Brookgreen Gardens’ operations thereof, to accommodate the Service in the performance of its duties under this Lease or in its access to the Premises.

(b) The Service acknowledges that the Premises, as well as other properties owned by Brookgreen Gardens adjacent to or nearby the Premises, were conveyed to Brookgreen Gardens under various deeds. Some of the deeds, which are recorded in the public records of Georgetown County, contain restrictions regarding the use of the Premises. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the proposed management of the Premises, as of the date of this lease agreement is signed by the parties, does not violate any such restrictions. The Service agrees that it has reviewed such restrictions, that such restrictions do not conflict with the Service’s planned uses of the Premises, and that the Service will comply fully with such restrictions without relying on brookgreen Gardens to monitor such compliances. In addition, Brookgreen Gardens represents and warrants that the proposed management of the Premises, as set forth within this lease agreement, does not violate any other restrictions or limitations relating to the Premises, including easements, rights-of-way, or other restrictions, whether recorde or unrecorded. Such representations are made by Brookgreen Gardens in good faith. However, Brookgreen Gardens shall have no liability to the Service or to any person or entity claiming through the Service if any of such representations is proven to be incorrect.

(c) If any litigation, administrative proceeding, or quasi-jurisdictional proceeding is brought against either of the parties hereto relating to the Service’s operation and/or management of the Premises, (i) each party will deliver prompt notice thereof to the other party, unless the other party has previously acknowledged its awareness of such proceeding, and

FUTURE FUNDING. Either party may provide funding for management activities undertaken pursuant to this lease agreement. In the event that either party provides funding, a written scope of services and budget will be prepared, which describes the purposes of any funding provided, and signed by both parties. All terms and conditions of this lease agreement shall be applicable to such work.

REVIEW, DURATION.

(a) REVIEW. This Lease shall be reviewed by Brookgreen Gardens and the Service not less than once every five years. Brookgreen Gardens and the Service may at any time call a meeting for the purpose of resolving a dispute or suggesting a review or modification of this Lease by notifying the other party in writing at least three weeks prior to such meeting, and stating the specific reasons therefore. Such meeting shall be held at Brookgreen Gardens executive office unless the parties mutually agree otherwise; and such meeting shall be held at a mutually agreeable date and time no later than six weeks from the date of such notice unless the parties mutually agree otherwise.

219 Error! Unknown document property name. (b) DURATION. This Lease shall become effective on the date hereinabove stated and shall expire on October 6, 2038. The Service represents that this term will accommodate the timeframe required for ecological restoration, management and research.

PUBLICITY. Both Brookgreen Gardens and the Service shall approve, and if appropriate receive credit on, all signage, publicity, research publications and promotional or educational materials or programs on or relating to the activities undertaken as long as this lease agreement is in effect.

NOTICE. All notices required or to be given hereunder shall be in writing and deemed duly given when delivered or mailed certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed as follows or to any change of person or address designated in writing to the other party from time to time:

If to Brookgreen Gardens: Robert Jewell, President and Chief Executive Officer Brookgreen Gardens Post Office Box 3368 Pawleys Island, SC 29585

With a copy to: M. Craig Garner, Jr., Esquire McNair Law Firm, P.A. Post Office Box 11390 Columbia, SC 29211

If to the Service: Craig Sasser, Jr., Refuge Manager Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge Post Office Box 1439 Georgetown, SC 29440

With a copy to: Betty Jarous, Branch Chief U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1875 Century Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30345

AMENDMENTS. This lease agreement may be amended or changed, or provisions hereof waived, only in writing signed by the party against whom the same is sought to be enforced, and any attempted oral amendment, change, or waiver shall be ineffective.

220 Error! Unknown document property name. CHOICE OF LAW. This lease agreement shall be deemed to have been made under, and shall be governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina, in all respects, including matters of construction.

COUNTERPARTS. This lease agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which shall constitute a single instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Brookgreen Gardens and the Service have caused the within lease agreement to be duly executed as an instrument under seal and delivered in Columbia, South Carolina.

Witnesses: BROOKGREEN GARDENS

__/S/ Audere L. Geiger______By: /S/ Robert E. Jewell_____

__/S/ Lois J. Ready______Its: President and CEO

Date: October 7, 2008______

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF GEORGETOWN

ON THIS 7th day of October, 2008, before me, the undersigned Notary Public, duly commissioned and qualified in the County and State aforesaid, personally came and appeared Robert E. Jewell, President and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens, who acknowledged to me that he/she signed and executed the above and foregoing instrument for the uses and purposes and consideration therein expressed, the said Robert E. Jewell acknowledging that he/she signed the same as the free act and deed of the said Brookgreen Gardens, by authority of its Board of Directors.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and affixed my seal in the City of Murrells Inlet, County and State aforesaid, on the day, month and year above written.

/S/ Eileen B. DiMaina Notary Public

Eileen B. DiMaina Print Name of Notary & Number Commission Expires on 8/27/2014 (Seal)

221 Error! Unknown document property name. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Fish and Wildlife Service

_/S/ Barbara West______By: /S/ Cynthia K. Dohner_

_/S/ Helen J. Harrison______Its: Acting Regional Director______

Date: April 3, 2009

222 Error! Unknown document property name.

Exhibit “A” – Legal Description

All those lands owned by Brookgreen Gardens, Inc. lying on Sandy island, being in the County of Georgetown, State of South Carolina. Being more particularly described by the records of Georgetown County as a property identification numbers: 03-0466-0002.00.00, 03-0470-016.00.00, and 03-0470-019.00.00.

All four parcels being in aggregate approximately 1,810.76 acres.

Less and except the following, which is the subject of that certain Sandy Island School House Permit dated on or about September 22, 1945, between Brookgreen Gardens and the Georgetown County, South Carolina, Board of Education, as modified by that certain Agreement dated as of May 11, 2004, between Brookgreen Gardens and Georgetown County, South Carolina.

All that certain piece, parcel or tract of land, situate, lying and being on Sandy Island in the County of Georgetown, State of South Carolina, containing five (5) acres, according to a plat thereof made by J. L. Bull, Jr., C.E., dated April 16, 1932; Butting and Bounding as follows: On the East by lands formerly of Alex Washington or of Jesse Metcalf, and on all other sides by the lands of Prince Washington, and having such shape, form, marks, courses, distances and boundaries as more particularly represented on the said plat.

Being a part of that portion of Mont Arena Plantation which was set apart to William Washington in the division of the lands of Mont Arena Plantation under the terms of the Will of Philip Washington.

Being the same premises which Prince Washington by deed bearing date the 21st st day of May, 1932 and recorded on the 21 day of May 1932 in the Office of the Clerk of Court of Georgetown County in Book P-2 of Deeds, page 12, granted and conveyed to Archer M. Huntington, in fee; and conveyed to Brookgreen Gardens, A society For Southeastern Flora and Fauna, by deed dated March 12, 1941 and recorded in such Clerk’s Office in Book P of Deeds, page 27.

223 Error! Unknown document property name.

Exhibit “B” Statement of Management Activities

The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) shall manage the Premises as part of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. The primary management activities on the Premises will focus on habitat management for resident and migratory wildlife species management; invasive species control; and environmental education and awareness of the public. Specific management activities may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. The enhancement of longleaf pine habitats and other fire adaptive floral communities through the use of prescribed fire, mechanical manipulation, and tree planting where natural regeneration is not successful. 2. Management of all public use activities and facilities on designated lands

specified in the lease agreement including but not limited to refuge areas,

outreach and interpretive programs, special use permits, trails, roads, creeks,

public access points, and concessionaire contracts. All approved public uses will

be evaluated through Service Compatibility Determination process and will

include close coordination with Brookgreen Gardens.

3. Placement of appropriate interpretive exhibits, displays, and trails highlighting the

outstanding natural features of this coastal riverine ecosystem for refuge visitors.

4. Restricting use and access by the public to day use only unless specifically

authorized through a refuge program(s) or by issuance of a Special Use Permit.

If necessary, portions of the Premises will be closed to prevent significant impacts

to the habitat or wildlife. In the event this action is necessary, the Service will coordinate details with Brookgreen Gardens.

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5. Allowing research activities that are approved within a refuge Compatibility Determination which may include wildlife, vegetation communities, habitat recovery and archeology. 6. Conducting routine law enforcement to insure compliance of applicable state and

federal regulations as outlined in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations,

which includes taking all reasonable measures to provide security against property

damage, property degradation, and unauthorized uses.

7. Controlling invasive species as outbreaks occur. As these actions are determined

necessary, the Service will coordinate closely with Brookgreen Gardens.

8. Conducting annual wildlife population and habitat surveys to maintain accurate

baseline data sets for which management decisions will be made.

9. Managing wetlands for the enhancement of migratory and resident water

dependent wildlife including waterfowl, colonial nesting wading birds,

neotropical migratory birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

10. Meeting annually with Brookgreen Gardens to review this Statement of

Management Activities and update if necessary.

11. Issuing Special Use Permits to any third-party requests for use of the property

only after joint review and approval by both Brookgreen Gardens and the Service,

which approval may be granted or withheld by either party in its sole discretion.

Allowing Brookgreen Gardens to inspect the activities and operations of the Service in management of this lease agreement. If Brookgreen Gardens notifies the Service of any specific performance deficiencies, the Service will respond to Brookgreen Gardens within 60 days with a proposal forLEASE corrective AGREEMENTaction.

LEASE AGREEMENT

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Fire District 2 Aviation Plan

2010

SECTION I-BACKGROUND/POLICY/PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE OF DISTRICT (STATION) AVIATION PLAN

USFWS Fire District 2, hereafter referred to as the District or D-2, has a significant aviation workload. Fixed wing and rotor wing aircraft are used for a variety of management and administrative purposes; fire management activities, search and rescue operations, natural and cultural resources management.

The District encompasses an area of approximately 208,296 acres covering refuges in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The District is comprised of the following national wildlife refuges: Pee Dee, Carolina Sandhills, Waccamaw, Santee, Cape Romain, ACE Basin, Pinckney Island, Savannah, Tybee, Wassaw Island, Harris Neck, Blackbeard

Island, and Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuges.

The District currently utilizes a variety of aircraft including:

1. Light, medium and heavy turbine helicopters under interagency contract on a call when needed basis, commonly referred to as ARA’s (aircraft rental agreements) and an exclusive use helicopter contract which is primarily positioned at Carolina Sandhills and Savannah National Wildlife Refuges.

2. USFWS owned aircraft.

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3. An approved DOI contract helicopter is positioned at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and may be requested according to need by contacting the Dispatcher located at Okefenokee for scheduling requests. The contract ship at Okefenokee has a shared year round schedule.

4. DOI Contracted single engine airplanes. A current listing of approved vendors are available on the AMD website: www.nbc.gov/amd

5. Federal Cooperator Aircraft. The Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests in South Carolina employ Type III helicopters for suppression, pre-suppression, and prescribed burning activities. Requests for use for Department of Agriculture aircraft may be facilitated through the South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center, otherwise known as SCICC. (See Phone contacts, Appendix A.) The Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide, IHOG, will be utilized as the guiding document for all helicopter operational aspects.

6. State Cooperator Aircraft. The state of North Carolina and Georgia utilize a variety of helicopters for fire suppression use. Assistance may be obtained by requesting through SCICC. It should be noted here that the South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center has interagency dispatching responsibilities for all three states concerning refuge responsibilities.

7. The states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia also utilize fixed winged aircraft for a variety of fire support operations. Requests for fixed wind assistance, usually for detection assistance, should go to the affected county’s Forestry Commission office. See phone contact list, Appendix B. Additionally, the state of North Carolina has a fleet of fixed wing aircraft known as “super scoopers”, CL-215 and CL-415’s, as well as other Single Engine Air Tankers, available for emergency fire operations by requests through SCICC

8. Military aircraft. Helicopter use, primarily for fire operations, resource management, law enforcement and surveys average 100+ hours per year. Fixed wing use, primarily for

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waterfowl surveys average approximately 10+ hours a year. The use of military aircraft is rare, and would require a special use agreement from the cooperating military branch to facilitate for non fire projects. As far as immediate need for military aircraft concerning fire emergencies, any requests for such assistance are to be facilitated through the South Carolina Forestry Commission thru the South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center and will be authorized through respective state agreements. Military Aircraft will only be considered as a “last option” resort in emergency fire operations.

Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) policy (352 DM 1.9c) requires that Station Aviation Plans be completed for all refuges with significant administrative aviation operations. This step down plan is for the professional level management of administrative aircraft use within the fire district and individual refuge. It establishes guidelines and specific operational procedures for the use of aircraft on FWS missions. It is designed to enhance safety; protect FWS resources and facilities; comply with the Fish and Wildlife policies; and insure that all use of aircraft considers efficiency, economy and effectiveness.

This plan applies only to aircraft on Department of Interior (DOI) business and is not meant to cover private, general, or commercial aviation operations in and around District 2. COMPLIANCE WITH FWS POLICY AND REFUGE LEGISLATIVE MANDATES

Fire District 2 refuges were established under a variety of Executive Orders. The majority of refuges were established to preserve the properties and provide a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The fire district now covers approximately 208,296 acres, and includes 12 National Wildlife Refuges. Individual refuge maps are included in Appendix E of this plan.

A wide variety of specific FWS Management Policies also affect the use of aircraft for administrative purposes in FWS areas. Specific guidelines and authorities are listed in the following: 330 FW1, 334 FW5, 350-352 DOI DM, and DOI 485 DM 15. Also utilized are

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Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) standards and guidelines as well as NWCG Interagency standards such as the IHOG (Interagency Helicopter Operations Guide). Among the many policies listed, the intent of this aviation plan is to highlight those issues most important to District 2’s fire and refuge use of aviation resources. These include policies related to visitor safety; emergency preparedness; search and rescue; emergency medical services; wilderness preservation and management; and specific operational procedures on aircraft use.

Management Facilities There are two permanent helibases, one located at Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge and one at Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Temporary helibases located on each refuge within the fire district. Temporary landing facilities may be used to meet the minimum requirements of emergency situations. Site improvements determined to be essential for safety reasons during individual emergency situations are authorized. Natural openings may be used for non-emergency helicopter landings if the pilot and helicopter managers agree that the site meets current AMD and IHOG criteria for the size of the aircraft utilized. A listing of all approved helispots and coordinates are included in Appendix E of this document.

AVIATION USE ON REFUGES

Visitor Safety The saving of human life will take precedence over all other management actions. The fire District and its concessionaires, contractors, and cooperators will seek to provide a safe and healthful environment for visitors and employees. The fire District will work cooperatively with other federal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and individuals to carry out this responsibility.

Emergency Preparedness

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The Refuge has developed a program of emergency preparedness in accordance with the Federal Civil Defense Act (50 USC 2251 et seq.), National Security Decision Directive 259 (Feb. 4, 1987), Departmental Policy, and other considerations at the Washington, Regional and Refuge levels. The purpose of the program will be to maximize visitor and employee safety and the protection of property. This program includes a systematic method for alerting visitors to potential disasters and evacuation procedures, and ensures an effective response to all types of emergencies that can be reasonably anticipated.

Search and Rescue To provide for the protection and safety of refuge visitors, the District will make reasonable efforts to search for lost persons and to rescue sick, injured, or stranded persons. This responsibility may be fulfilled by refuge staff or qualified search and rescue organizations or agencies that are capable of responding effectively to life-threatening emergencies pursuant to the terms of a cooperative agreement. Deceased persons will be evacuated unless the level of risk to the rescue party is determined to be unwarranted. Search managers and refuge managers will jointly determine when to terminate a search. Usually, due to the geographic locality of the majority refuges, the US Coast Guard will assume the primary duties of search and rescue. However, there may be occasion where Service procured aircraft will take the lead role in search and rescue or may work in conjunction with various cooperators for emergency rescue efforts.

Emergency Medical Services The individual Refuges will make reasonable efforts to provide basic first-aid for persons who become ill or injured. An emergency medical service program will be maintained by local communities to provide emergency pre-hospital care, which may range from minor first aid to basic life support in various environmental settings. Transportation may be provided by qualified emergency medical services in local communities or on site aviation resources. Should exigent circumstances require immediate evacuation of injured personnel

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utilizing DOI procured aircraft, Appendix D contains the nearest locations to refuges and provides contact listings for local air ambulances and landing facilities for the refuge listed.

AIRCRAFT USE

A variety of aircraft types including military, commercial, general aviation, and aircraft used for FWS administrative purposes, fly over refuges. Noise resulting from overflights has the potential to adversely affect refuge resources and values such as fragile cultural resources, sensitive wildlife species, the natural quiet of the refuge, and to interfere with the enjoyment by visitors.

Since the Fish and Wildlife Service has no direct authority or jurisdiction over airspace above refuges, it will actively seek the assistance of the Federal Aviation Administration and appropriate agencies of the Department of Defense to resolve overflight concerns and to prevent, eliminate, or minimize the degradation of refuge resources and values associated with overflight activity.

The 1984 Interagency Agreement among the Fish and Wildlife Service, Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Park Service establishes agency responsibilities and procedures to be followed to address site specific aircraft overflight concerns.

Due to FAA airspace closure, airspace congestion, and military training routes over and near refuges, some planned flights will require special consideration prior to flights. Special instructions for affected refuges are provided for Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Pinckney Island NWR, and selected units of the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge.

When possible, refuge use of aircraft will be planned and scheduled to consolidate flights. Refuge aircraft operations are subject to the regulations and policies of the Department of the Interior, Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) and Federal Aviation Administration.

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DISTRICT 2 (REFUGE) AVIATION POLICY

It is the policy of District 2 to use its aircraft for activities involving life-threatening emergencies, the administration and/or protection of resources, research, and for individually approved special purpose missions. The objective of every flight is to be the safest, most efficient, economic and effective method of performing the required task, consistent with refuge goals. All administrative use of aircraft will comply with the policies and guidelines contained in the Departmental Manual 350-354, Fish and Wildlife Service Manual; applicable Aviation Management Directorate (AMD) policies and the operational procedures outlined in this plan.

Each station and every individual involved with aviation is responsible for becoming familiar with the applying correct procedures in all phases of aircraft use. The number one concern at all times is safety.

SECTION II-GENERAL PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION

ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITY

Respective Refuge Manager Responsible for managing all aviation activities within Departmental and Refuge policy, the Fish and Wildlife Manual and all relevant legal requirements.

Responsible for implementation of the plan and the day-to-day operation of the Aviation Management Program. Reviews plan annually with the District Fire Management Officer, revising as necessary.

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Reviews an annual need assessment of aviation related training, based on input from the District and station FMO. Coordinates and conducts training as needed.

For routine (resource, and non incident) aviation operations that involve other than point to point flying, appoints a project coordinator, who is responsible for the following:

Coordinates training and briefing of all personnel involved in air operations.

Insure implementation of project plan and takes corrective action if necessary to insure compliance with the plan.

Designates a Chief of Party for all flights to act as Government representative in regards to safety, flight documentation/payment process (OAS - 23 Aircraft Use Report), and ensuring those in their party are properly briefed.

Supervisors of Frequent Flyers Responsible for ensuring that all work units in their Division are familiar with and abide by the policies and procedures contained in this plan.

District Fire Management Officer Responsible for oversight of fire and aviation operations.

District Fire Management Officer, and Station Fire Management Officer Responsible for overall operational management of the Aviation Management Program as delegated by the Refuge Manager.

Ensures that an Aviation Management Program is adequately planned and implemented, and that the District Aviation Plan is reviewed annually and revised as necessary.

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Responsible for ensuring that all Refuge divisions are familiar with the legal, policy, safety, fiscal and operational procedures outlined in this plan.

Resolves disputes related to the denial of routine flight request, as outlined in this plan.

Serves as Project Inspector (PI) for helicopter contracts.

Negotiates and completes administrative requirements for contract aircraft and interagency agreements.

Reviews request for routine use of aircraft. Approves/disapproves request based on Refuge policy contained in this plan. Tracks and reviews both routine and non-routine use of aircraft. The District Fire Management Officer will consider unusual and non recurring deviations from the policies and operational procedures contained in this plan with appropriate supervisor. The District FMO will then refer all unresolved situations to the Regional Aviation Manager for resolution.

The District or Station FMO will be responsible for procurement for aircraft for all routine use, and other non-routine use as requested.

Reviews all OAS-23's for completeness and accuracy and insures prompt processing at the refuge level.

During periods of Very high or Extreme fire danger or during special events, will coordinate daily with the refuge dispatcher. The DFMO will determine whether the exclusive use helicopter will be available for routine missions or shall be placed on standby for emergency needs.

Responsible for implementation of the plan and the day-to-day operation of the Aviation Management Program. Reviews plan annually, by October 1, revising as necessary.

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Conducts an annual needs assessment of aviation related training, makes recommendations to refuge management. Advises refuge management of required annual and recurrent aviation training needs. Coordinates and conducts training as needed.

For rotor wing operations, insures that each mission is assigned a helicopter crewperson and that all paperwork has been completed.

Refuge Dispatcher In the absence of dedicated dispatch positions, the DFMO, FMO or Refuge Manager will assign the major duties (radio coverage, communication logs, etc.) as needed to available refuge personnel. However, to insure mission safety and efficient use of aviation resources and especially to address the need of trained personnel in the event of an aviation emergency, the District FMO, station FMO, or qualified helicopter manager will be notified of rotor wing operations. The lack of a dedicated fire district dispatcher creates unique challenges in the day to day operations of aircraft, especially concerning flight operations of the exclusive use helicopter. The South Carolina Interagency Coordination Center or SCICC, administered by the USDA Forest Service, graciously fills the role of dispatch and flight following for transient station to station aircraft on fire related or all hazard missions.

Incident Commanders Whenever an aircraft is in a special use mission (search and rescue, law enforcement emergency, fire suppression, medical evacuation etc.) there will be an Incident Commander for that incident.

It is the Incident Commanders responsibility to:

• Ensure that the aircraft is procured in compliance with the guidelines contained in this

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plan. • Ensure that the use of all aircraft is properly managed by qualified personnel. • Ensure that the aircraft and pilot are AM certified for the intended use. • Ensure that the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), mission gear, survival gear and other equipment are carried on all flights. Deviations from established PPE use must be justified by the Incident Commander and approved by the Refuge Manager. • Ensure that all necessary forms and billing documents are properly completed (OAS- 23) and forwarded to the dispatcher to be reviewed and submitted.

In some cases, the Incident Commander may also serve as the Fixed Wing Flight Manager or Helibase/Helispot Manager, if so qualified.

Fixed Wing Flight Manager (Chief of Party) On all use of fixed wing aircraft, there will be a designated Flight Manager approved by the DFMO. Although it is not a requirement that the Flight Manager actually participate in the flight, in most cases, he/she will simply be a member of the party making the flight. To serve as a designated Flight Manger, a person must attend the AM Basic Aviation Safety Course.

The Fixed Wing Flight Manager must:

• Be present at the airport at the time of embarking and disembarking passengers. The chief responsibility of the Flight Manager is to ensure the safety of all flight participants, particularly when moving in and around other aircraft. The Flight Manager must keep the group together and under control to avoid potential prop strike situations. . Ensure that the aircraft and pilot are AM approved for the attended use. . Make sure that all passengers and the pilot are briefed on the purpose of the flight. . Ensure that a flight plan is filed, or flight following procedures are followed.

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. Ensure that the OAS-23 is properly completed prior to departing the airport and forwarded to the dispatcher for review • Ensure that all passengers receive a proper safety briefing from the pilot, including the location of the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and Emergency Locator Transmitter, ELT.

Helibase/Helicopter Manager A qualified Helibase or Helicopter Manager whether for routine or special use, will manage all use of rotary winged aircraft. If the person requesting the flight (in the case of routine use) or the Incident Commander (in the case of a special use flight) cannot provide a qualified Helibase/Helicopter Manager, the District Fire Management Officer will designate a qualified person.

The Helibase/Helicopter Manager is responsible for:

• Confirming the helicopter and pilot are AMD certified for the intended use. • Preparing the helibase, including providing an adequate safety zone, a fire extinguisher and wind indicator, taking necessary dust abatement measures, and maintaining communications with the pilot. • Ensuring that all passengers are wearing the required personal protective equipment. Deviations must be justified by the Dispatcher and approved by the DFMO.

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• Ensuring that all passengers and pilot are properly briefed. • The safe loading and unloading of passengers. • Completing all necessary load calculations and passenger manifest. • Ensuring that all subsidiary helispots are properly prepared and manned. • Ensure that the OAS-23 is properly completed prior to departing the airport and forwarded to the dispatcher for review. • Completes special use safety plan when needed including the Aviation Risk Assessment and checklist.

Passengers • All passengers have a role in aircraft safety and are responsible for the following: • Follow instructions of the Flight Manager, Helibase/Helicopter Manager and the Pilot • Advise the Pilot of hazards or unsafe conditions o Wear proper PPE. o Secure loose gear in the cabin of the aircraft • Wear/carry proper clothing for weather, etc. • Report any actions which may damage the aircraft o Properly adjust seat belts

STAFFING NEEDS/TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED TO MANAGE PROGRAM

In order for the District’s overall aviation program to be well managed, and to operate both safely and effectively, there are several formal qualifications, which should be present in the Refuge.

The DFMO should be trained in Aviation Management and well versed in every aspect of Refuge aviation operations. The individual will attend appropriate aviation management program refreshers.

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Fire District 2 strives to maintain at least 1 (1) qualified Type 2 Helibase Managers, four (4) Helicopter Managers and one (1) Helispot Managers. It is recommended that the four manager positions are distributed evenly between Carolina Sandhills and Savannah National Wildlife Refuges. Due to the highly technical nature of the helicopter techniques utilized, the fire district should be represented on a regular basis at AMD meetings regarding these techniques and at periodic Helicopter Operations Specialist (HOS) workshops.

Refuge Managers whose station has a significant aviation workload will attend the Aviation for Managers training offered by the AMD.

Aviation users other than occasional, general use flyers are required to attend the AMD/OAS Basic Aviation Safety course and complete the refresher course every three years.

THE FLIGHT APPROVAL PROCESS (Helicopter Use)

All flights are to be coordinated with the assigned refuge dispatcher. The dispatcher will coordinate the flight assignment with the Helicopter Manager and with the pilot in charge. All transitory flights will utilize flight following either with the local refuge or in the case of repositioning aircraft between refuges, with SCICC. The frequency for use with SCICC shall be the USDA Forest Service Huger Repeater. The flight frequency is: 168.675 RX, 164.125 TX. The code guard is 136.5 RX and TX. Additionally, SCICC will be notified of all flight operations to insure adequate tracking of aviation resources. This is critically important with aircraft repositioning from station to station flights. All local requests for routine flights should be prepared by the individual responsible for the project and scheduled through the assigned refuge dispatcher. The person requesting the flight should determine the date of the flight, time and location of the flight origin, duration or destination, nature of flight, cargo to be carried, and the appropriate account number to be charged. In the event the

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flight is planned during hours the state coordination center (SCICC) is not staffed, the information should be left by phone or e-mail message with a contact person and call back number. If SCICC is closed, a regular FAA Flight plan should be filed by the PIC (Pilot in Command).

Fixed Wing Approval Process

Standard FWS, AMD, and Department of the Interior policies apply. If the fixed wing aircraft have radio communication capabilities, local flight following will be utilized.

Non Special Use Activities

Non Special Use Activities are defined as those that can be scheduled in advance and should also meet the other requirements of this section. If a routine flight does not take place, there will be no significant threat to life, property, Refuge resources or services. An alternate flight at a later time can be scheduled.

Examples of Non Special Use Activities are activities such as FWS and non-FWS research, helicopter training activities, and filming permits, animal surveys, visitor use surveys, hydrologic surveys, VIP orientation, non-emergency personnel transports, administrative uses, contract work and other similar operations.

Special Use Activities Because of their potentially life or property threatening nature, these types of activities cannot be scheduled in advance and will often involve both approved and primitive landing zones. The following projects meets the intent of the non-routine definition, i.e., automatic approval is given to use aircraft in the following instances (this is not a priority listing):

• Administrative Emergencies: Some of which include life threatening situations, involve

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public health, Refuge closure, property protection (gross damage from flooding or high winds) endangered species and dignitary protection. • Search and Rescue Operations. • Emergency Fire Activities. • Law Enforcement Emergencies. • Medical Evacuations. • Aerial Ignition • External Load - Longline > 50' (Helicopter) • Low Level Flights (within 500' of the ground) • Resource Reconnaissance • Fire Reconnaissance

Special Use Activity Request Flights to accomplish activities meeting the special use definition are automatically approved. Incident Commanders remain responsible for ensuring that the aircraft and pilot are AMD approved for the intended use and that the use of the aircraft is properly managed by qualified personnel as specified in this plan.

Fire District Incident Commanders should procure aircraft services for emergency uses in the following manner:

All emergency aircraft services should be requested first through the District Fire Management Officer or FMO at 843-784-6351. If the FMO, fire district dispatcher or fire duty officer is unavailable, aircraft services should be arranged through the respective Refuge Manager.

Completed OAS 23's related to non-routine aircraft use should be forwarded to the District FMO or PI for review.

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RECORDS AND REPORTS

Accident and Incident Reporting The Aircraft Pre-Accident Plan contains the current notifications and contact procedures for initial response to aircraft incidents; copies can be found posted at each refuge, at Carolina Sandhills and Savannah Helibases, and on the wall at the dispatchers desk.

An aircraft accident (as defined by AMD) is an unplanned event that does substantial damage or causes serious injury when associated with the operation of applicable aircraft, occurring between the time the engine(s) is (are) started or rotors turning for the purpose of commencing flight, until the aircraft comes to rest with engines and propellers or rotors stopped, and the brakes set or wheels chocks in place and all persons embarked.

When an aircraft accident has occurred, it is imperative that the crash site be preserved much the same way a crime scene is protected. After necessary EMS activities are concluded, the accident site will be defined and a perimeter established with flagging or evidence tape. FWS personnel must make sure that everything inside the flagging remains exactly as it was found until trained aviation accident investigators arrive on the scene. This is crucial to the investigation.

An aircraft incident or malfunction (as defined by AMD) is an unplanned event that does damage which is less than aircraft accident criteria, or incurs injury requiring first aid and/or medical attention. It is a situation involving an aircraft and/or personnel which results in deviation standard aircraft operational procedures and has the potential of resulting in an accident. Examples of incidents are precautionary or forced landings (with minimal damage/injury), engine problems, bird strikes which damage some component of the aircraft, smoke in the cockpit, jettisoning or loss of cargo, and flying outside of daylight flight restrictions.

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The dispatcher will be notified immediately when either type of mishap occurs. Full reporting to the Aviation Management will occur, in full compliance with the AMD form 34 (SAFECOM) system.

The Regional Aviation Manager and AM will be notified immediately by the most expeditious means available when an aircraft accident occurs, and when an aircraft is declared missing. The phone number is 1-888-4-MISHAP.

Within three (3) working days after an aircraft accident/incident, a SAFECOM will be completed by the pilot or the supervisor and mailed to the AM Safety Office. It will be the responsibility of the user bureau or office to insure that proper internal notification has been made. One copy of the AMD-34 will be retained in the originating office.

In addition, pilot cooperation is required in reporting near mid-air collisions and all bird strikes. A near mid-air collision should be reported to the NTSB. Additional actions are required to report the incident to the FAA. That is, NTSB will probably not inform the FAA about the near mid-air, the pilot will have to do that. Telephone calls or radio reports are not sufficient action to ensure an investigation will occur. The pilot must submit a letter to the nearest FSDO (Flight Standards District Office) or GADO (General Aviation District Office) giving them all the information they have concerning the mishap. Bird strikes should be reported on FAA Form 5200-7,(Bird Strike/Incident Report).

Daily Flight Reports The Aircraft Use Report (OAS-23) will be used to record all flights where payment is required. Payment will be charged to the account number provided. The respective Helicopter Manager receives all OAS-23s for review and processing. Appendix C contains a listing of all District Billee codes.

SECTION III - AVIATION OPERATIONS (POLICIES AND PROCEDURES)

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RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTUAL AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS

All aviation operations within the Refuge will have a designated person, responsible for the execution of the operation and compliance with the policies and operational procedures contained in the plan. This person will be a qualified Helibase Manager (in the case of Helicopters) and a Fixed-Wing Flight Manager (in the case of airplanes). On emergency (non-routine) operations, this person will be the Incident Commander, regardless of aircraft used.

GENERAL POLICIES

All aviation operations will comply with:

U.S. Department of the Interior/Office of Aircraft Services Aviation Policy, Departmental Manuals (DM 350 through 354, and Operational Procedures Memoranda (OPMs) and all AMD Handbooks (copy available in the dispatchers office).

Dsitrict 2 Aircraft Flight Following Procedures as outlined in this approved Station Aviation Plan.

Low-Flying Aircraft, Interagency Agreement between NPS, FWS and FAA.

FAA Advisory Circular No 91-36C entitled AVisual Flight Rules (VFR) Flight near Noise Sensitive Areas.

Title 41, Section 114-38.5003 as it pertains to the use of motor vehicles (aircraft) by employees other than while on official, and Departmental Rules 20.735-15, which address misuse of government vehicles or aircraft. These rules state, in part, Employees shall not willfully use or authorize the use of a Government-owned or leased passenger motor vehicle (aircraft) for other than official purposes. Violation of this provision shall

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automatically result in suspension from duty without compensation for not less than one month.

Interagency Helicopter Operational Guide, May 2005 (NFES 1885).

Within refuge boundaries, point to point flights will be conducted at or above 500 feet.

GENERAL OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR FIXED AND ROTOR WING AIRCRAFT

Safety Safety will be most important goal for all phases and aspects of aviation operations. Personnel involved in air operations activities will be instructed in the following safety requirements:

Passenger safety: A properly briefed passenger should never be endangered by spinning rotors or propellers, yet some have lost their lives because they were not told the correct way to approach or depart aircraft. The simplest way to avoid accidents of this sort is to have the rotors and propellers stopped when loading and unloading the aircraft. Since this is not always possible (especially with helicopters), it is often necessary to take passengers or to unload them while the engine rotors or propellers are at or near operational settings. If accidents are to be avoided, it is essential that all persons associated with aircraft operations be made aware of all possible hazards and instructed on how to avoid them.

Flight Crew Personnel: Persons directly involved with loading or unloading passengers or cargo, aircraft servicing, rigging and connecting external loads, etc., must be thoroughly familiar with their duties. It is impossible to cover, in this policy, each and every type of operation or training matter related to aircraft.

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Aircraft Data Cards No aircraft will be used on DOI business unless a current aircraft data card (USDA Form 5700-4 or USDI/OAS Form 36AOAS Form 36A, B or C) is displayed. NOTE: USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and USDI (U.S. Department of the Interior) cards are interagency, i.e., aircraft carded under one agency can be used by the other.

Pilot Qualification Cards All pilots flying aircraft on official DOI business will carry a current Pilot Qualification Card or DOI/OAS Form 30A, B or C.

Personal Protective Equipment (Special Requirements): All personnel on board helicopters, or airplanes involved in special use missions, will be clothed and protected per DOI standards.

It is policy that employees do not wear nylon or other easily melted materials beneath approved PPE. Doing so defeats the purpose of the flame retardant garments.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) shall be worn by each individual aboard the helicopter when conducting operations beyond power - off gliding distance to shore, and during all hovering flight operations conducted over water sources such as islands, ponds, rivers, streams, lakes and coastal waters.

It is the responsibility of each crewmember, passenger to comply with these regulations. Flight Managers are responsible for enforcing this section.

Dispatch Request For rotor winged aircraft, a detailed request form shall be completed and passed along to the pilot for each flight requiring movement from station to station.

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Flight Manifest All passengers on both fixed wing and rotary winged flights will be properly manifested prior to the initiation of the mission.

Load Calculations OAS Form 67, Helicopter Load Calculation@ will be used for rotary wing aircraft. Locally, a blanket form may be used due to limited temperature/altitude changes that occur. Fixed wing aircraft will complete actual weight and balance per AFM or equivalent.

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Flight Plans/Flight Following Flight plans and flight following will be in accordance with 351 Departmental Manual 1.4. All administrative aircraft flights within the Refuge will be conducted under a formal flight plan, submitted to either Flight Services or respective refuge Dispatch, or the FAA where the flight originated or was approved. The flight following protocol requires position reports every 15 minutes for all rotor wing aircraft. All fixed wing aircraft will use a 30 minute call in using latitude and longitude descriptors. Location information is mandatory. If the pilot losses radio contact with assigned dispatch, the flight shall be terminated as soon as practical and dispatch contacted.

Pilot Authority The pilot of the aircraft will have the final say as to whether an aspect of the flight operation can be safely performed. All passengers also have the discretion of vetoing a trip or canceling the current flight if it becomes obvious that the mission cannot be successfully or safely completed.

Pilot Duty Limitations DM Limitations will be adhered to for refuge project flights, IHOG and interagency fire policies will be applied when appropriate.

Night Flights In accordance with FWS and DOI policy, night flights are not authorized. All refuge flight operations are to be conducted one half hour before official sunrise and concluded one half hour after official sunset.

Special Flight Instructions – Savannah National Wildlife Refuge Savannah National Wildlife Refuge lies within the Class C Airspace for the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport. Airport tower contact must be established prior to take off and landing on the refuge.

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Special Flight Instructions – Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge Pinckney Island NWR lies within the Class C Airspace for the Pinckney Island Airport. Airport tower contact must be established prior to take off and landing on the refuge.

Instrument Flights Not applicable at this time.

Wilderness Areas Helicopter use in wilderness areas must be approved by the respective refuge manager and documented by the assigned helicopter manager. Approximately 31,000 acres of District 2 are designated as wilderness. Wilderness designations are identified on refuge maps. The use of aircraft in wilderness is considered to be the minimal tool and least invasive means of access to carry out research, fire and resource management, law enforcement, and search and rescue activities. Official and authorized low level aircraft flights and landings within wilderness areas will be closely managed to ensure that wilderness values are not compromised.

Low Level Flight (Special Use Activities) Flights will be performed in accordance with Departmental Manual. All fixed- wing/helicopter low level flights must be made in accordance with a current plan of operation. All point to point rotor wing flights will be at or above 500 ft. AGL. Fire missions or other fight specific missions, such as eagle nest or waterfowl surveys may require lower altitude flights. Normally scheduled fixed wing flights are to be at 1,000 ft. AGL and higher, waterfowl surveys may require lower altitudes.

Transporting Explosives and Flammables Guidelines contained in the DOI Transportation of Hazardous Materials handbook will be followed.

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Smoking Smoking is strictly prohibited in or around aircraft (operating or shutdown) and during fueling operations. All persons standing in the vicinity of rotor or propeller wash should not smoke because of the hazards of windblown ashes or embers.

Transportation of Dogs and Other Animals Transportation will be done as situations dictate. Example, Search and Rescue operations with dog-handler team being deployed during a search. Animals will be muzzled, leashed, or caged, and attended while in the aircraft. Owners or attendants are responsible for removing litter from aircraft after such transports. Owners are encouraged to enclose animals in standard airplane pet carriers if they have them.

Flight Hazard Maps and Equipment These maps will be maintained and kept current at Carolina Sandhills and Savannah Helibases. Due to the highly fluid nature of flight hazards, current aviation sectional maps will be considered as the best source of flight information. The flight hazard maps or the sectional chart map will be part of the briefing when a person meets a pilot of an aircraft. The briefing will cover the entire Refuge and the information will be made available to other heliport/helispot flight managers upon request. Pilots new to the area will be fully briefed by managers concerning these hazards to flight. At this same time, pilots will also be made aware of noise sensitive or flight-free areas.

The District has purchased a specialized aviation Garmin GPS unit which has the capability to detect aviation hazards such as communication towers. This is a mobile unit capable of use in any aircraft. The unit will be positioned in the exclusive use helicopter and is available for use in other contracted aircraft by request.

Pilot Briefings All new contract/rental pilots will be briefed upon arrival at the station. This briefing will cover the pilot briefing checklist, for example, local communications systems (Refuge and

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other commonly agreed upon frequencies and procedures), navigation aids, flight hazards, legal descriptions and prominent landmarks, known military or commercial fight issues, payment procedures and administrative duties (record keeping, maintenance scheduling, etc.), safety and emergency procedures (emergency fields/helispots and emergency equipment available), and dispatching procedures (flight scheduling and reporting during flights). Daily briefings for experienced pilots can consist simply of the day weather and flights as known at that time. The initial briefing is to be performed by the DFMO, FMO, or Helicopter Manager. For regular refuge flight operations, the briefings may be given by the respective refuge manager.

Authorized Passengers, Cargo, and Flights Only individuals who have an official purpose, or are essential to the execution of a particular mission may participate in a Refuge flight.

Aircraft Operators Operators on Refuge business, unless directed otherwise, will comply with the requirements and guidelines in this document as well as all portions of the procurement document under which they are hired.

SPECIFIC HELICOPTER GUIDELINES

Authorized Landing Zones There are two approved designated Helibases for helicopters on the District, one at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge and one at Savannah National wildlife Refuge. All other designated landing areas are considered unimproved landing zones. Landing and taking off at these unimproved field sites will be at the pilot’s discretion.

Personal Protective Equipment PPE will be worn at all times on all DOI flights within the refuge and below 500 ft.

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PPE is required for contract helicopter off refuge point to point flights. PPE may not be required in some instances, according to DOI AMD regulations, for non fire, off refuge, point to point flights. Exceptions for non PPE flights will be determined on a case by case basis.

Load Calculations and Loading (Helicopters) A written load calculation shall be completed each day taken in account for that days maximum temperature. The pilot has the responsibility for loading manifested personnel and cargo but a qualified Helicopter Crewman can also load passengers. The original will remain at base, or designated refuge dispatcher, and a copy will carried on board. All flights will be within the limits shown on the Helicopter Load Calculation.

Enplaning/Deplaning The Pilot must brief passengers on the aspects of safety and operation prior to boarding the aircraft.

External Loads All external loads will be flown by a pilot appropriately carded. All parts of the flight will be in accordance with OAS/IHOG procedures. External loads will be carefully prepared under the supervision of the pilot or a qualified helicopter crewperson.

Fuel Storage and Handling All aspects of fuel storage and handling will be in compliance with FWS and AMD/OAS guidelines.

General Project Work The same requirements will be in effect as when performing any other flight. Administrative, maintenance or other project flights will either have personnel on board who are skilled in working with helicopters, or the pilot will perform the task of personnel

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loading/unloading safety. The ultimate goal is for all operations on the ground and in the air to be conducted in the safest possible manner.

Wildland Fire Initial Attack Transportation and Support The helicopter may be used by fire fighting crews in support of suppression activities. Landing zones may be in remote areas. A qualified helicopter manager will supervise initial flight to a fire when the passengers are other than trained helicopter crewmembers. During fire support, personal qualified in helicopter use will supervise the operation at each helicopter landing site.

Search and Rescue Generally speaking, most Fire District 2 refuges will utilize the US Coast Guard or local law enforcement cooperators for search and rescue incidents. The exclusive use contact helicopter may be used to support SAR incidents as deemed appropriate by the respective refuge manager.

Wind Indicators Standard international orange windsocks will be provided at all permanent helibases. At temporary helispots, hand signals, flagging, smoke, or radio instructions may be sufficient. When possible, windsocks are preferred.

Arrests/Law Enforcement Transports Arrests and Law Enforcement transport requiring the use of the helicopter will comply with the Hazardous Material Guide and established FWS law enforcement guidelines, and will be performed at the request of the respective Refuge Manager or regional law enforcement personnel.

SPECIFIC AIRPLANE (FIXED WING) GUIDELINES

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Personal Protective Equipment Full personal protective equipment (PPE) is required for all special use fixed winged flight operations. An example would be flying below 500 feet AGL.

Enplaning/Deplaning On single engine airplanes, the engine will not be started until passengers are onboard and the doors are closed. At the completion of the flight, the engine will be shut down, Propeller stopped and all switches off before cabin doors are opened for passenger off- loading. Dual engine aircraft operations will follow FAA guidelines.

Reconnaissance Flights Reconnaissance flight will be made according to need. Flight requests should go the DFMO, FMO or assigned helicopter manager. Some incidents (as SARs or wildland fires) may be categorized as emergencies and those flight procedures can be followed. All detection flights will adhere to the flight following protocol.

Retardant, lead plane, air attack, infrared mapping/detection, and related missions When necessary, these special types of aerial activity may be ordered by the District Fire Management Office and will follow AM/IHOG procedures.

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SECTION IV - EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

OVERDUE AIRCRAFT

In the event that the Dispatcher cannot contact the aircraft, the Aviation Mishap Response Plan shall be put into operation. Each Refuge Station has an Aviation Mishap Response Plan this is permanently displayed in the refuge Headquarters office. It is imperative that the mishap plan be initiated in a timely fashion

SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR DOI AIRCRAFT

The District Fire Management Office will be responsible for initiating searches for missing refuge controlled aircraft. If for any reason the District Fire Management office is unavailable, the search will be coordinated by the Refuge Manager (or designee) to work with the local Flight Service Station (see Aviation Mishap Plan, Flight Services).

SEARCH AND RESCUE, OTHER AIRCRAFT

Any refuge employee who has reason to believe an aircraft has crash landed on the refuge should immediately notify the assigned refuge dispatch, Refuge Manager, DFMO and/or FMO. Dispatch will contact the Flight Service Station – Follow procedures in the station’s Aviation Mishap Plan.

PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING AIRSPACE RESTRICTIONS

Procedures for restricting airspace over the refuge during emergency operations are contained in AM OPM 95-2.A 91-137. To restrict airspace over the individual refuge, incident operations will need to contact the Federal Aviation Administration. Respective offices are listed in the individual station’s Aviation Mishap Plan. Historically, incidents have proven to be of a relatively short duration and have not necessitated the need for airspace

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restriction. However, this should not be a deterring factor in requesting airspace closure. Many of the refuges covered in this plan are located near military instillations, and therefore have extremely busy airspace.

SECTION V - PROGRAM COORDINATION

INTERAGENCY COORDINATION

Within the refuge and adjacent lands The operational requirements and management guidelines discussed in this document will be followed.

Away from the refuge and adjacent lands Dispatching of the refuge controlled aircraft for missions will approved by the DFMO, FMO or the affected Refuge Manager. Qualified personnel (Helicopter manager, or crewmember) may accompany the aircraft. When the aircraft is dispatched outside the District area an FAA flight plan must be completed. SCICC should be notified of aircraft repositioning, if aircraft movement occurs when SCICC is not staffed, a phone or e-mail message should be left with a point of contact and telephone number should questions arise.

Payments will be based on information recorded daily on the Aircraft Use Report (OAS-23). At the end of the mission, completed forms will be sent to the appropriate aviation manager.

Refuge Number Identifiers

Refuge Unit Identifiers Station Code Billee Code

1. Pee Dee PDR 42550 FM30

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2. Carolina Sandhills CRR 42520 FM30

3. Waccamaw WAR 42512 FN90

4. Santee SNR 42570 7940

5. Cape Romain CMR 42510 FN90

6. Ace Basin ACR 42511 W670

7. Pinckney PKR 41629 FF60

8. Tybee TYR 41624 FF60

9. Savannah SAR 41625 FF60

10. Wassaw WSR 41628 FF60

11. Harris Neck HSR 41627 FF60

12. Blackbeard BLR 41626 FF60

13. Wolf Island WLR 41623 FF60

Hospital Coordinates

For Medi-vac South Carolina call MEDUCARE 1-800-423-1330 (based at Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston) Georgia call LIFE-STAR 1-800-347-8527 (based at Memorial Hospital, Savannah, GA)

Doctors Hospital (Augusta Burn Center) N 33 28.80’ W 82 05.50’

Refuge ospital ddress hone atitude ongitude umber ACE Basin Medical University 171 Ashley Ave., 843-792- N 32 W 79 of SC Charleston, SC 2300 47.10’ 57.00’ Colleton Regional 501 Robertson 843-549- N 32 W 80 Hospital Blvd., Walterboro, 2000 55.00’ 39.90’ SC Beaufort Memorial 955 Ribault Rd., 843-522- N 32 W 80 Hospital Beaufort, SC 5200 25.00’ 41.18’ Roper Hospital 316 Calhoun St., 843-724- N 32 W 79 Charleston, SC 2000 47.10’ 57.00’ St. Francis Hospital 2095 Henry T. Dr., 843-402- N 32 W 80 Charleston, SC 1000 48.00’ 02.00’ Blackbeard Memorial 4700 Waters 912-692- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 6000 01.70’ 05.20’ Candler 5353 Reynolds 912-350- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 8000 01.62’ 06.13’

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Harris Neck Southeast Georgia 351 Hamilton Rd. 912-466- N 31 W 81 Regional Medical St. Simons Island, 5900 10.50’ 28.80’ Center GA Memorial 4700 Waters 912-692- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 6000 01.70’ 05.20’ Candler 5353 Reynolds 912-350- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 8000 01.62’ 06.13’ Pinckney Hilton Head 25 Hospital Center 843-689- N 32 W 80 Hospital Blvd. 8281 13.23’ 41.90’ Hilton Head, SC Santee Clarendon 409 S Mill St. 803-435- N 33 W 80 Memorial Hospital Paxville, SC 8463 40.70’ 12.40’ Savannah Memorial 4700 Waters 912-692- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 6000 01.70’ 05.20’ Candler 5353 Reynolds 912-350- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 8000 01.62’ 06.13’ St. Joseph’s 11705 Mercy Blvd. 912-925- N 31 W 81 Savannah, GA 4100 59.04’ 09.31 Waccamaw Conway Hospital 300 Singleton 843-347- N 33 W 79 Ridges Rd. 7111 46.90’ 00.00’ Conway, SC Georgetown 606 Black River 843-527- N 33 W 79 Memorial Hospital Rd. 7000 22.77’ 16.95’ Georgetown, SC Grand Strand 809 82nd Pkwy. 843-692- N 33 W 78 Hospital Myrtle Beach, SC 1000 45.30’ 49.00’

Medical University 171 Ashley Ave., 843-792- N 32 W 79 of SC Charleston, SC 2300 47.10’ 57.00’ Wassaw Memorial 4700 Waters 912-692- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 6000 01.70’ 05.20’ Candler 5353 Reynolds 912-350- N 32 W 81 Savannah, GA 8000 01.62’ 06.13’ St. Joseph’s 11705 Mercy Blvd. 912-925- N 31 W 81 Savannah, GA 4100 59.04’ 09.31

District Helispot locations

Refuge North West North West ACE Basin Grove 32 39' 54.5" 80 23' 36.9" 32' 39.90 80' 23.61 Bonny Hall 32 39' 47.5" 80 23' 52.2" 32' 39.79 80' 23.86 Combahee Fields 32 39' 49.3" 80 23' 39.5" 32' 39.82 80' 23.65 Jehossee Island 32 38' 22.2" 80 23' 23.2" 32' 38.37 80' 23.38

Blackbeard 31 29' 30.8" 81 12' 30.0" 31' 29.51 81' 12.49

Cape Romain

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Office 32 58' 22.9" 79 40' 17.0" 32' 58.38 79' 40.28 Bulls Island 32 54' 47.0" 79 36' 53.0" 32' 54.78 79' 26.88 Sewee Center 32 58' 29.0" 79 40' 08.0" 32' 58.48 79' 40.13

Carolina Sandhills 34 30' 15.2" 80 13' 18.5" 34' 30.25 80' 13.30 Martins Lake 34 33' 52.0" 80 12' 82.0" 34' 33.86 80' 13.36 Pool L 34 37' 54.0" 80 13' 13.0" 34' 37.90 80' 13.21 Col De Sac 34 36' 17.0" 80 15' 78.0" 34' 36.28 80' 16.30 Hwy 151 34 30' 07.0" 80 19' 38.0" 34' 30.11 80' 19.63

Donnelley WMA 32 09' 55.0" 81 06' 50.0" 32' 09.91 81' 06.83

Harris Neck 31 38' 31.8" 81 16' 48.0" 31' 38.53 81' 16.80

Pee Dee 35 03' 41.1" 80 05' 18.5" 35' 03.68 80' 05.03

Pinckney 32 14' 44.5" 80 45' 32.5" 32' 14.74 80' 45.54

Santee Headquarters 33 32' 42.0" 80 26' 21.2" 33' 32.70 80' 26.35 Bluff 33 22' 40.2" 80 26' 34.1" 33' 22.06 80' 26.56 Cuddo 33 30' 33.2" 80 16' 42.9" 33' 30.55 80' 16.71 Savannah Shop 32 10' 06.6" 81 07'05.7" 32' 10.11 81' 07.09 Laurel Hill 32 09' 55.0" 81 06' 49.8" 32' 09.91 81' 06.82 Visitor Center 31 10' 22.0" 81 04' 30.0" 31' 10.36 81' 04.50

Tybee Island 32 02' 26.8" 80 53' 37.5" 32' 02.44 80' 53.62

Waccamaw 33 30' 59.9" 79 08' 36.9 33' 30.99 79' 08.61

Wassaw (Landing) 31 53' 30.0" 80 57' 57.4" 31' 53.50 80' 57.95

Wolf Island 31 20' 49.8" 81 18' 21.7" 31' 20.83 81' 18.36

Aviation Accident Reporting 1-888-464-7427

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Appendix N. Standard Operating Procedures for Boat Operators

Boat Passenger Briefing and Standard Operational Procedures

• All passengers must receive a safety briefing. • Fire personnel will ride in watercraft approved by FWS or in the case of an incident, approved contractor watercraft. • The boat operator or captain must be DOI Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) qualified, or an approved contractor. The captain or operator is responsible for the overall safety of boat.

PPE

• A Type I, II, or III PFD must be worn while onboard. The PFD must be the proper size for the individual and be fastened securely around the passenger during movement. • When air and water temperatures combined are not equal to or greater than 100, approved cold water survival suits must be worn by each individual during boat operations. • Notify dispatch of your expected route, and number of personnel aboard the vessel. • A “Sea Bag” will be required on incidents requiring movement of personnel from to the mainland. This Sea Bag will contain the following items: o Whistle o Flare gun and Flares o Compass o Map of the area

Passenger Briefing

• Enter and exit the boat as directed by the operator. • Do not move in the boat once seated or positioned by the operator. • Keep arms and legs inside the boat. • No smoking. E hibit “A” L l • Follow the operator instructions when loading or unlo ading tools or equipment, secure all loads in transit. • Assign lookouts for hazards. • Review the location of Emergency Shut off switch, fire extinguishers, First Aid Kit, Radios. • Review the float plan with passengers (routes to and from the destination).

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Emergency Operations

• Immediately notify dispatch or responsible party of your approximate location. State what you believe the trouble causing emergency is. State the number on board the vessel to dispatch. • Review water survival. o Huddle Position: Used by two or more victims to lessen heat loss. Place arms around each other and intertwine legs. o Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP): Used by a solitary victim to lessen heat loss. Cross legs, fold arms, bring knees up and hunch shoulders to neck. This can increase survival time by four.

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Appendix O. Equipment

The SCLC has very little dedicated fire equipment. See Savannah NWR for a complete list of available district fire equipment.

There is a marsh Master at ACE Basin which is partially funded by fire.(50%) There is a Type 6 Engine at ACE Basin (Engine 462) and a set of harrows for maintenance of fire breaks.

All other units on the SCLC have refuge equipment which are not intended nor typed for fire deployment. There is a number of boats at all stations and a barge at Cape Romain for personnel and equipment shuttle.

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Intentionally Blank

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Appendix P. Real Property at Risk from Wildfire

Station SAMMS Asset Number Property Description ACE Basin NWR 487432 new kiosk (Grove) ACE Basin NWR 10015752 Old office at Bonny Hall ACE Basin NWR 10015753 Garage at Bonny Hall ACE Basin NWR 10015754 Storage Building at Bonny Hall ACE Basin NWR 10015767 Office- The Grove Plantation House ACE Basin NWR 10015768 kitchen house ACE Basin NWR 10015768 kitchen house ACE Basin NWR 10015773 Pole shed -Grove ACE Basin NWR 10015774 Overseer's house- Jehosse Island ACE Basin NWR 10015775 Pole shed - Combahee ACE Basin NWR 10015776 storage shed, westvaco tract, UC ACE Basin NWR 10015776 silo ACE Basin NWR 10015777 silo ACE Basin NWR 10015780 grain bin ACE Basin NWR 10015804 WCS-GOOSE POND ACE Basin NWR 10015805 WCS-ALEXANDER POND ACE Basin NWR 10015806 WCS-G9 DAWHO SIDE ACE Basin NWR 10015807 WCS-G9 EDISTO RIVER SIDE ACE Basin NWR 10015808 WCS-PERIMETER ROAD ACE Basin NWR 10015820 WCS-OLD RPI 70 wooden riser box between J1-J2 ACE Basin NWR 10015821 WCS-OLD RPI 71 B7-B6 ACE Basin NWR 10015822 WCS-LOWER B8-WOODEN RISER BOX ACE Basin NWR 10015823 WCS-B6-OLD RPI 73 ACE Basin NWR 10015824 WCS-UPPER B8-WOODEN RISER BOX ACE Basin NWR 10015851 WCS-C8T1 ACE Basin NWR 10015852 WCS-C7T1 ACE Basin NWR 10015853 WCS-C6T1 ACE Basin NWR 10015854 WCS-C3T2 ACE Basin NWR 10015855 WCS-C2T1 ACE Basin NWR 10015856 dock-fresh waterside(north) JI ACE Basin NWR 10015857 WCS-C2T2 ACE Basin NWR 10015858 WCS-C3T1 ACE Basin NWR 10015859 WCS-C4T1 ACE Basin NWR 10015860 WCS-C4T2 ACE Basin NWR 10015861 WCS-old RPI 111 B1 ACE Basin NWR 10015863 WCS-old RPI 113 B1 ACE Basin NWR 10015864 WCS-C1T1 ACE Basin NWR 10015868 water cistern ACE Basin NWR 10015871 WCS-GTR NE Boundary ACE Basin NWR 10015872 WCS-GOOSE POND ACE Basin NWR 10015874 WCS-OLD CATFISH POND ACE Basin NWR 10015875 dock-saltwater side (south) JI ACE Basin NWR 10036484 WCS-COMBAHEE-new dike C7 ACE Basin NWR 10036486 WCS-new trunk in curve of river road

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ACE Basin NWR 10037754 observation platforms, perimeter pond and grove ACE Basin NWR 10045553 wooden riser box, located on lower end of B8 ACE Basin NWR 10050174 toilet facility-grove ACE Basin NWR 10052126 WCS-Bonny Hall B5T3 ACE Basin NWR 10052131 WCS-JI (saltwater side) ACE Basin NWR 10052133 WCS-Bonny Hall B5T4 ACE Basin NWR 10052136 WCS-Bonny Hall B5T5 ACE Basin NWR 10052136 WCS-JI freshwater side ACE Basin NWR 10052138 WCS-Bonny Hall B5T1 ACE Basin NWR 10052139 WCS-Bonny ACE Basin NWR 10052142 Jehosse Island Bridge ACE Basin NWR 10052367 Grove Bridge ACE Basin NWR 10058803 WCS-C7T1 ACE Basin NWR 10058804 WCS-C6T1

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Santee NWR Real Property at Risk from Wildfire

Location Description Parent Asset Asset Code Description Code 10016713 Metal storage building (Bluff) for tools & 42570- 35410300 Bldg Warehouse Equip Vehicle building materials. ( Old RPI Number 2) 3541 10016714 Metal storage building used to store heavy 42570- 35410300 Bldg Warehouse Equip Vehicle equipment and miscellaneous supplies (on 3541 the Bluff Unit). ( Old RPI Number 3) 10016715 Visitor center (2333 sq.ft.) and office (1500 42570- 35290800 Bldg Visitor Contact Station sq.ft.). The visitor center houses exhibits 3529 and interpretive panels along with a large aquarium to orient visitors to the ecology of Santee Refuge and to 10016716 Shop and service area - with storage. Total 42570- 35600100 Bldg Service Shop Maintenance area is 7200 sq. ft.(shop/service - 3600 sq. 3560 ft); Storage - 3600 sq. ft.). ( Old RPI Number 6) 10016717 Storage facility for flammable fluids. ( Old 42570- 35410600 Bldg Warehouse Chemical RPI Number 7) 3541 10016718 Storage warehouse used to store 42570- 35410700 Bldg Warehouse miscellaneous equipment (mowers, 3541 generators, etc), signs, tools, and supplies. ( Old RPI Number 8) 10016719 Other utility sys. fresh water well house and 42570- 40710600 Water Wells system. ( Old RPI Number 9) 4071 10016720 Grain bin-400 square feet ( Old RPI Number 42570- 40401100 Grain Bins 10) 4040

2 grain bins located in shop area. 10016723 Levees/dikes (graded) Roads - Bluff Unit 42570- 40162300 Levees Dikes (Perimeter and Middle Roads, excluding 4016 North and South Five Pine Pond Canal Dikes) (Old RPI Number 13) Roads serve as a perimeter dike for the wetland impoun 10016724 Levees/dikes - Dingle Pond/Polly Cantey Bay 42570- 40162300 Levees Dikes ( Old RPI Number 14) Dike serves as a road 4016 and trail on the Dingle Pond Carolina Bay. 10016728 Levees/dikes (mowed) - Bluff Unit canal 42570- 40162300 Levees Dikes Dikes/roads for the North and South Bluff 4016 Ponds. (Five Pine Pond North and South Canal Dike/Roads ( Old RPI Number 18)

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10016729 pumping station (diesel) Black Bottom-48"" 42570- 40161800 Water Pumping Stations - to include above ground fuel tank ( Old RPI 4016 Number 19) 10016730 pumping station (diesel) P.I.-48"" - to 42570- 40161800 Water Pumping Stations include above ground fuel tank, pump 4016 engine and pump shelter ( Old RPI Number 20) 10016731 pumping station (diesel) Bluff-48"" - to 42570- 40161800 Water Pumping Stations include above ground storage tank, pump 4016 engine and pump shelter ( Old RPI Number 21) 10016732 pumping station (diesel) TIF #1-24"" - to 42570- 40161800 Water Pumping Stations include above ground storage tank; pump 4016 engine and pump shelter ( Old RPI Number 22) 10016733 pumping station (diesel) TIF #3-24"" Out 42570- 40161800 Water Pumping Stations Pump - to include above ground storage 4016 tank ( Old RPI Number 23) 10016734 wcs - stop log-72"" - Bluff (structure at the 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures pump canal in mid-line road) ( Old RPI 4016 Number 24) 10016735 wcs screw gate-18"" - Cuddo - on Potato 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Creek Road ( Old RPI Number 27) 4016 10016736 wcs - stop log-48"" - Cuddo Unit 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures (Cattleguard) ( Old RPI Number 29) 4016 10016737 wcs - stop log-36"" - Cuddo (Center Road 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures GTR) ( Old RPI Number 30) 4016 10016739 wcs - stop log-36"" - Cuddo (100 Acre Island) 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures ( Old RPI Number 33) 4016 10016740 wcs - stop log-36""- Cuddo (Bernie's Pond 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Structure) ( Old RPI Number 34) 4016 10016741 wcs - stop log-48"" - Cuddo Unit (TIF 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Structure) ( Old RPI Number 35) 4016 10016742 wcs - stop log-48"" - Cuddo (Black Bottom) ( 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Old RPI Number 36) 4016 10016743 wcs - stop log-60"" - Cuddo (Center Road 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Structure) ( Old RPI Number 37) 4016 10016744 wcs - screw gate-36"" - Cuddo Unit 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures (adjacent to Goose Pen Structure and 4016 Santee Cooper Canal Structure) ( Old RPI Number 38) 10016745 wcs = screw gate-36"" - Cuddo Unit (RONS 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Field Screw Gate) ( Old RPI Number 39) 4016 10016746 wcs - stop log-24"" - Cuddo (GTR # 2) - 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures primary and secondary structures ( Old RPI 4016 Number 40) 10016748 wcs - stop log-36"" - Pine Island (Savannah 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Field) to include one additional 20"" open 4016 metal pipe ( Old RPI Number 46)

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10016749 wcs - stop log-36"" - Pine Island (Woods 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Pond Structure) ( Old RPI Number 48) 4016 10016750 drainage ditches tracts 2e,2ai, 703-722 ( Old 42570- 40160900 Drainage Ditches RPI Number 49)Cuddo Unit 4016 10016751 drainage ditches ( Old RPI Number 50)Pine 42570- 40160900 Drainage Ditches Island Unit 4016 10016752 drainage ditches ( Old RPI Number 51)Bluff 42570- 40160900 Drainage Ditches Unit 4016 10016753 FHWA Route 900 - Paved Parking Area - 42570- 40660100 Parking Lot Office Area. ( Old RPI Number 52) 4066 10016754 FHWA Route 903 - Other Parking Area - 42570- 40660100 Parking Lot Wrights Bluff Trail Parking Area. ( Old RPI 4066 Number 53) 10016755 communications systems.-radio antenna 42570- 40720200 Communication System Towers tower, 800', with equipment shelter ( Old 4072 RPI Number 55) 10016756 sewage treatment facilities-office/visitor 42570- 40710800 Sewage Treatment Facil Plant center ( Old RPI Number 56) 4071 10016757 emergency and security alarm systems- 42570- 40720100 Telecommunication Office/visitor center ( Old RPI Number 57) 4072 10016759 Public use (foot) trails/boardwalks (Wrights 42570- 40751100 Trails Unpaved Bluff Nature Trail). This highly visible 4075 nature/hiking trail affords visitors the opportunity to view wildlife in their natural habitats (i.e. painted bun 10016760 Kiosk (wood)-headquarters - houses large 42570- 40750700 Kiosks map of refuge area and provides slots for 4075 storage/dissemination of various maps, brochures and literature detailing refuge resources and visitor use opportunit 10016761 Observation tower-15'- Metal and wood 42570- 40800900 Obs Decks Platforms Towers construction - on Wrights Bluff Trail 4080 overlooking Bluff Fields ( Old RPI Number 62) 10016762 signs (wood)- directional/informational, 42570- 40800500 Signs interpretive, and regulatory - Bluff Unit ( Old 4080 RPI Number 63) 10016763 signs (wood)- directional/informational, 42570- 40800500 Signs interpretive, and regulatory -Cuddo Unit 4080 signs ( Old RPI Number 64) 10016764 signs (wood)- directional/informational, 42570- 40800500 Signs interpretive, and regulatory - Pine Island 4080 front gate ( Old RPI Number 65) 10016765 signs (wood)- directional/informational, 42570- 40800500 Signs interpretive, and regulatory - Dingle Pond 4080 Unit ( Old RPI Number 66) 10016767 pump station shelter (wood) - Cuddo Unit 42570- 35500200 Bldg Pump House Well House Pump - Black Bottom ( Old RPI Number 68) 3550 10016768 pump station shelter (wood) - Cuddo - TIF 42570- 35500200 Bldg Pump House Well House Pump # 1 ( Old RPI Number 69) 3550

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10016769 power distribution lines - shop ( Old RPI 42570- 40710200 Power Distribution Systems Number 70) 4071 10016770 Fence - chainlink - encloses refuge 42570- 40800200 Fencing shop/service area and provides protection 4080 for several hundred thouand dollars in equipment assets. ( Old RPI Number 72) 10016771 Gates (metal) - Total of 15 gates and 300 42570- 40800300 Gates linear feet - Bluff Unit - 1 (20'); Dingle Pond - 4080 2 (20'); Pine Island - 5 (20'); Cuddo - 7 (20') ( Old RPI Number 73) 10016772 Boat launching ramps-900 sq. ft. (various 42570- 40130500 Boat Launch locations) - used by visiting public, 4013 cooperators (Santee Cooper Authority), and refuge staff. ( Old RPI Number 77) 10016773 pump station shelter (wood)- Pine Island - 42570- 35500200 Bldg Pump House Well House provides protection for expensive diesel 3550 engine pump units with replacement costs of several thousand dollars. ( Old RPI Number 79) 10016774 Wcs - screwgate-36"" (water control 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures structure) - Cuddo Unit ( Old RPI Number 4016 80)100-Acre Island 10016775 above ground storage tank-fuel, 1000 gal. - 42570- 40400300 Fuel Strg Tank Above Ground shop - unleaded tank ( Old RPI Number 81) 4040 10016776 above ground storage tank-fuel, 1000 gal. - 42570- 40400300 Fuel Strg Tank Above Ground shop diesel tank ( Old RPI Number 82) 4040 10016777 above ground storage tank-fuel, 250 gal. - 42570- 40400300 Fuel Strg Tank Above Ground heating oil tank - shop ( Old RPI Number 83) 4040 10016778 Pumping station (diesel) Timber Island Field 42570- 40161800 Water Pumping Stations - TIF-#2 24"" - to include above ground fuel 4016 tank ( Old RPI Number 84) 10016779 pump station shelter (wood) - Cuddo - TIF # 42570- 35500200 Bldg Pump House Well House 2 ( Old RPI Number 85) 3550 10016780 WCS - STOP LOG-36 Bluff FFP south end, 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures short cut road, structure is critical to 4016 manipulating water levels on the Bluff Unit to provide adequate wetland habitat used as resting and feeding areas for th 10016781 WCS - screw gate 36"" Potato Creek - Visitor 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Drive ( Old RPI Number 87) 4016 10016782 Levees/dikes 2,600 ln ft Bluff Unit - FFP ( Old 42570- 40162300 Levees Dikes RPI Number 88)(Middle Road Dike) 4016 10036844 Water boundary poles used for law 42570- 40800500 Signs enforcement and public use purposes. - 4080 various locations - ca. 75 poles ( Old RPI Number 89) 10036845 boundary signs - various locations ( Old RPI 42570- 40800500 Signs Number 90) 4080

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10041419 FHWA Route 010 - Center Road-Cuddo 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel Wildlife Drive-from entrance off of Old River 4076 Road to end. The road is an integral section of the Wildlife Drive which totals 8.08 miles. The Wildlife Drive provides 10041420 FHWA Route 011 - Section of Cuddo Wildlife 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel Drive. From Center Road (FHWA Route 010) 4076 east and looping back to Center Road. The road is an integral section of the Wildlife Drive which totals 8.08 miles 10041425 FHWA Route 012 - Section of Cuddo Wildlife 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel Drive. From Wildlife Drive-North Loop, 4076 south & west to Center Road. The road is an integral section of the Wildlife Drive which totals 8.08 miles. The Wildl 10041431 FHWA Route 110 - Public Use Access Road 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel on the Cuddo Unit. This section provides 4076 access for refuge visitors during special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.) ( Old RPI Number 99) 10041437 FHWA Route 103 - Pine Island Loop. From 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel NWR Road 104, west to loop at end. Public 4076 use road that provides access for refuge visitors during special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.) ( Old RPI Number 10041442 FHWA Route 104 - Savannah Loop Road- 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel From Savanah Branch Road (FHWA Route 4076 101) , south & looping back to start. This section of road provides access for refuge visitors during special events (i.e. pub 10041447 FHWA Route 105 - Pine Island Road. From 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel NWR Road 104, northwest to west 4076 boundary of unit. This section of road provides access for refuge visitors during special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.). ( 10041448 FHWA Route 114 - Timber Island Field Road. 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel From Black Bottom Road (FHWA Route 119) 4076 , east & south back to Black Bottom Road. This section of road provides access for refuge visitors during special e 10041450 FHWA Route 118 - Lakeshore Road. From 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel NWR Road 117, south to 100 Acres Island 4076 Loop Road (FHWA Route 120). This section of road provides access for refuge visitors during special events (i.e. public 10041452 FHWA Route 119 - Black Bottom Road. From 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel 100 Acre Island Loop Road, south to Center 4076 Road/Wildlife Drive (south segment intersection). This section of road provides refuge visitors with access for spe

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10041454 FHWA Route 116 - NW Road Cuddo Unit. 42570- 40760200 Roads Gravel From Center Road (NWR Road 010), 4076 northwest to Old River Road. This section of road provides access for refuge visitors during special events (i.e. public hunts, 10041479 FHWA Route 101 - Savannah Branch Road. 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt From rear gate (north), southwest to NWR 4076 Road 104. This road section provides access for visitors during special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.). ( Old RPI Nu 10041493 FHWA Route 102 - Savannah Spur Road. 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt From NWR Road 104, west to loop at end. 4076 This section of road provides access for visitors during special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.). ( Old RPI Number 108) 10041496 FHWA Route 106 - Central Field Road. From 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt Wildlife Drive (Cuddo) - North Loop (FHWA 4076 Route 011), North to parking at both ends of fork. This section of road provides access for visitors during specia 10041499 FHWA Route 107 - St. James Church Road 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt (Cuddo). From Wildlife Drive - North Loop 4076 (FHWA Route 011), north to end (including short stub). This section of road provides access for visitors during speci 10041500 FHWA Route 109 - Dove Fields Road 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt (Cuddo). From Center Road (FHWA Route 4076 010), east to end at field. This section of road provides access for visitors during special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.). 10041504 FHWA Route 112 - Gator Pond Road 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt (Cuddo). From NWR Road 155, south to 4076 NWR Road 113. This section of road provides visitors with access for special use events (i.e. public hunts, etc.). ( Old RPI Num 10041506 FHWA Route 113 - NWR Road (Cuddo). 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt From Timber Island Field Road, east to 4076 Center Road. This section of road provides visitors with access during special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.). ( Old RPI N 10041509 FHWA Route 115 - Connector Road (Cuddo). 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt From Timber Island Field Road (FHWA Route 4076 114), northeast to NWR Road 116. This section of road provides visitors with access during special events (i.e. publ 10041512 FHWA Route 117 - NW Loop Road (Cuddo). 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt From NWR Road 116, west & north looping 4076 back to NWR Road 116. This section of road provides visitors with access for special events (i.e. public hunts, etc.).

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10041514 FHWA Route 120 - One Hundred Acre Island 42570- 40760300 Roads Dirt Loop Road (Cuddo). From Black Bottom 4076 Road (FHWA Route 119), looping south & back to start. This section of road provides access for visitors during special e 10041516 FHWA Route 100 - Headquarters Visitor 42570- 40760100 Roads Paved Center Entrance Loop-From Fort Watson 4076 Road, to Headquarters parking area. ( Old RPI Number 117) 10041522 Hiking Trail-Rte 108-Potato Creek Loop 42570- 40751100 Trails Unpaved (Cuddo)- From Wildlife Drive - North Loop to 4075 Wildlife Drive (South Segment). This hiking trail is the only trail on the Cuddo Unit specifically designated for f 10044073 Electronically operated automatic timer (7- 42570- 40800300 Gates day) gate (23'x 3'). Entrance gate to Cuddo 4080 Unit Auto Drive with receiver antennae and remote. ( Old RPI Number 119) 10048445 WCS - 48"" x 50 - Center Road - Bluff Unit 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures and 24"" x 50 - Center Road (Bittern Pond 4016 Structure) ( Old RPI Number 121) 10048448 Cantey Bay Pond Banding Site - to include 42570- 40710500 Wildlife Water Production Systems rocket net structures and 1,000 feet of 4071 electrical detonation wiring ( Old RPI Number 122) 10048449 Backup Banding Site - Cantey Bay (Bluff 42570- 40710500 Wildlife Water Production Systems Unit) ( Old RPI Number 123) 4071 10048450 Storage Shed - for Flammable Materials 42570- 35410600 Bldg Warehouse Chemical (beside fueling facility) ( Old RPI Number 3541 124) 10048451 Pine Island Equipment Storage Compound 42570- 40800200 Fencing with security fence (200 x 200) ( Old RPI 4080 Number 125) 10048452 Elevated observation building/owl house ( 42570- 40800900 Obs Decks Platforms Towers Old RPI Number 126) 4080 10048453 Water Control Structures - 36"" x 50 - North 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures and South Five Pine Pond on Bluff Unit ( Old 4016 RPI Number 127)Two structures on canal. 10048454 Water Control Structure - 72"" - Dingle Pond 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures ( Old RPI Number 128) 4016 10048474 Water Control Structure - 36"" - Pine Island 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Greentree Structure ( Old RPI Number 129) 4016 10048477 Water Control Structure - Pine Island ( Old 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures RPI Number 130) 4016 10048480 Water Control Structure - 24"" - Cuddo 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures (Shuler) ( Old RPI Number 131) 4016 10048482 Water Control Structure - Cuddo - TIF 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures Middle Terrace ( Old RPI Number 132) 4016

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10048484 Open Metal Culvert Drain Pipes - Cuddo 42570- 40161000 Culverts Unit (One 18"" and three 24"") ( Old RPI 4016 Number 133) 10049709 FHWA Route 901 and 902 - Public Parking 42570- 40660100 Parking Lot Areas, gravel. Bluff Unit - Ft. Watson and 4066 Indian Mound Parking. Two areas totaling 8,548 sq. ft. ( Old RPI Number 134) 10049710 FHWA Route 904, 905, 906, 907, 908 and 42570- 40660100 Parking Lot 909 - Public Use Parking Areas, native 4066 vegetation. Pine Island Unit - 6 areas totaling 23,223 sq. ft. Includes one 10,000+ sq. ft. parking area @ public boat r 10049711 FHWA Route 911 and 920 - Public Use 42570- 40660100 Parking Lot Parking Areas, gravel. Cuddo Unit - 2 areas 4066 totaling 30,259 sq. ft. Includes primary parking area at entrance to wildlife drive. ( Old RPI Number 136) 10049712 FHWA Route 910, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 42570- 40660100 Parking Lot 917, 918 and 919 - Public Use Parking Areas, 4066 native vegetation - Cuddo Unit. 8 areas totaling 55,197 sq. ft. Includes parking area at hunter check station an 10049789 WCS - Stop log - 72"" (Cuddo) - Center Road 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures between Gator Pond and Goose Pen Pond. ( 4016 Old RPI Number 138) 10057347 CWIP-pump station replacing Cuddo axial 42570- 40161800 Water Pumping Stations flow pump. Asset#10016729, work order 4016 95102838 Blackbottom Pump 48"" 10057487 CWIP Erosion Control Lake Marion shoreline 42570- 40800100 Bulkheads There are approximately 8000 feet of 4080 eroding shoreline on the Cuddo (7000 feet) and Pine Island (1000 feet) Unit tracks on Lake Moultrie that has excessive

10060559 CWIP Water control earthern Sub-Dike; WC 42570- 40162300 Levees Dikes earthern dike Timber Island Field. Part of a 4016 waterfowl impoundment complex containing 4 sub-units separated by earthern dikes and roads. Asset will provide a 10060560 CWIP Dike Reservoir, 4' high x 1,850"" long; 42570- 40162300 Levees Dikes 10' wide top/ 34' base 3:1 slope on avg. in 4016 Cuddo Unit. Provides a dike water reservoir for the Timber Island Field Wetland Complex. 10060561 CWIP - Interior Dike Timber Island Field; 42570- 40162300 Levees Dikes Earthen interior dike for Timber Island Field 4016 Wetland Complex. 4' high x 5,300' long; 10' wide top/ 34' base 3:1 slope on avg.

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10060562 CWIP - Four Water control structures (north 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures end of Timber Island Field), 4 sub-units 4016 separated by earthern dikes and roads on the north end of the Timber Island Field Wetland Complex. 36"" dia x 30' 10060563 CWIP - Three Water control structures on 42570- 40161200 Water Control Structures the south end of the Timber Island Field 4016 Wetland Complex. 36"" dia x 30' long culvert x 5' riser for 2; one is 48"" dia x 40' long x 6' riser 42570- Santee NWR Bldg Other Institutional Uses 42570 3529 42570- Santee NWR Bldg Warehouses 42570 3541 42570- Santee NWR 42570 3550 42570- Santee NWR Bldg Service 42570 3560 42570- Santee NWR Harbor and Port Facilities 42570 4013 42570- Santee NWR Reclamation and Irrigation 42570 4016 42570- Santee NWR Storage (Other than building) 42570 4040 42570- Santee NWR Parking Structures 42570 4066 42570- Santee NWR Utility System 42570 4071 42570- Santee NWR Communication System 42570 4072 42570- Santee NWR Recreation 42570 4075 42570- Santee NWR Road and Bridge 42570 4076 42570- Santee NWR All Other 42570 4080

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Real Property at Risk from Wildfire Waccamaw NWR

Asset # Description Location

10042200 Cabin (16’W X 30’L), located on Bull Island. 33⁰39’33”N 79⁰08’23”W

10047732 Cinder block building (48’ X 24’), 33⁰47’32”N 79⁰02’59”W located on Causey Tract.

10047740 Old wooden shed (14’ X 30’), 33⁰47’29”N 79⁰02’59”W located on Causey Tract.

10052683 HQ/Visitor and Education Center, 33⁰39’11”N 79⁰09’41”W located on the Yauhannah Bluff Tract

10054232 Metal storage building (30’ X 40’), 33⁰47’33”N 79⁰02’02”W located on the Causey Tract.

Leased Hasty Point Plantation: 33⁰32’38”N 79⁰10’19”W Rice Trunks and Wooden Bridges

Also the following items currently do not have Asset #s (ie private donations) but will soon and should be included w/same location #

• Boardwalk @ Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area 33 39' 33"N 79 08'23"W • 2 Kiosks @ Cox Ferry Lake Recreation Area • Weather Shelter

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Cape Romain Real Property at Risk from Wildfire

Station SAMMS Asset Property Description Number Cape Romain Dominick House 10015694 Cape Romain 10015748 Office/Headquarters Cape Romain 10015750 Sewee Visitor Center Cape Romain 10055296 equipment storage building on Bulls Island Cape Romain 10041717 Public Restrooms on Bulls Island Cape Romain 10036843 Turkey Walk Trail Boardwalks Cape Romain 10042188 Boardwalks at Sewee Visitor Center Cape Romain 10036838 Signage on Bulls Island Cape Romain 10042199 Clough Viewing platform Cape Romain 10042211 Picnic Shelter at Sewee Center Cape Romain 10059492 Well House on Bulls island Cape Romain 10015749 Garage Storage building at Headquaters Cape Romain 10041971 WCS at Big pond rd Cape Romain 10041973 WCS at house pond Cape Romain 10041974 WCS at Lower Summerhouse Cape Romain 10041976 WCS at Sumershouse pond Cape Romain 10052571 Rice Trunk at Summerhouse pond Cape Romain 10052572 Rice Trunk at Jacks Creek Cape Romain 10015741 WCS at Moccasin Flats Cape Romain 10041942 Fuel Storage Tank on Bulls Gasoline Cape Romain 10041946 Fuel Storage Tank on Bulls Diesel Cape Romain 10041958 Red wolf Enclosure at Sewee

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Appendix Q. Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment

South Carolina Lowcountry NWR Complex – SWRA Info Refuge Community CAR COI Risk Rating

ACE Basin NWR Hollywood, SC X High Yemassee, SC X High Adams Run, SC X Moderate Willtown, SC X Moderate Salkehatchie, SC X Moderate Green Pond, SC X Moderate Barrelville,SC X Moderate Whooping Island, SC X Moderate Cape Romain NWR Awendaw, SC X High McClellanville, SC X High Santee NWR Santee, SC X High Sumerton, SC X High Nelson’s Ferry, SC X Moderate Waccamaw NWR Georgetown, SC X High Pawleys Island, SC X High Murrell’s Inlet, SC X High Bucksport, SC X High Socastee, SC X High Red Hill, SC X High Conway, SC X High

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