<p>United States Forest Region One 200 East Broadway Department of Service P.O. Box 7669 Agriculture Missoula, MT 59807</p><p>File Code: 5100 Date: December 11, 2006 Route To: </p><p>Subject: Interagency Fire Program Management Qualifications</p><p>To: Chief</p><p>Our Fire, Aviation and Air and Human Resource staffs have determined that only the Chief of the Forest Service has authority to grant exceptions to Interagency Fire Program Management (IFPM) qualifications. There are individuals who are excelling in their current IFPM covered positions and will lose their ability to qualify for these positions after 2009. Some will be close to retirement and it would be disruptive both to the individuals and our organization to reassign them to other non-IFPM covered positions at this date. </p><p>The current IFPM procedures have no option for waivers. Therefore, we are requesting you delegate Regional Foresters authority to grant waivers to IFPM qualification requirements.</p><p>If you have questions regarding this request, please contact Larry Dawson at (406) 329-3402. </p><p>/s/ Kathleen A. McAllister (for) ABIGAIL R. KIMBELL Regional Forester </p><p>Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper </p>