**[Minutes]{.smallcaps}**

**[Statewide RAC Meeting]{.smallcaps}**

**October 16-17, 2003**

**Sunset Station**

**Henderson, Nevada**

**Thursday, October 16**

***List of RAC Attendees***

## Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin RAC Members

Jim Eidel

Larie Trippet

D. Craig Young

John E. Dicks

Jerry Hepworth

John Falen

Ernie Paine

Bill Roullier

Tina Nappe

Sherman Swanson

John Gebhardt

John Mudge

Susie Askew

## Mojave-Southern Great Basin RAC Members

Billie Young

Claire R. Toomey

John Weisser

Jerry Helton

Bob Maichle

Marta Agee

Steve Mellington

John Hiatt

Steve Parker

Colleen Beck

Thaila Dondero

Mark Hill

Kenny Anderson

## Northeastern Great Basin RAC Members

Dave Gaskin

Hank Vogler

Jeff White

Brent Howerton

Kathy Ataman

Dave Tattam

Patsy Tomera

John Ellison

**[Bureau of Land Management]{.underline}**

Bob Abbey Nevada State Director

Jo Simpson Chief, Office of Communications, Nevada State Office

Del Fortner DSD, Minerals Management, Nevada State Office

Meg Jensen DSD, Natural Resources, Lands and Planning, Nevada

State Office

Butch Hayes Fire Resource Specialist, Nevada State Office

Terry Reed Winnemucca Field Manager

Helen Hankins Elko Field Manager

Mark Morse Las Vegas Field Manager

Gene Kolkman Ely Field Manager

Jerry Smith Battle Mountain Field Manager

John Singlaub Carson City Field Manager

Angie Lara Associate Field Manager, Las Vegas Field Office

Mark Struble Public Affairs Specialist, Carson City Field Office

Mike Brown Public Affairs Specialist, Elko Field Office

Chris Hanefeld Public Affairs Officer, Ely Field Office

Diane Hendry Public Affairs Specialist, Battle Mountain and

Winnemucca field offices

Phil Guerrero Public Affairs Officer, Las Vegas Field Office

Kirsten Cannon Public Affairs Specialist, Las Vegas Field Office

Debra Kolkman Writer/Editor, Nevada State Office

Nancy Thompson Field Manager's Secretary, Winnemucca Field Office

Robert Boyd Hydrologist, Las Vegas Field Office

## U.S. Forest Service

June McMillen U.S. Forest Service, Public Affairs Officer

Jose Noriega U.S. Forest Service, District Ranger, Santa Rosa Ranger

District

Pat Irwin U.S. Forest Service, District Ranger, Ely Ranger District

Steve Holdsambeck U.S. Forest Service, District Ranger, Spring Mountain

National Recreation Area

Skip Canfield State of Nevada, Division of State Lands

Bob Vaught U.S. Forest Service, Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe

National Forest

Ed Monnig U.S. Forest Service, Deputy Forest Supervisor,
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

### Other Attendees

Dan Peterson Friends of Sand Mountain/California Off-Road Vehicle

Association (CORVA)

Kai Anderson Chief of Staff, United States Senator Reid's office

*A copy of each attachment is listed in the text of, or at the end of
these minutes and is on file with the official copy of the minutes in
the Nevada State Office of the BLM. Persons desiring to view attachments
should contact Debra Kolkman at (775) 289-1946.*

**Welcome and Introductions** - Bob Abbey, BLM Nevada State Director,
called the meeting to order at 8:20 am. Abbey welcomed all attending RAC
members and provided them with a basic orientation to their role.

-   Serve in a significant position to influence decisions made to 48
    million acres of public lands in Nevada.

-   Help us develop planning decisions for three NCAs and 20 Wilderness
    Areas.

-   Advise BLM on recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on
    how to spend \$300 million per year in Southern Nevada Public Land
    Management Act (SNPLMA).

-   Provide advice and council in managing over 20,000 wild horses on
    public land in Nevada - over one half of the wild horses in the U.
    S.

-   Influence the largest rehabilitation effort of any in the U. S., the
    Great Basin Restoration Initiative.

-   Input into decisions on mineral resources - the largest number of
    geothermal leases of any Western state are here on public lands in
    Nevada.

-   Help us with decisions on implementation of the National Fire Plan.

-   Help us with increasing pressures on recreation use on public lands
    in rural Nevada.

-   Help us with recreation related issues: partnerships, public health
    and safety, involvement with gateway communities, environmental
    education and outreach, some of the competitions for OHV events.

The role played by RAC members is important and it comes at a price of
personal sacrifice to come to these meetings. RACs have a great deal of
influence in the planning of the management of our public lands. We look
forward to and appreciate that input.

Abbey asked members, BLM officials, and guests to introduce themselves.

Abbey presented **BLM FY 2004 Priorities**, which he said were very much
in line with national priorities.

-   Updating our land use plans, many of which are over 20 years old.

-   Energy resource development -- looking at alternative energy sources
    including solar, wind and geothermal.

-   Fuels reduction and the National Fire Plan -- We are working with
    our partners the U.S. Forest Service and local communities to try to
    reduce the risks of catastrophic wildfire. The best example is the
    work that is going on in eastern Nevada under the leadership of Gene
    Kolkman. We are trying to effect a positive change across the range
    in Nevada. There have been some gains since the 1999 fire season.

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-   Range management -- wild horses and burros, setting AMLs, the need
    to demonstrate positive change in the sagebrush ecosystem.

-   Implementation of special legislation affecting public lands in
    Nevada. We are fortunate to have the Southern Nevada Public Land
    Management Act, the Clark County Conservation Act, and the Black
    Rock Desert-High Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA.

These are the things that we know we are being directed to focus
attention on from the Director of BLM and the Secretary of the Interior.

**BLM Program Outlook for FY 2004** (See attachment 1.)

Presentation by Meg Jensen, DSD, Natural Resources, Lands and Planning

Jensen said that the top priorities facing BLM in Nevada today are -

-   Wild horse program -- We think this is one of the highest
    priorities. BLM has a strategy to reach appropriate management
    levels by 2005. We've been making steady progress in Nevada. This is
    a two-part goal: Set amls on all of our HMAs. Nevada has 21 HMAs
    they are trying to set AMLs on. We need to remove 5,800 horses this
    year to meet AML.

-   Great Basin Restoration Initiative -- including Eastern Nevada
    Landscape Restoration Project. Winnemucca has pursued the Wildfire
    Support Group initiatives in the past year.

-   Do some streamlining in managing our rangeland program. Improve
    processing permits. Meeting with RACs on the Sustaining Working
    Landscapes concept.

-   Two pushes for sage grouse

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-   State of Nevada Governor's conservation efforts. There are six local
    plans being developed throughout the state. The plans will be
    incorporated soon into a statewide plan.

-   The BLM sage grouse strategy has been developed by our Director as a
    way to support state planning. This plan is on the BLM website and
    open for comment until November 1.

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-   Land disposals

    -   Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (Baca Bill) -- we are
        pursuing an active program.

    -   Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act -- affordable housing
        policy is being developed. The point is for BLM to sell lands to
        make affordable housing available for less than fair market
        value to make these developments available to all.

Abbey commented that a small section of SNPLMA provides for BLM to
dispose of property at less than fair market value for affordable
housing. We are working with local communities to discover what interest
there is in these opportunities. We are in a very fortunate position to
help the communities with some of the challenges they have for
affordable housing.

-   Recreation

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-   Travel planning and management -- supplemental guidance is available
    to blm

-   Area and road/trail designation for Winnemucca, Ely and Carson City
    Plans

-   Continue to have challenges with Special Recreation Permits

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-   Land use plans - complete

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-   Black Rock-High Rock nca rmp

-   Nellis Test and Training Range rmp

-   Red Rock nca General Management Plan

-   Elko Fire Plan rmp Amendment

-   Pine Nut Plan rmp Amendment

-   Toquop Energy Project eis

-   Elko Wild Horse Management Amendment

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-   Land use planning in early stages

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-   Sloan Canyon nca

-   Ely rmp

-   Winnemucca rmp

-   Jumbo Hills Plan and Energy Leasing rmp Amendment

-   Las Vegas Land Disposal Boundary Expansion

-   Planning for energy development

We are very active in the wind energy arena

-   Energy Rights-of-Way

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-   Programmatic Wind Energy EIS

-   Wind site testing applications -- 13 authorized (Anemometers, 35
    applications pending - 50 percent of BLM nationwide)

-   Geothermal power plant and facilities applications -- 3 power plants
    authorized, 15 support facilities pending

Questions and Comments

-   Eidel asked to what extent wind energy development has been
    coordinated with the sage grouse efforts? Jensen answered there has
    been a lot of coordination up to the Washington Office level.

-   Swanson asked if the fragmentation is being addressed? Fortner
    answered that this is being looked at. Swanson continued that it
    seems there has been a paradigm shift in rangeland management in the
    last few years. Is that shift, as well as pushing against the
    threshold taking root and going to become a driving force in other
    land management planning throughout the State? Jensen answered we
    have talked a lot about adaptive management. Through adaptive
    management we can be more responsive to the needs across the State.

-   Abbey commented the biggest shift will be a renewed emphasis on
    monitoring. We need to have a good indication of what is happening
    on the rangelands.

-   Eidel commented there is an opportunity to put a bird transept in
    place. Abbey responded we will have a meeting to discuss that.

-   Abbey commented that any time we talk about using livestock to
    reduce threats of wildfire people say why not just put up a parking
    lot. We're talking about using prescriptive grazing, using livestock
    to help us achieve a well-defined objective. It is much cheaper to
    use livestock than pesticides or other more expensive measures. This
    is a pilot program.

-   Kolkman commented that in the early spring when cheatgrass is coming
    in we put livestock out there and then pull them off when the
    perennials began to come on. There is no better treatment to reduce
    cheatgrass.

-   Reed commented we are looking at a number of allotments to see how
    to apply many different measures.

Presentation by Del Fortner, DSD Minerals Management

Fortner told the group sponsored by Senator Reid, the Senator did
reference Nevada as the Saudi Arabia of wind energy.

-   Geothermal Resources Steam Act Proposed Changes

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-   9 power plants

-   165 megawatts

-   165,000 households supplied with electricity

We seek partnerships with the counties to process applications in a
timely manner. The power plants provide employment for the counties, and
provide power to homes and industry.

-   Oil and Gas Leasing

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-   Continue to hold 4 competitive lease sales annually -- We are
    required to process all our APDs (applications for permit to drill)
    within 35 days -- this is the only known regulation that requires
    blm to process within a certain length of time.

-   Reduce the backlog of industry-nominated tracts by updating NEPA
    documents.

Fortner commented that we don't know if today is the sunrise or sunset
of oil and gas leasing in this country. Nevada is the only state where
blm operates in cooperation with the State. Industry has a great
interest in oil and gas leasing in Nevada.

-   Hardrock Mining

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-   Greater emphasis on consistency, communication and cooperation --
    with Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (NDEP), the
    industry, environmental groups, and Native Americans

-   Encourage conformance with procedures outlined in the Memorandum of
    Understanding with NDEP and the U.S. Forest Service

> \- coordination meetings
>
> \- joint blm/ndep bond release inspections

-   Explore ways to make the permitting process more efficient, prevent
    duplication with NDEP- NEPA reclamation cost estimation and bonding
    process

> \- Strive to get more experienced at field office level
>
> \- Increase the skill mix to meet demands at field level

-   Improve NEPA, reclamation cost estimation and bonding

-   Continue to ensure protection of the environment

Blm's workload went up 300 percent with the recent small rise in gold
prices. There were over 19,000 mining claims filed in 2003.

-   Abandoned Mine Lands -- these are a challenge for blm

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-   Cleanup of large bankrupt and abandoned mines

-   Backfill abandoned mines with emphasis on those in and near high
    public use areas

-   Inventory and secure abandoned mines in cooperation with Nevada
    Division of Minerals

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-   Hazardous sites and landfills

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-   Work with State of Nevada and the mining industry to

> \- remediate and reclaim large amL sites
>
> \- address the physical safety hazards at smaller aml sites

-   Address landfill and "desert dumping" issues

Questions and Comments

-   Nappe asked at what point does BLM coordinate with the Department of

> Wildlife in mine permitting? Fortner answered field offices work
> directly the Nevada Division of Wildlife.

-   Kolkman commented it initially gets started with the scoping and
    goes all the way through the process.

-   Jensen commented as an addition to the discussion of natural
    resources and lands planning that the concern about monitoring has
    reached the Washington Office and some of the funding has come down
    to the states. Monitoring is a national issue.

Presentation by Butch Hayes, Fire Resource Specialist

Hayes told the group that the 2003 fire season was small.

-   2004 Management Program Outlook

    -   The first effort will be revision of all fire management plans.
        A common template has been developed among all agencies which
        will incorporate budget strategies

    -   The second major thing is that single engine air tankers (SEATS)
        will continue to replace heavy air tankers. BLM's experience
        with SEATS has been very positive. They are much more
        maneuverable.

    -   The Student Conservation Association Fire Education Corps will
        be based in Reno, Carson City and Winnemucca. This next summer,
        2004, will be the third year for this program. This group talks
        to homeowners suggesting ways they can improve the fire
        prevention system around their homes.

    -   Rural fire assistance funding will decrease from \$811,000 in
        2003 to \$546,000 in 2004.

    -   Interagency Statewide Community Wildfire Risk Assessment and
        Mitigation Plan will be completed during calendar year 2004. In
        partnership with Nevada agencies, BLM is assessing and
        prioritizing risk of wildfire in all parts of Nevada. An
        independent contractor will assess the communities at risk. BLM
        is the lead on this type of program in the nation.

Hayes told the group in answer to a question by RAC member Falen that he
doesn't anticipate any reduction in funding for the Wildfire Support
Group, as it comes from a different source of funding.

-   Continued support of/collaboration with the Nevada Fire Safe
    Council. Explain what can be done in areas to reduce the possibility
    of catastrophic wildfire.

-   Increased activity/projects associated with the Wildfire Support
    Group in Winnemucca. We anticipate continued support of the initial
    interests of this group.

-   Initial attack capability should remain at the 2003 level.

Fuels reduction budget levels are anticipated to be level in 2004.

Questions and Comments

-   Vogler asked is there any effort to give more local control so that
    nothing is in the way, and allows wildfire to open up some of the
    areas? Hayes answered in order to do that we have to comply with a
    number of very stringent guidelines. The only field office that has
    that in place is Ely on Mt. Grafton. I think you will see this
    change over time with the development of more fire use plans.

-   Hepworth commented we were blessed with not many fires this year.
    For monies not spent on the suppression side is there a plan for
    reallocating those funds? Hayes answered we are allocated down to
    the smallest office in the state. There is no money allocated to
    Nevada for wildfire suppression, it is paid for from a national
    fund. Reed answered that there was a private contractor in
    Winnemucca and that might have been some of the engines seen
    gathered at a fire. Falen said that we don't want to let these fires
    burn everywhere.

-   Vogler commented he appreciated Falen's point of view, but he would
    like to see control at the local level, not Denver or Phoenix or
    Boise. Hayes answered that it's not national control over what a
    local field manager is doing, it's allocation of resources. Kolkman
    commented we're getting more and more of an increase in native fuels
    communities. We'll see more erratic fire behavior when it burns an
    area that has already burned. We need to understand more about this.
    In our communities in eastern Nevada when we are at planning levels
    4 or 5. We're in a position where all the national resources are
    elsewhere and we have no other options. We cannot always predict an
    outcome.

-   Eidel asked why, although he had been impressed with the Student
    Conservation Association, there isn't a group to involve high school
    students or reach young people who might be starting some of these
    fires? Hayes answered we are going to establish a group in other
    communities. We're going to increase participation in the school
    system.

-   Hayes commented whenever we get into a high fire situation, all the
    cooperators get together in the State office and discuss where the
    suppression efforts will be put. He also said that FEMA will be
    included in the cooperative efforts in wildfire management plans.

Abbey asked Bob Vaught to introduce the U.S. Forest Service people
present. Vaught thanked Abbey for having them and said it is a good
opportunity for the Forest Service to interact with the programs and
interests of the BLM and to interact with the RACs.

**Sustaining Working Landscapes -- Individual RAC Reports -- Decision on
Final Nevada Report --** Abbey explained that for the past six months
each of the RACs had been involved in this issue to determine what a
good course of action is for the BLM, then he turned the discussion over
to Meg Jensen.

Jensen explained that about eight months ago Washington contacted the
field offices with the Sustaining Working Landscapes concept. The first
thing we did was go to Winnemucca for a public meeting where there was
great discussion. Then we established a subcommittee from all three
RACs. They met to discuss the issues and put together a report sent back
to the individual RACs.

-   BLM asked each RAC to review four concepts:

    -   Reserve Common Allotments -- allotments whose current operator
        cannot utilize the forage that can be made available for those
        operators who have been burned out or can't use their allotment
        for other reasons.

    -   Volunteer Allotment Restructuring -- two allotments next to each
        other where one is not being used, organized into one larger
        allotment

    -   Rangeland Conservation Partnerships -- projects on public lands
        where the permittee helps with the project and gets some
        monetary help toward their grazing fees

    -   Landscape Habitat Improvement -- for BLM improvement of
        individual rangeland health

***Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin RAC*** -- Tina Nappe, Vice
Chair (See attachment 2.)

The subcommittee had discussed several other steps, one of which was
trying to share each letter with all of the RACs and coming up with an
integrated statement. That was not accomplished prior to this meeting.
The Sierra Front RAC has not voted on their letter and will not do so
until tomorrow. We were the first RAC to say we adamantly did not
support the proposals. In our two Districts we felt that the concepts
would not work in major parts of the allotments. These proposals did not
highlight the Standards and Guidelines. We did discuss that we would
prefer to have public input at the beginning of the process and at the
end based on monitoring and in between the permittee would have more
flexibility. Conservation easements are reintroduced in our letter. I
would like the opportunity to speak to this board before the three RACs
decide on these concepts in reference to these points. The RAC thanks
the blm for the opportunity to make public comment before the finalizing
of these comments.

***Northeastern Great Basin RAC*** -- Patsy Tomera (See attachment 3.)

The RAC had a public meeting and it was poorly attended. The main thing
we want to accomplish is the performance outcome. We figured there was a
way to make money if the permittee improved rangeland. We didn't like
the reserve common allotment concept. We felt that it wasn't right to
put another permittee on an allotment if you were trying to improve it.
We didn't want strange cattle running next to ours because of disease.
Conservation easements were not discussed because they're not really
popular in Elko County.

***Mojave-Southern Great Basin RAC*** -- Jerry Helton, Chair (See
attachment 4.)

We held a public meeting of the RAC and discussed these concepts. There
was no attendance or input from the public during the meeting. We felt
we needed to be focused on a bigger picture of healthy landscapes. We
feel that BLM needs to refocus their financial resources toward better
and continued monitoring. Another important component is
performance-based management. Whatever plan is adopted, continued modern
grazing on our public lands to produce food should be considered and
incorporated into the overall evaluation. It needs to be adapted to
whatever happens to the grazing industry in the future.

-   Jensen asked the RAC members whether they wanted to go with a
    consolidated letter

from all of the RACs or separate letters. Response needs to be to the
BLM Headquarters by November 10.

-   Falen said he thought it would be perfectly acceptable for each RAC
    to make its own recommendation. They'll all a little bit different.
    He said he does think we're putting one layer of bureaucracy on top
    of another one. He said he thinks we can do all of this on our own.

-   Nappe commented one of the things the RACs should consider is what
    the next steps are so that we remain involved.

-   Swanson commented he thinks some of the relevance of dealing with
    conservation easements is that conservation easements allow ranching
    to remain where ranching is today and allow those rivers to remain
    where they belong.

-   Jensen commented that there is wide spread acknowledgement among the
    federal agencies in Nevada that conservation easements are a
    management tool that can be useful.

    -   Nappe moved that the three RACs will vote on their own letters.
        The letters will be forwarded to Bob Abbey over the next few
        weeks and sent to Washington under a cover letter from Meg
        Jensen. Second - Maichle. Approved by a majority of the RAC
        members present.

    -   Eidel asked if Abbey will share the cover letter with the RACs
        before sending it to Washington. Abbey answered we are pressed
        for time, but would be transmitting in our memo the individual
        comments of the three RACs. We will not try to mislead anyone in
        Washington as to your feelings about the proposal.

    -   Dicks commented he thought the BLM was asking for advice from
        the advisory groups on a question from Washington. You should
        send a letter that is your decision. Abbey answered that the
        transmittal memo will be simple and will just say we have met,
        we have talked to our advisory groups, and these are their
        comments. We have already let Washington know what our opinions
        are of the proposal.

Abbey thanked everyone for a very good discussion.

**RAC members met as Pods to identify issues for RAC 2004 involvement**
and to have lunch. The meeting reconvened at 1:40 p.m.

**Pod Reports**

***Pod 3*** -- Public at Large, Elected Officials, Academia, State
Agency, Native Americans

-   Issues for RAC 2004 Involvement

    -   Discuss ways to implement OHV guidelines developed in 2003.

    -   What is going on with monitoring?

    -   Discuss invasive plants/noxious weed issues, RAC provide
        guidance via Vegetation Guidelines.

    -   Discuss invasive insect issues, RAC provide guidance

    -   RAC and BLM clarify conservation easements and policy -- apply
        individually

    -   Continue discussion on fire management, RAC provide guidance

    -   RACs to stay involved with SNPLMA decisions

    -   RACs to review the NEPA and permitting process and provide
        suggestions on streamlining and simplification

        -   BLM Report Card

            -   OHV guidelines developed in 2003, implement in 2004

            -   Promise in 2003 to fund Wild Horse and Burro Program,
                has BLM followed through?

                -   One RAC member asked what the record is on
                    acquisition? Morse answered he didn't know what the
                    percentages are, but acquiring agencies are still
                    working on lists 1 and 2. Abbey answered one year to
                    eighteen months is probably the time frame. Singlaub
                    commented we only pay for one appraisal from SNPLMA
                    funds, make an offer and that's it. Some of the
                    properties were taken off the list fairly quickly
                    because sellers didn't want to sell at appraised
                    prices.

***Pod 2*** -- Environmental, Recreation, Archaeology, Wild Horses and
Burros

-   BLM Report Card

    -   Commitment from Bob Abbey to have more consistency in the
        Districts in relation to Section 106

    -   Standards and Guidelines for OHVs is an accomplishment from last
        year

        -   Issues for RAC 2004 Involvement

            -   More discussion and implementation of OHV education

            -   Implementation of Standards and Guidelines in the land
                use plans

            -   Setting of AMLs for all HMAs - priority for 2004

            -   Form a subgroup for Wild Horses and Burros

            -   Additional funding help, can the RACs help, for Wild
                Horses and Burros

            -   Consistency among the field offices for Section 106.
                Needs to be applied consistently across the state

            -   Better orientation for new RAC members

            -   How should RACs be involved in land use plan amendments

            -   Better communication among the RACs

            -   More training and info on the land use planning process

            -   Land disposal selection process, how to get info timely

            -   Questions about selection process for land disposal, how
                does the average person get involved

            -   Monitoring for land use health

***Pod 1*** -- Mining, Rights-of-Way, Grazing Permittees, Recreation

-   Mining

    -   Adaptive management to revise permits to shorten the processing
        time

    -   **Simplify the NEPA process. Take more information in on the
        initial , hard processing time schedules - 12 months,
        administrative flexibility in the permitting process???**

    -   Urge BLM to increase staffing or use outsourcing to accomplish
        permit processing quicker

        -   Grazing

            -   NEPA - Processing time limits, administrative
                flexibility

            -   Interested parties should be re-consulted when
                administrative revisions are made, not everyone involved
                in the first consultation

            -   Grazing permits suspended - use better process than
                Temporary Non-renewable

            -   When there is suspended nonuse on the permit, the use
                should remain with the permit and not be dropped off

            -   Adequate staffing or outsourcing to accomplish NEPA
                processing time limits

            -   Make sure OHV guidelines are implemented

Comments

-   Hankins commented that she likes the concept of a broader concept
    for processing mining permits. Things take longer than they should
    often because something occurs and the company wants to change the
    plan of operation proposal and the NEPA document needs to be
    revised. Need proposals that are not so much of a moving target.
    There is an issue with comments to third-party contractors who do
    not do what they are asked to do, and then the document comes back
    without the revisions and has to go back again. Need to cut down on
    administrative reviews by talking more to the third parties at the
    beginning.

-   Smith commented NEPA needs to be streamlined to make it better and
    make it shorter, but we need to keep in mind that the document needs
    to be legally defensible.

-   Kolkman commented we blame a lot of things on NEPA that are other
    things.

> One man's red tape is another man's constitutional rights. I wish we
> were focusing on performance in the livestock industry. We are
> reviewing all of our processes. Part of the problem with permit
> administration is the political climate we work in. We need to have a
> better working environment for our range cons. Until we get an
> agreement to care about the land no matter what, we're going to get
> bogged down in these processes.

-   Morse commented that he shares the same opinions as the other
    managers. We have to do the process that is right to protect the
    land. We do have an automated process in Las Vegas. We use a lot of
    third-party contractors. We have to make them understand that they
    are working for BLM and they have to do what gets us through the
    process.

-   Reed commented that maybe he seconds most of what's been said. Our
    greatest challenge is to incorporate a broader document, focus on
    the outcomes, look at a wider range of alternatives, and focus on
    adaptive management. The same can be said of our grazing documents.
    Things like moving a stock tank should be addressed in the original
    document and not require an additional document.

-   Singlaub commented that he shares the same frustrations heard from
    the Pods today. There are organizations whose sole purpose in life
    is to challenge the federal government. Another frustration is
    getting Federal Register notices published in a timely manner. He
    said he likes the idea of outsourcing. Looking at the full range of
    options in a NEPA document allows us to do adaptive management. I'm
    not sure what the inconsistencies are on the 106 consultation.

-   Ataman commented almost every aspect of the 106 consultation is
    different from individual to individual within each field office,
    not just between field offices.

-   Beck commented that the differences in cultural resource work are a
    common problem discussed among archaeologists. It's even more
    complex if you are looking at something that crosses district lines.

Abbey told the group that there certainly is a fix for this.

-   Jensen commented when we hire technical people, we hire people who
    are good at the technical aspects, and not necessarily writing.
    Maybe we need some training on how to write these documents to
    establish more consistency.

Vaught commented the Forest Service has some of the same NEPA problems
that the blm does. We have changed some of the process on a national
level. Locally we have tried to build our expertise on NEPA. We are
trying to be more sensitive to time lines. There are a number of
incremental things, but there needs to be a continued agency emphasis on
those things to make the changes.

-   Mudge (asked by Abbey to respond) - What I've seen is that EISs get
    more detailed and more complicated over the years. The agency wants
    more and more detail on the plan that narrows the plan. The EISs are
    becoming encyclopedias. My plea would be to simplify and expect
    unpredictability.

-   Hepworth (asked by Abbey to respond) - I think Terry Reed's efforts
    and the Winnemucca Field Office efforts have been more innovative. I
    have to give them kudos for that. Maybe we should let the
    technicians respond in a technical way and let the lawyers respond
    in a legal way. There needs to be some type of conflict resolution.
    That would help streamline the process. DOI has mandated looking at
    NEPA. I would ask that BLM solicit information from third party
    agencies.

-   Roullier (asked by Abbey to respond) -- I would like something
    similar across the board.

-   Eidel commented there is something very discouraging in this
    discussion to him. He worked for the mining industry and doesn't
    hear anything different from what he heard 20 years ago. Maybe we
    need a task force to look at the problems.

-   Maichle commented NEPA is about putting forth a document and getting
    response from all parties. We as the public find it just as
    frustrating as people from the industry do. There is such a wide
    diversity in agencies in how NEPA documents are prepared. He said he
    would love to see the BLM come up with a better process. Instead of
    trying to hit a bull's eye, widen the document.

-   Reed suggested that we get the interested parties in a room for a
    day or two and the administrative record would consist of a tape or
    two and the document would consist of two or so pages.

Abbey told the group that it is important for those in the agency to
hear about this issue. He said there are certain things BLM can do to
address some of the inconsistencies that are in place. I would hope that
we could issue a statewide policy on Section 106 consultation.

Abbey gave the group **Feedback on RAC 2003 BLM Report Card Items**.

-   We need to try to provide the stakeholders and the customers we
    serve the same process in all the offices. Three examples of some of
    the efforts we have taken to take care of some of the details:

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-   We have tried to invite interest groups to participate in our SLT
    meetings. We had a panel from the livestock industry at our last
    SLT.

-   We have held a workshop with the mining industry this last year.

-   We have met with leaders of the Native American communities.

Over the course of the next year we are going to meet with members of
the environmental community and OHV officials. The reason for these
dialogues is to provide quality time to listen. We need to pay close
attention to addressing the long-standing issue of NEPA. We'll continue
to work on that.

-   Water development -- The legislation that we expected and what we
    got were two different things. Federal land agencies cannot hold
    water rights on public lands. We are talking to the state water
    engineer, and once we have some clarification from the state
    engineer BLM will issue policy. (See attachment 5.)

-   The RACs did a superb job last year in drafting OHV guidelines. We
    have final OHV guidelines that will be incorporated into our land
    use plans. (See attachment 6.)

-   RACs expect BLM to establish appropriate management levels of wild
    horses and burros by 2005. Right now we operating under the
    assumption that we will get funds to achieve AML and we are working
    on establishing them.

-   One of the deficiencies we still have is monitoring. We are
    revisiting our State Rangeland Monitoring Handbook. I am a big
    proponent of adaptive management but we have to be careful that
    before we include adaptive management into any document we include
    monitoring. You need to hold us accountable to do monitoring.

-   We have made some progress in noxious weeds. We're starting to see
    some progress in elimination.

-   The BLM Nevada needs to take a more active stance on the dumping of
    trash on public lands. Significant progress is being made.

-   National Fire Plan -- We're starting to see some results from the
    efforts that have been going on the past few years. We have more
    plans in place.

-   DOI has issued NEPA. The RACs are welcome to make comments on the
    guidance.

One of the primary purposes of the RACs is to try to work toward
solutions. We need to focus our attentions on things that are within our
control. I continue to be impressed by the quality of the members who
have been appointed to the RACs. I am disappointed that some of our
members are not being reappointed but the new people we get are of the
same good quality. Let's not let our philosophical differences get
between us.

**Public Comment PERIOD:**

Dan Peterson -- Friends of Sand Mountain/California Off-Road Vehicle
Association (CORVA). Peterson told the group that he was there to
congratulate the RAC for their diligence in dealing with the off-road
community. It takes a lot of people to work through things to find the
solutions that are necessary for the land to be used for what it can be
used, whatever that may be. My viewpoint as an OHV person is that there
is a place for all people to recreate whatever that recreation might be.
Use the land and tread lightly on it whatever you do. In general we're
all stewards of the land. He commended the BLM, the U.S. Forest Service
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If we all work together we can
solve these problems we have. There is a compromise out there.

-   Eidel commented he would like everyone to know that the Sierra
    Front-Northwestern RAC met with Dan and discussed Sand Mountain. I
    was really impressed at the time with the Friends of Sand Mountain.
    They talked about education and working with the OHV'ers in the
    area. He said he was asked to look at Friends of Sand Mountain web
    page and what he found there was criticism of BLM and of the
    process.

Peterson answered that Friends of Sand Mountain and his boss told him
not to mention that he's from California. But he's worked with a lot of
the different communities that are in California. He told the group he
was trying to guide them, and to relay the problems that they have had
in California so that the same mistakes won't be made in Nevada. He said
that most of the users of Sand Mountain do come from northern
California. The past president of Friends of Sand Mountain, Jon Crowley,
has a passion in seeing that Sand Mountain remains open as a place to
ride and he gets kind of stubborn. We're (CORVA) is working with him and
working with BLM to try to work the solutions through. We are working
with some of the biological studies at Sand Mountain to try to
understand what is happening there. Friends of Sand Mountain have
developed, and he believes BLM uses, the flyer that is used there.
Friends of Sand Mountain do clean-ups twice a year and a lot of
educational things to make the area a safe place to ride.

After a short break, John Singlaub, Carson City field manager, announced
that the Mustang Ranch had just sold for \$145,000. The ranch and its
trademark name were on for sale on ebay.

Abbey introduced Kai Anderson, deputy chief of staff for United States
Senator Harry Reid, saying he has never worked with a Congressional
staff member who has been such an asset. Abbey thanked Anderson for his
work for BLM and the Forest Service and for coming to the meeting. Other
invited Congressional staff members had prior commitments.

-   Anderson told the group that lands in Nevada are exceptional
    resources. Members of the RACs understand why working with the
    public lands in Nevada is the most enjoyable part of his job. One of
    the reasons is that Senator Ensign and Senator Reids' delegations
    work very well together even though the senators have different
    political philosophies.

-   Senator Reid sits on the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee
    which funds the Forest Service as well as the BLM and the other DOI
    agencies. Congress has passed many acts with little appropriations
    making it hard for federal agencies to implement them. The Nevada
    Congressional delegation members are looking to correct the small
    amount of money allocated to Nevada for wild horses and burros.

-   The amendment to Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act
    appropriates some of the money to Lake Tahoe. This bill is expected
    to be passed as soon as the appropriations bill is passed which
    should be in early November.

-   The Clark County Conservation Act of 2002 that passed in the last
    Congress is a good example of a very open public process in which
    all stakeholders were treated equally and factored into the final
    legislation. WSAs in other counties are being worked on, but all the
    WSA areas in the state can't be resolved in one fell swoop. We'd
    like to eventually resolve these issues around the state.

-   The Mining Town Site Act that will apply to Nye and Esmeralda
    counties, sponsored by Congressman Gibbons. Residents will transfer
    ownership of some BLM land that they have been paying taxes on for a
    long time.

-   The Direct Sale Bill with regards to mining land in a northern
    Nevada county was also introduced by Congressman Gibbons. It would
    basically sell a certain amount of acreage to Placer Dome. The
    reversal of the Mill Site Decision last week is a component of that.

The delegation is always open to suggestions on how they may better
represent Nevada.

Questions and Comments

-   Falen thanked Anderson for coming and asked if the amendment to
    SNPLMA to use money for Lake Tahoe is the only amendment that is
    proposed at this time. Anderson answered yes, but there have been
    questions about other money streams. Senator Ensign did a great job
    in making that money available for Lake Tahoe. It was a good thing
    to do but not an easy thing to do.

-   Eidel asked about the bill dealing with wildlife. Anderson answered
    the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Bill introduced in 2001 basically
    provides incentives for wildlife and habitat improvement efforts. It
    is a way to solve some of the resource conflicts to make some
    organizations eligible for federal grants to work on federal lands
    in Nevada, lands that in other states would be private lands.
    Wildlife and sportsmen groups are very interested in this bill. It
    will be reintroduced in the Senate.

-   Nappe asked what he sees as far as the future for CARA (legislation
    that funds state agencies for biodiversity)? Anderson answered this
    is a funding issue and will continue to be a funding issue.

-   Swanson commented some of the investments that could be put into
    federal lands could reap long-term dividends if we continue to fund
    them such as wildland fire. Anderson told him it is hard to push
    through things with long-term dividends. It is very difficult to
    convince a Congress to do long term budgeting.

-   Parker asked what precedent was set by the outcome of the
    outsourcing? Anderson answered the Administration could move forward
    without consulting Congress. In Senator Reid's opinion it is a
    concept that will cost a lot of money and fail in the end. I don't
    know what the outcome will be at the end of the day.

-   Reed commented that looking statewide there have been several public
    lands bills dealing with designation but not with land tenure issues
    such as one in Pershing County that is of interest to the Winnemucca
    office. Is the feeling in the delegation that these bills should
    resolve the WSA issue? Anderson answered that the delegation would
    rather look to the Clark County Bill as a way to move forward. The
    Black Rock Act was not the way to move forward to solve the WSA
    issue. It demonstrated that if you don't work with all the
    stakeholders in the beginning you have to go back and work with them
    again. If we could move forward county by county everyone would be
    happier in the end. Around the state the mix will be different in
    different places. These are complicated bills to put together so we
    can't deal with a lot of counties at one time.

-   Swanson asked if there is anything that the RACs can do to help you
    push, do a little now instead of doing a lot later because it
    extends to more than one senator or congressman. Anderson answered
    that it is a good question but he has to think about it for a while.

Abbey thanked Anderson for his time.

There being no further business, State Director Abbey adjourned meeting
at 4:25 p.m.

**Friday, October 17**

The three RACs met individually on Friday morning to elect officers and
establish agendas and meeting dates for the next 12 months (see attached
minutes from each RAC meeting).

At 11:30 a.m. the State Director reconvened the **three RACs in a joint
session**. He asked each RAC to **report on their accomplishments for FY
2003 and their proposed agendas for FY 2004**.

***Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin*** -- Tina Nappe, Vice Chair

FY 2003 Accomplishments

-   Met five times

-   Voted on OHV guidelines

-   Met in Fallon in July and had panel on tourism, reviewed Commission
    on Tourism's publication on visiting Nevada and suggested more
    information on Leave No Trace

-   Visited Sand Mountain where there is a potential for the listing of
    the Sand Mountain Blue butterfly, but did not address the bottom
    line of the viability of listing the Blue butterfly

-   Tour from Winnemucca office looking at the different range issues
    and the Mormon cricket issues

-   Presentations on other issues also

2004 Agenda - Bill Roullier, Chair

-   Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act - Round V

-   Wild Horses and Burros, Standards and Guidelines

-   Pine Nut and Winnemucca and Churchill County management plans

-   Biomass utilization

-   Truckee/Carson/Walker River updates -- take a field trip to Truckee
    River area

-   Briefings on Echo Canyon cement plant

-   Wildfire Support Group and rehab issues

-   Geothermal/wind projects update

-   North Valleys Water Project DEIS review/comment (if available by
    July meeting)

Meeting Schedule 2004

-   January 22 - 23 in Reno

-   April 22 - 23 in Winnemucca

-   July 29 - 30 in Carson City or Minden

At their individual meeting the RAC established a Wild Horse and Burro
subcommittee including Sherm Swanson, Jim Eidel, and Susie Askew, chair.
The RAC hoped to get the other RACs involved in this.

Bill Roullier was elected chair and Tina Nappe vice chair for 2004.

***Mojave-Southern Great Basin*** -- Jerry Helton, Chair

FY 2003 Accomplishments

-   Wind energy issues

-   Wild Horses and Burros - Setting AML

-   Clark County Conservation Act of 2002

-   Landscape restoration initiatives with the Ely district

Meeting Schedule 2004

-   December 4 - 5 and March 25 - 26 in Las Vegas

-   June 9 - 11 in Ely

-   August 19 - 20 in Tonopah

2004 Agenda

-   Implementation of OHV Guidelines

-   Clark County Conservation Act of 2002

-   WSA designations being removed

-   Wild Horse and Burro issues

-   Red Rock issues

-   Oliver Ranch Environmental Education

-   Impacts of multi-use criteria and recommendations of land use to BLM
    and their impacts on rural counties

-   Duckwater expansion

-   Elk plans

-   Sage grouse plans

-   Yomba USFS permits -- vacant permits above Yomba -- possible
    reactivating of livestock use

-   Mining expansion

-   Historic preservation of mines

-   USFS -- land management plans, trail designation, natural fire
    prescription concepts, criteria for outfitter guides and concessions

The 2003 slate of officers was reelected: Jerry Helton, Chair and Steve
Mellington, Vice-Chair.

***Northeastern Great Basin*** -- Hank Vogler, Vice-chair

FY 2003 Accomplishments

-   Approved Guidelines for OHV

-   Sponsored Elko County Weed Summit

-   Supported Trespass on BLM leased lands

-   Supported Great Basin Restoration Initiative

-   **Fish??**

Meeting Schedule 2004

-   December 11 in Battle Mountain

-   February 12 in Eureka

-   April 15 in Ely

-   June 10 -- 11 in Elko

2004 Agenda

-   Ely RMP

-   Sage grouse Technical Review Team

-   Vegetation guidelines

-   Great Basin Restoration Initiatives

-   Alternate energy sources

-   Monitoring

-   Watershed management project

-   California National Historic Trail Center

-   Implementation of OHV Guidelines

-   Central Nevada Elk Plan, Jarbridge road issue, tourism interagency
    project

-   Mining

Patsy Tamera was elected chair for 2004; Hank Vogler, vice-chair.

-   Hankins commented that the draft Vegetation Guidelines should be
    available soon.

**Wrap Up**

The State Director thanked all of the members for dedicating two days to
the meeting and announced that next year's Tri-RAC meeting will be in
October. Elko will be looked at as the location.

-   Nappe expressed her appreciation for all the work that Abbey and the
    staff does on behalf of Nevada and the BLM and the good work with
    the RAC.

It was moved and seconded to establish a Wild Horse and Burro
subcommittee to be made up of representatives of the three RACs. The
motion passed by majority vote.

-   Sierra Front representatives - Susie Askew, Sherm Swanson and Jim
    Eidel with John Falen as alternate

-   Mojave-Southern representatives - Billie Young, Clair Toomey and Bob
    Maichle

-   Northeastern will have names by the end of October

-   Abbey asked Susie Askew to serve as temporary chair. He will look at
    inviting other agency representatives.

-   The subcommittee will address establishing AMLs, look at HMAs where
    AML is below 10 and whether these should be zeroed out, how the RAC
    can support the Bureau in moving forward with the blm strategy and
    in funding, and look at horse/sage grouse interaction.

-   Hankins commented that the Northeastern RAC does have approved Wild
    Horse and Burro Guidelines. (See attachment 7.)

Miachle commented that the Pods had shared a tremendous amount of
information and wished they had had more time to talk together.

There being no further business, State Director Abbey adjourned the
meeting 12:05 p.m.

Date Approved: Approved by:

December 15, 2003 /s/ Robert V. Abbey

State Director, Nevada

Minutes provided by Nancy Thompson, BLM Winnemucca Field Office.

Attachments:

1.  BLM Program Outlook for FY 2004 PowerPoint Presentation (19 pp)

2.  Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council
    draft letter to Bob Abbey, Nevada State Director, Recommendations
    for Sustaining Working Landscapes, September 29, 2003 (2 pp)

3.  Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council Recommendations
    for Sustaining Working Landscapes, September 12, 2003 (2 pp)

4.  Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council
    Consensus-based Responses to Sustaining Working Landscapes,
    September 5, 2003 (2 pp)

5.  Draft Instruction Memorandum -- BLM Nevada Water Right Policy (5 pp)

6.  Information Bulletin No. NV-2003-105, Nevada Off-Highway Vehicle
    Guidelines (5 pp)

7.  Memorandum --Approval of Wild Horse and Burro Standards and
    Guidelines for the Northeast Great Basin Resource Advisory Council
    (13 pp)

8.  Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council Proposed
    Standards and Guidelines for Wild Horses and Burros, May 1999 (12
    pp)

9.  Map -- State of Nevada Wilderness Status, October 8, 2003

10. Minutes from individual RAC meetings

    -   Northeastern Great Basin ( pp)