[Number range CHAPTERMojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory
Council]{.underline}

Meeting Minutes

Thursday, June 19, 2003

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Ely Ranger District Office

Resource Advisory Council members present and category represented:

Marta Agee Ranching/Grazing

Maurice Frank-Churchill Native American

Jerry Helton Transportation/Row (Chair)

Dr. John E. Hiatt Wildlife

Robert Maichle Environment

Steve Mellington Public at Large (vice-Chair)

Ben Patterson Ranching/Grazing

John Weisser Dispersed Recreation

Billie Young Wild Horse & Burro

Resource Advisory Council members absent:

Dr. Colleen Beck Archeology/Historic

Patrick John Chicas Permitted Recreation

Thalia Dondero Elected Official

Mark N. Ioli Mineral Development

Dr. Steve Parker Academic/UNLV

Bureau of Land Management representatives present:

Bill Fisher BLM Battle Mountain Assistant Field Mgr

Phil Guerrero BLM Las Vegas Field Office PAO

Chris Hanefeld BLM Ely Field Office PAO

Gene Kolkman BLM Ely Field Manager

Chris Mayer BLM Ely Field Office range lead

Mark Morse BLM Las Vegas Field Office Manager

Jo Simpson BLM NSO PAO

Elvis Wall BLM Ely Field Office Native American coordinator

U.S. Forest Service representatives present

Patricia Irwin Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Ely District Ranger

Steve Holdsambeck District Ranger, Spring Mountains NCA

Public attendees:

Christina Tueller Field Representative for Rep. Jim Gibbons

A copy of each attachment is listed in the text of or at the end of
these minutes and is also on file with the official copy of the minutes
in the Las Vegas Field Office of the BLM. Persons desiring to review
said minutes should contact Phillip Guerrero, public affairs specialist,
at (702) 498-6088.

> \- A quorum present, Chairperson Steve Mellington called the meeting
> to order at 8:20 a.m. -

8:21 a.m. -- Tri-County Wilderness Legislation, BLM Ely Field Office,
BLM Ely Field Manager Gene Kolkman.

-   Kolkman provided the RAC with a brief update re Tri-County
    wilderness legislation. Kolkman said the process is proceeding at a
    faster pace in White Pine County than Lincoln County, which could
    result in two separate wilderness bills. Steve Mellington asked what
    appearance the final legislation might have. John Hiatt said the
    legislation is currently very "fluid" re the wilderness portion of
    the bill. Kolkman said he anticipates something within the next two
    weeks. Hiatt said the legislation is more of a lands bill than it is
    a wilderness bill. Marta Agee asked if the RAC's comments had been
    addressed. Kolkman said the BLM Ely Field Office forwarded the RAC's
    comments to Nevada's congressional delegation. Pat Irwin asked what
    the timeline for a draft would be. Hiatt said he is not aware of
    one, but said the draft legislation should come either before or
    after August 2003. Hiatt explained that Nye County dropped out of
    the legislation, due to a lack of interest, he said. Steve
    Mellington asked if there would be a "public rollout." Hiatt said
    his indications were that there would not be. Marta Agee asked what
    roll Congressman Jim Gibbons would play in the legislation. Hiatt
    said he did not know exactly, but he was sure that Gibbons would
    play a role. A brief discussion ensued. A brief discussion also
    ensued re the legislation and water issues. A pipeline corridor
    designated by Congress takes out three-quarters of the complexity of
    permitting and constructing pipeline, said Kolkman. Hiatt explained
    that Las Vegas Valley Water District and Vidler (citing recent state
    legislation) could take water out of a number of sources. Hiatt said
    wilderness is only part of the overall bill, and that water, land
    and other issues would also play a major roll. Mellington asked if
    the BLM had any input re what land would be put up for disposal.
    Kolkman said lands had been identified and that the parcels had been
    forwarded to the congressional delegation. Mellington noted that the
    bill is on the fast track. Kolkman said a one-year timeline would
    not be sufficient to adequately write a bill.

9 a.m. -- RAC member questions on Field Managers written updates.

BLM Ely Field Office, BLM Ely Field Manager Gene Kolkman (see attachment
1).

-   Kolkman described briefly progress made on the Ely Resource
    Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Ely RMP/EIS) and
    some of the comments received during the recent public scoping
    process, e.g., livestock grazing, wild horses and OHV use. He said
    some of the comments received were out of scope, e.g., wilderness
    and an issue raised by Lincoln County regarding county roads and
    maintenance. Kolkman said that roads are considered generally to be
    a county's, but that the county often lacks a Right of Way (ROW).
    Kolkman said he hopes to address the issue somehow. John Weisser
    asked if interest groups were the primary respondents during the
    public scoping process. Kolkman said the data was broken down by
    issue. He also said that on many issues the BLM Ely Field Office
    received comments from both ends of the spectrum. Robert Maichle
    said the lack of comments suggests confidence in the BLM. Marta Agee
    added that there is a feeling of frustration as well. John Hiatt
    agreed.

-   Kolkman said significant progress is being made with the Eastern
    Nevada Landscape Coalition regarding the Eastern Nevada Landscape
    Restoration Project. He said recent discussions indicate that local
    tribes might soon be able to participate in some projects. He noted
    too the Forest Service involvement on some projects. He said that
    ReGAP has so far covered 18 million acres of sampling. A brief
    explaination of ReGAP ensued.

-   Re energy issues, Kolkman said that Toquop would have the option of
    being air-cooled or water-cooled, depending on a decision by the
    state water engineer. He said that an exchange re Pah Rah has been
    determined to be a good idea, otherwise the tract will be put out to
    competitive bid. He also said that planning protests have been
    received from the Western Land Exchange and another group. Kolkman
    said that wind energy anemometer placement has been difficult due to
    site access. He said that the BLM Ely Field Office has suggested
    locations other than those requested to eliminate concerns. A brief
    discussion ensued.

-   Re the Lincoln County Land Act (LCLA), Kolkman said that Lincoln
    County has requested more time prior to the next phase (sale). He
    said the BLM has agreed to delay a sale from this year to the next.
    He said the congressionally mandated deadline remains Oct. 2005. He
    said the BLM is still in court on the first phase and is awaiting a
    decision.

-   Re Fire Hazard Reduction Projects, Kolkman said both the Ely and
    Mount Wilson Community Guest Ranch communities remain at risk
    despite the scheduled Fire Hazard Reduction Projects, which are
    being implemented. A brief discussion ensued.

-   Re wild horses, Kolkman said the Dry Lake Herd Management Area (HMA)
    gather is scheduled to occur in July or early August. He said the
    HMA's Appropriate Management Level (AML) is fewer than 100 head and
    that currently the HMA has on it between 300-400 head. He said there
    are forage and water issues on the HMA. Ben Patterson asked if
    anything was planned to remove wild horses from so-called horse-free
    areas. Kolkman said any effort would probably be based on "triage."
    A brief discussion ensued re the possibility of removing wild horses
    from horse-free areas, e.g., herding them back into HMAs. Kolkman
    said the issue is difficult, but he feels it best to begin with the
    worst-hit areas first, i.e., triage. Hiatt asked if AML has been set
    districtwide. Kolkman said any remaining areas would have AML
    established by the end of this fiscal year. He said AML is not an
    issue -- a lack of money and permission to gather is the issue.
    Billie Young asked if letters of support would help resolve the
    issue. A brief discussion ensued. Kolkman said moving horses does
    not help, getting the money to gather would resolve the issue. A
    brief discussion ensued.

-   Kolkman provided the council with a brief explanation of planned-for
    signage along the McGill Highway regarding OHV use and the need to
    remain on existing roads and trails.

\- Mellington recessed the meeting at 9:30 a.m., reconvening at 10 a.m.
--

Las Vegas Field Office, BLM Las Vegas Field Manager Mark Morse (see
attachment 2).

-   Morse provided the council a brief update on recent sales under the
    Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA), noting an
    increase in difficulty in putting such sales together. He said the
    BLM is attempting to meet local municipalities demands. John Weisser
    asked how recent price increases would affect the value of upcoming
    parcels. Morse said he did not know. Steve Mellington asked how much
    money has been spent to date. Gene Kolkman asked how much has been
    spent in rural Nevada. Morse said about 25-percent of SNPLMA funding
    has been expended in rural Nevada, or outside Clark County. He said
    the remainder, or 75-percent, has been expended within Clark County.
    Morse said the first sale in 1999 brought in \$10 million. He said
    the second sale brought in \$16 million. Subsequent sales have risen
    to the latest figure of \$232 million, said Morse. Hiatt asked why
    people pay so much. Morse said the people who bid have generally
    already purchased the inholdings and that they are committed to
    purchasing the remaining public lands. John Hiatt noted that average
    densities for new housing in Clark County are 10 units per acre and
    that all planning conducted by Clark County previously is woefully
    inadequate. A brief discussion ensued re adequate availability of
    public services and the social implications of rapid growth. Kolkman
    asked if Clark County could zone the to-be sold parcels prior to the
    sale. Patricia Irwin asked if the parcels were, in fact, zoned prior
    to sale. Hiatt said the parcels were zoned within a range of units
    per acre and that the zoning could be changed subsequent to the
    sale. A brief discussion ensued. Jerry Helton (arriving from the
    Northeast Great Basin Resource Advisory Council meeting at 10:25
    a.m.) requested clarification re the Robert Hall temporary
    injunction on land sales. A brief update was provided.

-   Marta Agee asked about Red Rock. Agee said she was on vacation in
    the Midwest and was told by a mountain climber that theft at Red
    Rock is rampant. Morse acknowledged that crime is rampant at Red
    Rock. He said it appears to be organized crime that breaks into
    vehicles and removes one piece of ID and a single credit card from
    wallets and/or purses for immediate use. It's a cyclic issue that is
    shared by other NCAs and National Parks in the western states.
    Permanent signage at the entryways was suggested.

BLM Battle Mountain Field Manager's Report, Assistant Field Mgr. Bill
Fisher (see attachment 3).

-   Re Esmerelda County and Nye County townsites, Fisher said that HR367
    reduced the 25-year stipulation to just 15 years, allowing the
    federal government to turn the townsites over to the individual
    county governments. Fisher said the changes in legislation would
    resolve the issue of the two townsites that are currently in
    trespass on federal property. He also said that the Nevada
    legislature approved similar legislation two years ago. A brief
    discussion ensued.

-   Fisher said that work to designate a specific location an Area of
    Critical Environmental Concern is still proceeding, despite a lack
    of funding.

-   Fisher said that an emergency gather has been proposed for the
    Silver Peak Herd Management Area (HMA). He said that wild horses
    within the HMA are in Class Two condition and that a full force and
    effect decision was sent out yesterday. A tour involving staff from
    the Washington Office is scheduled soon. A gather is scheduled for
    the first week in July.

-   Fisher said the Ponderosa Dairy trespass issue should be resolved
    soon with a direct sale of the four parcels of land that are in
    trespass. He said all the pre-work has been completed and that an
    appraisal is due back next week. The NORA will be published and a
    sale hopefully scheduled in September, he said. Ben Patterson asked
    if direct sales were at appraised value. Mark Morse said yes. Fisher
    said the Ponderosa sale would be both direct and
    modified-competitive. A brief discussion ensued re BLM use of the
    direct sale process.

11:31 a.m. -- Range Improvement Projects, Chris Mayer, BLM Ely Field
Office range lead.

-   Mayer said that Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn has signed a stock water
    bill resulting in several fundamental issues for the BLM and public,
    i.e., 1) the legislation will cost taxpayers a significant amount of
    money to develop water, 2) the legislation states that federal
    agencies (BLM) cannot share in water rights, 3) potentially, the
    legislation ties property rights to water rights, 4) a Land Use Plan
    (LUP) with a significant level of National Environmental Policy
    (NEPA) analysis would be required for any water improvements on
    public lands, which would be extremely controversial, 5) the
    legislation allows for water rights to be filed on significant
    amounts of snow. A brief discussion ensued re the BLM's ability to
    issue stock water rights. There was a concern that livestock
    permittees could not afford the Land Use Planning process, which
    could involve litigation. Marta Agee provided a brief background on
    water issues in western states. Agee said traditionally the western
    states owned the water and that the federal government initiated a
    fight for the resource when it attempted to wrestle control from the
    states. She said the states would prefer that individuals own water
    rights. Gene Kolkman pointed out that the issue is limited to the
    State of Nevada. Ben Patterson said the water rights issue in Nevada
    is based primarily on philosophical differences. He said the real
    problem is getting water to everyone in a beneficial manner. Kolkman
    said water improvements have been underway in the BLM Ely District
    for a long time. Kolkman said the legislation would prevent new
    water projects from being implemented. He also said the BLM Ely
    Field Office can no longer allow permittees to change the "place of
    use." A brief discussion ensued.

-   Chris Mayer provided the council an update on various projects
    throughout the BLM Ely District. Mayer said most of the projects are
    located in White Pine and northern Lincoln counties. In Lincoln
    County, riparian exclosures are the primary emphasis, he said. He
    said in White Pine County, pipeline improvements are the main
    emphasis. Mayer said that other projects include the Schellborne
    fence, a pipeline involving the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe and Kirkeby
    Ranch, water storage tanks and temporary water haul sites for
    livestock distribution. He also said that an exclosure is scheduled
    for construction south of the White River Narrows to control
    livestock grazing along SR 318.

11:47 a.m. -- Duckwater Tribal Issues/Expansion, Elvis Wall, BLM Ely
Field Office Native American coordinator.

-   Wall said the BLM Ely Field Office has been working with the
    Duckwater Shoshone Tribe since the mid-1970s. Wall said the BLM Ely
    Field Office met with the tribe in December 2002 to develop a
    strategy that would bring all interested parties together in a
    collaborative process, including members of the general public and
    various interest groups. He said a boundary (428,000 acres) was
    developed that the tribe felt would be in its best interest. The
    request has gone through the scoping process. The tribal council is
    today meeting with BLM Ely Field Office representatives to redefine
    the requested boundaries, which have been reduced. The exact acre
    amount is being defined as of today. Once the boundaries are
    redefined, the tribe will reassess their request. In the next step,
    the BLM Ely Field Office will conduct a second round of scoping
    meetings. If there are no major concerns with the modified request,
    the BLM Ely Field Office will proceed with recommendation to the
    Nevada State Office (NSO). Marta Agee asked if the proposed
    expansion would impact neighboring allotments. Kolkman said the
    initial proposal involved several neighbors who could end up having
    their allotments governed by the tribe instead of the BLM. Wall said
    that when the expansion proposal process is completed at the field
    office level, the final document would be routed through the Nevada
    State Office to the Secretary of Interior and sent to the Bureau of
    Indian Affairs and Congress, for approval. If it were to become law,
    the affected public lands would be transferred from the BLM to the
    BIA, to be administered by the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe. Billie
    Young asked if any Herd Management Areas (HMAs) would be impacted.
    Wall said that the Monte Cristo HMA to the east of the reservation
    could be affected, but that any impacts would be mitigated. Wall
    also said it is possible that the tribe would not request any public
    lands located within the HMA boundaries. Bob Maichle asked if the
    expansion proposal involved only contiguous lands. Wall responded
    that the initial proposal included public lands in Sand Springs but
    that the scoping process revealed that the requested property was
    not contiguous.

\- Helton recessed the meeting for lunch at 12 p.m. -

LUNCH

\- Helton called the meeting to order at: 1 .m. -

1 p.m. -- U.S. Forest Service Issues, Patricia Irwin, Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest Ely District Ranger and Steve Holdsambeck, District
Ranger, Spring Mountains NCA .

-   Irwin said that privatization is rapidly becoming a morale issue at
    the Forest Service because people are threatened with a loss of
    employment. Irwin said she has been notified that some positions
    nationwide won't be refilled. Three of 16-18 of the positions in the
    Ely district won't be filled due to the policy, she said. She also
    said that staff is being trained in Reduction in Force.

-   Irwin briefly explained NEPA changes that include non-appealable
    categorical exclusions. She also pointed to changes in appeal
    regulations, e.g., if a member of the public does not provide
    comment during the scoping process then he or she will find it more
    difficult to appeal the decision when it is complete. A brief
    discussion ensued.

-   Irwin briefly explained progress on the Duck Creek Basin Travel
    Management Plan Request for Comments (see attachment 4).

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-   Irwin said the Forest Service has about 32,000 acres of public land
    in Nye and Lincoln counties. In the allotment, there are about 50
    estray cattle that the Forest Service is attempting to deal with,
    either through a gather or impoundment. The Forest Service is
    working with the State Brand Inspectors and State Attorney General's
    office. She said a first attempt, i.e., gather or impoundment, is
    tentatively scheduled in October 2003 with a follow-up scheduled
    tentatively in February 2004. John Hiatt said a BLM gather in the
    Amargosa Valley, in Calif., did not succeed. Marta Agee suggested
    the Forest Service fund local permittees and allow them to gather
    the cattle. Agee pointed out that unbranded cattle on a permittee's
    allotment are considered to be the permittees. Irwin said the State
    Brand Inspectors say differently. Hiatt said the State Brand
    Inspectors have been a major impediment to every estray gather in
    Nevada fro years. Kolkman said the issue is that the agencies are
    getting mixed messages. A brief discussion ensued. RAC members
    suggested that the Forest Service allow the State of Nevada resolve
    the impoundment issue by turning the cattle over to the permittee,
    who in turn will gather and/or liquidate them.

-   Steve Holdsambeck said the Forest Service is scheduled this fiscal
    year to go to a year-round concession contract at Spring Mountains
    NCA.

-   Holdsambeck said that an ethnographic landscape analysis is underway
    at the NCA and the Forest Service is learning that it should be
    collaborating with more Native American bands.

-   At the last RAC meeting, Holdsambeck told the RAC about procedures
    to stop geocaching inside wilderness boundary. He said interest in
    the issue has tripled since the last meeting. Also, petroglyphs have
    since been discovered throughout the NCA so geocaching could be
    prohibited throughout the NCA.

-   Steve Mellington asked what happened to the RAC's recommendations
    regarding animal control and target shooting inside the NCA.
    Holdsambeck said the recommendations have been forwarded.
    Holdsambeck said there is some concern about issuing additional
    public restrictions inside the NCA.

-   Billie Young asked about the status of the Wild Horse & Burro
    supervisory position in Sparks, Nev. Holdsambeck said the position
    has yet to be filled, due to budgetary concerns.

-   Responding to a question by Hiatt, Holdsambeck said the Forest
    Service is looking at OHV use of the trails within the NCA,
    formulating alternatives and writing an Environmental Assessment
    (EA). He said the agency expects to have a decision by the end of
    December 2003.

2 p.m. -- Sustaining Working Landscapes: Jo Simpson, NSO Communications
Chief (see attachments 5-8).

-   Simpson said the agency has determined that some changes could be
    made through policy rather than regulations, which is a longer
    process. She said a draft policy would be forwarded to the council
    by next Wednesday. Simpson then provided a brief explanation of the
    individual concepts (attachment 5). Simpson said the Northwest and
    Northeast Great Basin Resource Advisory Councils have established a
    sub-committee to review the draft policy and provide comments prior
    to their next regularly scheduled meetings. She said the Mojave
    Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council has been invited to
    participate on the sub-committee. She also said that the councils
    have been directed to schedule a meeting specifically for public
    comment on the draft policy. She said all comments received from the
    councils and public would be forwarded to the Nevada State Office,
    which would forward them to the Washington Office. A brief
    discussion ensued.

-   Jerry Helton said that council members attending the annual
    conference in Washington, DC, last spring, were provided an agenda
    regarding potential grazing regulation modifications just prior to
    the meeting. Helton said it was widely assumed that the changes had
    already been made. Instead, the goal was to provide those attending
    the conference with something to work with, he said. Helton blamed
    the confusion on poor presentation.

-   Simpson clarified further, saying that draft regulations have been
    published and public meetings conducted. However, it has been
    recommended to make some of the changes where appropriate through
    policy because policy changes are simpler to implement. Simpson
    reassured the council that the agency never intended to ignore them.

-   Marta Agee, John Hiatt and Ben Patterson volunteered to serve on the
    sub-committee. The council agreed to address the policy at its next
    regularly scheduled meeting in Tonopah, Nev. The council determined
    it best to hear the sub-committee's report from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.,
    and conduct a public hearing from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday,
    Sept. 4. The council would focus on other issues on Friday, Sept. 5.

3 p.m. -- Wild Horse & Burro Issues, BLM Ely Field Manager Gene Kolkman.

-   Kolkman explained briefly this year's gather schedule for wild
    horses and burros. He said approximately 2,200 wild horses are
    scheduled to be collected via regularly-scheduled gathers. Emergency
    gathers are not included on the recently-released schedule, he said.

-   Marta Agee asked if all the BLM districts in Nevada are as close to
    establishing Appropriate Management Level (AML) as Ely is. Agee was
    told that Elko and Winnemucca are making progress. Battle Mountain
    is experiencing difficulties.

-   Billie Young said the goal is to establish a statewide AML of 15,000
    wild horses and burros. Young said figures indicate that roughly
    7,000 wild horses and burros are adopted annually. She said the
    public's desire to adopt might increase if the state's AML was
    maintained at 14,000-15,000 wild horses and burros. Additional
    interest might spur an increase in fees that would help to cover
    program costs. A brief discussion re longterm holding
    benefits/issues ensued.

-   Kolkman said holding facilities could provide a short-term solution,
    provided that wild horse and burro numbers are brought to AML.

-   Kolkman said the BLM Ely District contains 24 Herd Management Areas
    (HMAs). He said AML remains to be established on some of the
    district's smaller HMAs. One or two National Environmental Policy
    Act (NEPA) analyses would establish AML, he said. Kolkman suggested
    two possibilities: 1) Allotments determined to possess insufficient
    habitat for wild horses would have the AML established at zero,
    and, 2) allotments with sufficient habitat would be combined and
    wild horses allowed to remain. Kolkman described briefly a situation
    where wild horses and feral cattle are staking claim to the small
    riparian areas and denying the permittee access. He said zeroing out
    the wild horses and feral livestock would be an option, but that the
    proposal would generate controversy. He said a scoping letter was
    released on Monday, June 16. A proposal would be completed in Spring
    2004, he said. Kolkman said he would provide the RAC an update at
    its next meeting, scheduled in September.

-   Re wild horses on the Nellis Air Force Base, Mark Morse said the
    protest period for the Nellis Plan ends Monday, June 23, 2003. Morse
    said the plan has support from the NWHA. He said the location was
    scheduled to be gathered in December 2002/January 2003. The gather
    has not been conducted, he said. Morse said that foaling season has
    past. He said the BLM is hauling water to selected sites and that
    the wild horses appear to be in good health. If a gather can be
    conducted this fiscal year, the site could be left with only about
    350 wild horses, he said. Marta Agee said drought conditions mandate
    that horses be removed immediately so as to retain good feed in the
    future. Morse said a tour of the area is scheduled in late-June.
    Morse said the Clark County Act allows SNPLMA money (up to 10%
    annually) to be used for conservation. Some money could be used for
    contraceptives, if the gather is delayed for a brief time, he said.
    Agee asked if the use of contraceptives would be just another "test
    case" or if it would be a viable solution in the fight to stem the
    growing numbers of wild horses on the Nellis Range. Billie Young
    said contraceptive use is still considered to be research but that
    it has progressed significantly in recent years.

-   Citing concerns over the handling of wild horses in the southern
    portion of the district during the drought last summer, Kolkman
    suggested that the Mojave Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory
    Council review the BLM's euthanasia policy. The council agreed to
    take up the policy review.

-   Morse said legislation that would have fenced off the highway
    through Red Rock failed, but that Governor Guinn has requested that
    such a project proceed. Therefore, the BLM intends to fence off the
    highway through Red Rock to protect wild horses and burros. The
    Nevada Division of Forestry inmate work crews and the Nevada
    Department of Transportation are partnering with BLM to get the area
    fenced.

4:11 p.m. -- Public Comment Period --

-   Speaking as a member of the public, Billie Young asked that
    anonymous cards be provided the RAC and public ( via a suggestion
    box). A brief discussion ensued. Kolkman suggested the RAC have a
    presence on the BLM website. A brief discussion ensued. Weisser
    suggested having people mail correspondence to the BLM Las Vegas
    Field Office, which would be forwarded. A brief discussion ensued.
    The public comment period closed at 4:20 p.m.

4:21 p.m. -- Prescribed Fire/Fire Season Outlook, BLM Ely Field Manager
Gene Kolkman.

-   Kolkman provided a brief history and timeline re the development of
    the BLM Ely District Managed Natural and Prescribed Fire Plan that
    began in 1999 with the establishment of a Technical Review Team. He
    said the plan was completed in 2001.

-   Kolkman said the district has determined that an area identified as
    the Mt. Grafton Fire Use Zone possesses qualities that would benefit
    from managed natural or prescribed fire. He said the district is
    already conducting pre-suppression activities. A communications plan
    has to be developed, he said.

-   John Hiatt asked if any vegetation would be thinned prior to
    ignition. Kolkman said fuels crews are in the field.

-   Marta Agee asked about the potential for biomass. Kolkman explained
    that the Ely and Mount Wilson Community Guest Ranch Urban Interface
    projects, which had a potential for biomass, had been halted by
    lawsuits but that watershed analyses are underway as part of the Ely
    Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Ely
    RMP/EIS). A brief discussion re biomass, the Mt. Grafton Fire Use
    Zone and Ely RMP/EIS ensued.

4:26 p.m. -- Itinerary for RAC meeting scheduled Thursday and Friday,
Sept. 4-5, 2003, in Tonopah, Nev.

-   Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003

> 1 p.m. -- Grazing Policy
>
> 4 p.m. -- Public Meeting

-   Friday, Sept. 5, 2003

> 8 a.m. -- Grazing Policy
>
> 10 a.m. -- Field Manager Reports
>
> 11 a.m. -- Forest Service: Wild Horse & Burro issues
>
> 12 p.m. -- Misc., e.g., additional public comment, update re:
> Duckwater Shoshone expansion possibilities, BLM Wild Horse & Burro
> euthanasia policy.

4:42 p.m. -- Mark Morse said that a congressional staff bus tour is
scheduled Aug. 27, 2003, in and around Mesquite, Nev. He invited the RAC
members to attend, if possible.

\- There being no further business, Helton adjourned the meeting at 4:45
p.m. -

APPROVED BY:

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Date Jerry Helton, Chair

Mojave-Southern Great Basin

Resource Advisory Council

> \- Minutes provided by Chris Hanefeld, BLM Ely Field Office public
> affairs specialist -

Attachments:

1.  BLM Ely Field Manager's Report

2.  BLM Las Vegas Field Manager's Report

3.  BLM Battle Mountain Field Manager's Report

4.  Duck Creek Basin Travel Management Plan Request for Comments

5.  Concepts

6.  Timeline

7.  Power point printout