Click to edit Master title style 1 BLM Vegetation Management EIS - WELCOME! AGENDA Introductions,...

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BLM Vegetation Management EIS - WELCOME!

AGENDA• Introductions, Meeting Objectives,

Meeting Manners• EIS – EIS Overview• Local Issues, Need, Expectations• Next Steps, Timeline• Public Comment


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Introductions

•EIS Team, Oregon State Office– Todd Thompson, BLM Project Manager– Ken Denton, Contract Team Lead– Jeanne Standley, BLM Botanist– Susan Hale, Contract Meeting Manager

•District Office– , District Manager– , District Botanist / Weed

Coordinator


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Meeting Objectives

• Introduce the EIS objectives to the Public

• Gather information from the public about:

– Scope of the EIS

– Issues that should be examined in the EIS

– Alternatives that should be examined in the EIS


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Good Manners

- Please hold comments until after the presentation

- Be respectful of others and varying points of view

- Speak only when called upon

- Do not interrupt other speakers

- Do not have side conversations, which can affect other people’s ability to hear


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Providing Comments

Oral comments

- We will attempt to record main points

- We will ask for clarification

- Contribute ideas for issues and alternatives

- Avoid repeating comments already made

Written comments

- Just as important as oral comments


- Complete a comment form at the meeting

- Mail or email comments; addresses are provided


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Vegetation Treatments EIS

• The BLM is initiating an EIS to examine

• the effects of adding up to 14 herbicide active ingredients to the 4 currently used

• to other tools already available to the BLM districts in Oregon

• for use in their noxious weed, invasive plant, and other weed management programs.


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Of the 15.7 million acres managed by BLM in Oregon:

Invasive plants and noxious weeds currently affect over 1,000,000 acres

Invasive plants & noxious weeds are increasing at an estimated rate of 10% – 15% per year

Invasive Plants on BLM Lands in Oregon


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Invasive plants and noxious weeds invade desirable plant communities and:

Displace native vegetation

Degrade soil fertility and stability

Dominate riparian habitats and degrade water quality

Compete with trees and important forage plants

Harm habitats for fish, wildlife and endangered species

Reduce restoration success

Invasive Plant Damage


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Invasive plants and noxious weeds also:

Poison livestock, wildlife, plants, and even people

Reduce native species diversity

Increase fuel loading and the frequency & intensity of wildfire

Reduce recreational access, enjoyment, and aesthetics

Increase land management costs and reduce property values

Invasive Plant Damage (continued)


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Weeds and Other Plants

Other weeds are undesirable plants that interfere with land management objectives.

The EIS proposes to use herbicides on “other weeds” in rights-of-way, administrative sites, and recreation sites.

The EIS proposes to use herbicides on any plants to control pests and diseases and to meet landscape health objectives.


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Weed Examples

Noxious Weeds – LawHimalayan blackberryJapanese knotweedCanada thistle Scotch broomTansy ragwortKnapweeds

Invasive Weeds - BehaviorCheatgrassDandelionCommon periwinkleSow thistleTeasel

Other Weeds - Location Poison oak or ivyWater hemlockAlderEnglish hawthorn


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Several Laws and an Executive Order provide for the management and control of invasive vegetation, including:

Noxious Weed Control Act of 2004

Plant Protection Act of 2000

Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974

Invasive Species Executive Order of 1999

Carlson-Foley Act of 1968

Legal Direction


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BLM Policy & Plan Direction

• BLM policy for noxious weeds and invasive plants requires:

– Prevention including education, awareness, and regulation

– Early detection and eradication of new invaders

– Control of existing infestations

– Cooperation with state, counties, and landowners


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BLM Treatment Methods

• Treatment methods used to control vegetation include:– Biological– Fire– Mechanical– Manual– Chemical– Other (shade, hot water, etc.)


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BLM uses both manual & mechanical methods to treat vegetation including invasive plants and noxious weeds

Manual methods such as hand-pulling and mowing are used to treat approximately 5,000 acres per year

Mechanical methods (motorized equipment) and fire are used to treat approximately 11,000 acres annually

Manual & Mechanical Treatments


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BLM also uses biological and chemical controls exclusively on noxious weeds:

Biological methods include insects, pathogens, disease, and directed livestock to target specific noxious weeds on approximately 2,400 acres per year

Herbicides are used alone or in conjunction with other methods to control noxious weeds on approximately 12,000 acres of noxious weeds each year

Biological & Chemical Treatments


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For many weed species, herbicides used alone or in combination with other treatments provide the most effective control.For certain species, such as Canada thistle, herbicides provide the only practical treatment to meet land management objectives.Herbicides may be more effective, environmentally friendly, and selective than other treatment options.Herbicide use may prevent the spread of priority pathogens better than other treatments.

Use of Herbicides


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In 2007, BLM National Office released the Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides Final Programmatic EIS and Record of Decision (PEIS & ROD)

The PEIS & ROD analyzed and approved national use of 18 herbicides for non-commodity weed management

This decision also specified Standard Operating Procedures and Mitigation Measures (see handouts)

National BLM PEIS


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As a result of 1984 and 1987 U.S. District Court Orders, the BLM in Oregon is limited to:

Only four herbicide ingredients: dicamba, glyphosate, picloram, and 2,4-D

Applying these four herbicides only to county, state, and federally listed noxious weeds

Other chemicals may not be used on BLM lands at this time, nor may any chemical be used for control of non-noxious invasive plants, or other weed control along rights-of-way such as roads and power lines.

Oregon BLMHerbicide Injunction


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In order to implement the national decision, to address the deficiencies identified by the U.S. District Court, an Oregon-specific programmatic EIS is being prepared.

The Oregon EIS will tier to the National PEIS and adopt its analysis including its human and environmental risk assessments.

Oregon BLMVegetation Treatments EIS


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The BLM in Oregon has a Need to treat noxious weeds; treat invasive plants and other weeds in administrative sites, recreation sites, and rights-of-way; treat hazardous fuels; treat forest pests and diseases; and, achieve landscape health objectives.

The Proposed Action is to improve program effectiveness by including 18 herbicide active ingredients with the other (existing) tools being used for treating the above vegetation and areas.

The Need & Proposed Action


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INSERT DISTRICT PRESENTATION

HERE


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The Oregon BLM is seeking public input on:

The scope of the EIS analysis

Issues that should be examined by the EIS

Alternatives that should be examined in the EIS

Vegetation Treatments EIS Scoping Comments


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The OR EIS will provide the BLM Oregon/ Washington State Director with:

A description of all significant environmental effects; and,

Any other information needed to make a reasoned choice from among the alternatives.

The topic areas that address these two needs are referred to here as Issues.

Oregon EIS Issues


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Make Your Comments Count

• How would weed management with herbicides affect local resources?

• Are you aware of research, studies, or local issues that should be considered?

• Do you have other ideas, suggestions, or concerns that should be included?


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Preliminary Issues include:Effect on fish and other non-target aquatics

Effect on water quality

Effect on wildlife and other non-target terrestrial organisms including non-target plants

Public and worker health & safety

Treatment effectiveness

Cost effectiveness

Vegetation Treatments EIS Preliminary Issues


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Alternatives to the Proposed Action may include:

Using fewer herbicides

Limiting application methods

Limiting treatment locations

Expanding invasive plant treatments beyond rights-of-way, administrative sites and recreation areas

All alternatives will, at a minimum, include the Standard Operating Procedures & Mitigation Measures from BLM’s National PEIS

Oregon EIS Alternatives


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Alternatives will NOT:

- Evaluate the use of herbicides for commodity production such as livestock forage and/or timber volume

- Address project-specific details. Specific treatment proposals will require project-level analysis tiered to this EIS

Oregon EIS Alternatives (cont.)


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EIS ScheduleJuly 2008 – EIS Scoping to identify Alternatives and Issues

August 2008 – Team examines input and comments from Scoping to recommend Issues and Alternatives to include in the EIS

May/June 2009 – Public Comment Period on Draft EIS

January 2010 – Issue Final EIS

March 2010 – Sign Record of Decision

Next Steps


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Providing Comments

Oral comments

- We will attempt to record main points

- We will ask for clarification


- Avoid repeating comments already made

Written comments

- Just as important as oral comments


- Complete a comment form at the meeting

- Mail or email comments; addresses are provided


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Good Manners

- Please be respectful of others and varying points of view

- Speak only when called upon

- Do not interrupt other speakers

- Do not have side conversations, which can affect other people’s ability to hear


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Join the mailing list and track progress at our website: www.blm.gov/or/plans/vegtreatmentseis/www.blm.gov/or/plans/vegtreatmentseis/

Please submit Scoping Comments by July 28, 2008 which can be done:

Here today

By email to: [email protected]

On the website atOn the website at

By letter to:

Getting Involved!

Bureau of Land ManagementBureau of Land ManagementVegetation Treatments EISVegetation Treatments EISP.O. Box 2965P.O. Box 2965Portland, OR 97208Portland, OR 97208

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Click to edit Master title style 1 BLM Vegetation Management EIS - WELCOME! AGENDA Introductions,...

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