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Please redirect to: http://draftnepa.wetpaint.com/ for current NEPA Workng Group information.

June Agenda

WG Update - Peter Havens, WG Chair

• The NAEP official web site has been updated through April http://www.naep.org/
• Checkout the new web site that can accommodate forums and wiki http://draftnepa.wetpaint.com/
• 2007 Annual Report - Please read and comment so that the report can grow and improve
• 2008 Annual Report - Grace Musumeci is ready to take input. Also, you may enter your input onto the new wiki site

News

• See the Department of Energy's Quarterly NEPA Lessons Learned, edited by Yardena Mansoor. This issue has several articles of interest, including photos from the 2008 NAEP Annual Conference.
• The Bush Administration has prepared two global warming reports: 1) The effects of climate change on agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity in the United States and 2) Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Warming on the United States.
• The Congressional Research Service has prepared a report on global warming litigation titled Climate Change Litigation: A Growing Phenomenon.

Academic support - Denise Keele

• Research Proposal: Environmental Impact Assessment
• Description: The extent to which project level impacts predicted/assessed in Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) were realized when the chosen action was implemented is virtually unknown. The purpose of this research is to monitor post-implementation environmental impacts in order to measure them against pre-implementation predicted/assessed environmental impacts. Recent project level EIS's will be selected (perhaps can be representative of the diversity of geography, project type and agency) to measure post-implementation impacts against pre-implementation predictions. The monitoring program developed could be adapted to many agency NEPA procedures and the results/data could be used to better inform new project documentation and decisions within the NEPA process. In addition to discussing the idea for the research, I would like to ask the WG members their thoughts on different methodological approaches as well as ways they may be willing to help with the project.
  

FAQ Question – Jean Krewson

• How should I deal with climate change in my NEPA Documents?
  Direct impactsAcknowledge data not available for indirect effectsOther issues such as
  invasive species contributing to warming which plantings can sequester carbon how far do we go? no panaceas

National Forest Management Act 2008 Planning Rule

The 2008 Planning Rule was published in the Federal Register 21 Apr 08. See the Forest Service web site for the rule, explanatory notes, Q&A's and more: http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma/2008_planning_rule.html

This final rule describes theNational Forest System (NFS) landmanagement planning framework; sets up requirements for sustainability of social, economic, and ecological systems; and gives directions for developing, amending, revising, and monitoring land management plans. It also clarifies that, absent rarecircumstances, land management plans under this final rule are strategic in nature and are one stage in an adaptivec ycle of planning for management of NFS lands. The intended effects of the rule are to strengthen the role of science in planning; to strengthen collaborative relationships with the public and other governmental entities; to reaffirm the principle of sustainable managementc onsistent with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (MUSYA) and other authorities; and to streamline and improve the planning process by increasing adaptability to changes in social, economic, and environmental conditions. This rulemaking is the result of a United States District Court of Northern California order dated March 30, 2007, which enjoined the United States Department of Agriculture (the Department, the Agency, or the USDA) from putting into effect and using theland management planning rule published on January 5, 2005 (70 FR1023) until it complies with the court’s order regarding the NationalEnvironmental Policy Act (NEPA), theEndangered Species Act (ESA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)(Citizens for Better Forestry v. USDA,481 F. Supp 2d 1059 (N.D. Cal. 2007)). The purpose of this final rule is torespond to the district court’s ruling.

Oops

The Annual Report link at the right appears to have broken. I will fix that when I have some time. In the meantime, please go to www.naep.org and navigate to the NEPA Working Group page. You can view and download the Annual Report from that page. Please email/call me if you have any questions.