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Federal Resources, Policies & Guidelines

 

Contacting Your Elected Officials

Contact Federal Elected Officials
https://www.westernlandownersalliance.org/resource-library/resources/contact-western-federal-elected-officials/

Contact State Elected Officials
https://www.westernlandownersalliance.org/resource-library/resources/contact-western-state-elected-officials/

Funding

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2008 (Farm Bill)
http://www.usda.gov/farmbill

Agricultural Conservation – A Guide to Funding
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40763.pdf

Conservation Gateway for online applications and account access for Natural Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Rural Development programs.

NRCS Funding Guide
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/home/? cid=stelprdb1048817

Farm Service Agency Conservation Resources
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=copr&topic=landing

USDA Forest Legacy Program
http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/flp.shtml

USDA Report on Ecosystem Services
http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr842.pdf

Partners for Fish and Wildlife
US Fish and Wildlife agency program providing funding and technical assistance to landowners. http://www.fws.gov/partners/

Native Species

The Endangered Species Act (ESA)
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/index.html

Candidate Conservation Agreements:
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/CCAs.pdf

Safe Harbor Agreements:
https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/harborqa.pdf

Working Lands for Wildlife:
On April 13, 2016, the Western Landowners Alliance teamed with NRCS’ Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) program to bring landowners and managers in the West a conversation around how federal funding and wildlife conservation programs can benefit working land operations and conserve declining species. Here is the slideshow presentation and a recording of the webinar.

Additional resources:
Here is a link to the national WLFW website with species-specific information and pages for all WLFW priorities discussed during the webinar. Additionally, here are the websites for the Sage Grouse Initiative  and Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative that are maintained by the broader partnerships. Here you will find the latest news and information, relevant science products, rancher and partner profiles and much, much more. Be sure to read the LPCI 2015 Progress Report and SGI Success on the Range publications to get a great  summary of these collaborative efforts.

You may also be interested in the WLFW Science to Solutions series discussed one the webinar. The new conifer Science to Solutions for Lesser Prairie Chicken is located here and the Sage Grouse Songbird Science to Solutions can be viewed here. Additional Science to Solutions are available on the SGI website.

WLFW Program Contacts:
Galon Hall- National WLFW Coordinator
Washington DC, 202.690.1588
Galon.hall@wdc.usda.gov

Tim Griffiths- West WLFW Coordinator
Bozeman, MT, 406.587.6812
Tim.griffiths@mt.usda.gov

Thad Heater- Sage Grouse Initiative Coordinator
Reno, NV
Thad.heater@wdc.usda.gov
775.857.8500 ext. 144

Jon Ungerer- Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative Coordinator
Marysville, KS
Jon.ungerer@ks.usda.gov
785.562.5343 ext. 106

Stu Tuttle- AZ State Biologist
Flagstaff, AZ
Stu.tuttle@az.usda.gov
928.774.2401 ext 109

Tools for Helping Imperiled Wildlife on Private Lands brochure:
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/ImperiledWildlifeFinalDec2005.pdf

Conservation Profiles: Landowners Help Imperiled Wildlife
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/SafeHarbor.pdf

BLM Sage Grouse Information
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/fish__wildlife_and/sage-grouse-conservation/energy.print.html

Environmental Protection

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) Requires environmental impact statements (EISs) for all major federal agency actions significantly affecting the human environment.
http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/nepa.html

Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.) – http://www.epa.gov/regulations/laws/cwa.html

Clean Air Act (CAA) (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.) – http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2008-title42/pdf/USCODE-2008-title42-chap85.pdf

Stewardship Contracting

Programs in which the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) may enter into long-term contracts (up to 10 years) to meet land-management objectives
http://www.forestsandrangelands.gov/stewardship/index.shtml http://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/Stewardship_Contracting/index.shtml

Sustainable Northwest’s Stewardship Contacting and Collaboration: Best Practices Guidebook is designed to provide information to USFS and non-agency representatives involved in or anticipating involvement in stewardship contracting collaborative groups. It includes information on opportunities for collaboration throughout the stewardship contracting process, offers suggestions of best practices for each step, and includes links to a wealth of additional resources.

Grazing

Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 (TGA): P.L. 73-482 (June 28, 1934): Regulates grazing on public lands to improve rangeland conditions.  http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/Casper/range/taylor.1.html

From BLM Technical Reference Library

Access to entire technical reference library. http://www.blm.gov/library

Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health: An interagency technical reference which describes attributes of rangeland health and provides instructions for using the Rangeland Health Assessment Protocol.  http://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/1734-6rev05.pdf

Rangeland inventory and monitoring supplemental studies: Contains the rangeland inventory and monitoring techniques historically used by the Bureau of Land Management since the formation of the Grazing Service. http://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/TR4400-05.pdf

Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems: Describes how to monitor three rangeland attributes: soil and site stability, watershed function and biotic integrity. Volume I includes basic methods and instructions for establishing photo points and completing four basic measurements. Volume II provides more detailed guidance on monitoring program design, data analysis and interpretation. Volume I.  http://jornada.nmsu.edu/files/Quick_Start.pdf. Volume II. http://jornada.nmsu.edu/files/Volume_II.pdf

Ecological Site Inventory: Identifies the procedures for completing an ecological site inventory and describes the technique used by the NRCS to document and describe ecological sites. http://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/1734-7.pdf

Grazing Management Processes and Strategies for Riparian-Wetland Areas: Provides information to assist livestock operators and land managers in developing successful riparian-wetland grazing management strategies across a wide array of land types. http://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/TR%201737-20.pdf

Riparian Area Management: Grazing management for riparian-wetland areas:  http://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/Final%20TR%201737-14.pdf

Riparian Restoration: Provides the basic principles and background information needed to carry out a restoration project. Objectives are to create an awareness of riparian values and ecosystems and how they function, show common impacts from recreation, provide examples of planning, design, and restoration techniques, and foster an understanding of adapted management and of monitoring concepts.  http://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/Final%20TR%201737-22.pdf

A Guide to Managing, Restoring, and Conserving Springs in the Western United States: Provides information on the characteristics of springs in the Western U.S. and identifies techniques for managing spring habitats that will allow use, maintain biological integrity, and rehabilitate or restore degraded habitats.  http://www.blm.gov/nstc/library/pdf/TR_1737-17-copyright_free_version-updated.pdf

Forestry

Transfer Act of 1905: Establishes the U.S. Forest Service and transfers management of the national forests from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Agriculture.  The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/forest-service

Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act of 1960:  Authorizes and directs that the national forests be managed under principles of multiple use and to produce a sustained yield of products and services, and for other purposes
http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/includes/musya60.pdf

Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974:  Requires that a renewable resource assessment and a Forest Service plan be prepared every ten and five years, respectively, to plan and prepare for the future of natural resources.
http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/includes/range74.pdf

National Forest Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA): The Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA)governs Bureau of Land Management (BLM) management of public lands for multiple use and sustained yield.
http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/includes/NFMA1976.pdf

The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003: Addresses forest health issues, provides for fuels restoration projects, promotes use of biomass, provides for technical assistance for private landowners.
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-108hr1904enr/pdf/BILLS-108hr1904enr.pdf

Energy

The General Mining Act of 1872: Mineral management on federal lands.
http://www.usminer.com/the-general-mining-act-of-1872/

Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. § 181 et seq.): Oil and gas operations on federal land.
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/vernal_fo/lands___minerals.Par.6287.File.dat/MineralLeasingAct1920.pdf

Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947 (30 U.S.C. § 351 et seq.): Extends the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act and the authority of the Secretary of the Interior over oil and gas operations to federal “acquired lands.”
http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/30c7.txt

Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. § 21 et seq.): Federal policy regarding mineral resources in the United States.
www.house.gov/legcoun/Comps/mmpa70.pdf

Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. §1701 et seq.) – FLPMA: Outlines BLM authority, congressional policy concerning federal control over lands and mineral resources, establishes principles of multiple use, sustained yield and environmental protection on public lands.
www.blm.gov/flpma/FLPMA.pdf

Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq.): Affirms authority of the Secretary of the Interior to administer and enforce all rules and regulations governing oil and gas leases on Federal or Indian Land, establishes policy regarding federal royalties.
www.house.gov/legcoun/Comps/royalty.pdf

Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 (FOOGLRA) (30 U.S.C. § 181}:  Establishes USDA Forest Service authority in the leasing of federal minerals on National Forest System lands containing oil and gas. Establishes competitive leasing process for federal minerals.
http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/Communications_Directorate/legislation.Par.23212.File.dat/mla_1920_amendments1.pdf

Bureau of Land Management, Title 43, Part 3100 of the Code of Federal Regulations
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title36-vol1/pdf/CFR-2008-title36-vol1.pdf
43 C.F.R. § 3101 – Issuance of Leases
43 C.F.R. § 3101.1-3 – Stipulations and Information Notices
43 C.F.R. § 3101.1-4 – Modification or Waiver of Lease Terms and Stipulations
43 C.F.R. § 3102.5 – Compliance, Certification of Compliance and Evidence
43 C.F.R. § 3104.1 – Bond Obligations
43 C.F.R. § 3104.5 – Increased Amount of Bond
43 C.F.R. § 3108.3 – Cancellation
43 C.F.R. § 3150 – Onshore Oil and Gas Geophysical Exploration
43 C.F.R. § 3160 – BLM (DOI), Onshore Oil and Gas Operations
43 C.F.R. § 3161 – Jurisdiction and Responsibility
43 C.F.R. § 3162.3 – Conduct of Operations
43 C.F.R. § 3162.5 – Environment and Safety
43 C.F.R. § 3164.1 – Onshore Oil and Gas Order Number 1, Approval of Operations

USFS, Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulation, Part 228
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2008-title36-vol1/pdf/CFR-2008-title36-vol1.pdf
36 C.F.R. § 228 – USFS (Dept. of Ag.), Oil and Gas Resources
36 C.F.R. § 228.8 – Requirements for Environmental Protection

BLM

The Gold Book: Concerns compliance with BLM regulations, policies, and guidelines for oil and gas development. Includes Best Management Practices (BMPs).
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/oil_and_gas/best_management_practices/gold_book.html

Split Estate Management – Bureau of Land Management
http://www.blm.gov/bmp/Split_Estate.htm

Colorado Master Leasing Plans: Land use planning process for areas containing high-level potential resource concerns
http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/oilandgas/BLM_Colorado_Master_Leasing_Plans.html

Collaboration / Community Involvement

Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA): Provides opportunity for non-government groups and individual citizens to provide input into federal lands management.
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/104514

USFS Partnership Resource Center: A joint project of the US Forest Service and National Forest Foundation.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/prc

USFS Partnership Portal for the Rocky Mountain West
http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gjAwhwtDDw9_AI8zPwhQoY6BdkOyoCAPkATlA!/?ss=1102&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=null&navid=240120000000000&pnavid=240000000000000&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&ttype=main&pname=Reg

BLM Collaboration and Dispute Resolution
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/more/adr.html

U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution: Charged to work on environmental conflicts where federal agencies are involved.
http://www.ecr.gov

Taxes

American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012:  Jan 20, 2013 – The federal estate tax exclusion now is set permanently at $5 million and is indexed for inflation, making the 2013 amount $5,250,000.
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/UploadedPDF/412730-Tax-Provisions-in-ATRA.pdf

Conservation Easements

IRS Audit Guide: 
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/conservation_easement.pdf

State Conservation Initiatives

Western Governors Association Wildlife Corridors Oil and Gas Working Group
http://www.westgov.org/wga/publicat/OilGas07.pdf

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