File Code:

6520-1

Date:

November 18, 1999

Route To:

  

Subject:

Response to FY 2000 Regional Program Budget Advice

To:

Regional Forester

Enclosed is the Bighorn FY2000 Performance Element/MAR Target spreadsheet as requested. Included is a brief narrative, by fund code, that explains our planned program of work, potential deficiencies and projected dollar needs based on our current allocations. This is the best estimate of our budget situation at this time. Several factors contribute to our budget shortfalls leaving us in a precarious financial position:

… Supervisor's/Tongue District Office Move - This summer the Forest will relocate to a new GSA leased office. Over 60% of our employees are involved in the move. As part of this new facility, we must cover the costs of wiring, phone, radio systems and the purchase of systems furniture. The minimum cost for the move is estimated at $400,000. This represents 7 percent of the entire Forest allocation. The extra expenses associated with this move are particularly hard for a small Forest to absorb. We appreciate the help your Budget Office has offered to address this concern.

… Bridging - The Forest no longer has the benefit of bridging to help run existing programs. Specifically, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness received additional funds ($130,000) in FY99 that were used to keep critical programs operating.

… Position Vacancies - As a result of reorganization, we intend to recruit and fill 8 positions this fiscal year. TOS costs were included in budget projections. Vacancies include the Forest Supervisor, Administrative Officer (left vacant for 5 years and needed for administrative oversight), Facilities Manager (engineering) and a Recreation & Lands Staff Officer.

… Overhead Assessments - Significant funding shifts occurred this year as a result of assessing fund codes for Cost Pool accounts leaving less for project work.

… Salary Increase - Project work plans include a 4.8 percent salary increase for FY2000.

Projected Shortfalls By Fund Code

NFHR (Heritage Program) $ 35,000

NFIF (Fisheries Program) $ 10,000

NFPN (Forest Planning) $ 35,000

NFRG (Grazing Management) $ 20,000

NFRM (Recreation Operations) $ 125,000

NFRV (Rangeland Management) $ 10,000

NFTE (T&E Species) $ 5,000

NFTM (Timber Management) $ 120,000

NFWL (Wildlife) $ 10,000

NFWM (Wilderness Management) $ 25,000

PAMT (Trail Management) $ 45,000

WFPR (Fire Management) $ 98,000

TOTAL $ 538,000

 

Program Summaries

NFHR (Heritage Program)

The Forest will have no Heritage Program in FY2000 except for some site monitoring by volunteer groups. No deferred maintenance inventories will be completed. After Cost Allocation we are already deficit $3,600. It would be in the best interest of the Region to at least provide a base program funding level for each Forest rather than losing gains already made in preserving and protecting existing sites, and losing the ability to initiate new interpretive opportunities. With additional reductions in the timber program, 0.5 FTE of an archeologist will be unfunded.

NFIF (Fisheries)/NFRG(Grazing)/NFRV(Range)/NFTE (T&E Species) and

NFWL (Wildlife Management)

All programs will be operating at minium levels. We will fall short of future AMP schedules and weed targets with current funding allocations. We will also lose our ability to foster productive partnerships.

NFPN (Forest Planning)

We continue work on Revision of the Forest Plan. A Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register on November 10, 1999. We intend to complete the Work Plan, Purpose and Need, Analysis of the Management Situation, the Public Involvement Plan, and start on the Draft EIS. We will defer the hiring of the writer/editor position until late in the fiscal year due to a budget shortfall.

NFRM (Recreation Operations)

The Recreation program has been hit particularly hard in FY2000. The entire Recreation issue is complex and the Forest needs more time to coordinate with the Regional Office to determine program priorities.

With current allocations we intend to fund at minimum standards, the developed and dispersed programs, administration of special use permits including campground concession operations, and the administration of the winter sports activities in cooperation with the State of Wyoming (375 miles of snowmobile trail; 56 miles of cross-country).

Our Visitor/Interpretive Centers, (Burgess Junction, Shell Falls and the Medicine Wheel) are some of the heaviest used facilities in the Region with visitations exceeding 400,000 in a ten week period. Sales through the Rocky Mountain Nature Association were in excess of $ 170,000 in the summer of 1999. Interpretation is an important component of our recreation program. Although we will look at every alternative to keep these sites open, under current funding we may be faced with the decision of closing all 3 facilities. Closing the Medicine Wheel Interpretive Site could have serious repercussions because of our commitments under the Historic Preservation Plan signed in September, 1996 (Agreement between numerous American Indian Tribes, County Commissioners, Forest Service and the State Historic Preservation Office for site management). This is both a Recreation and Heritage issue since funding for interpretation comes from Recreation and funding for monitoring and protecting the Medicine Wheel comes from the Heritage program. We believe the allocation criteria need to better reflect the costs associated with operating these complex interpretive sites and visitor centers.

NFTM (Timber Management)

We anticipate a significant reduction in out-year timber production due to reductions in salvage funding and an increase in Cost Pool allocations. At current funding levels we will be unable to complete the Woodrock EA (FY02 offer), or the Pussyfoot and Leigh Canyon EA's (FY03 offer). Not being able to fund these projects this year will result in no timber offer in FY01 and a high risk of no timber offered in FY02. In addition, with the postponement of these EA's, the timber shop will have permanent staff in NEPA reassigned to marking and cruising in place of traditional seasonal workforce. The Bighorn National Forest has a sale offer "cap" of 4.5 mmbf annually (RF letter 12/17/96) limiting our total offer volume to carryover sales (Cold Springs and Sourdough) along with new volume not to exceed this cap.

NFWM (Wilderness Management)

Emphasis will be on wilderness education and implementation of new standards and guidelines related to campfire use. Funding levels will reduce the number of Wilderness Guards by 75 percent (from 4 to 1 person). Visitor compliance and contacts will be severely limited.

PAMR (Road Operations)/PARD (Road Construction)/TRTR (Road/Trail Deposits)

The Forest may have difficulty meeting clean water action plan assignments in PAMR due to increases in Cost Pool assessments. For PARD, after Cost Pool assessments and Restructuring the Forest will be able to accomplish the CIP work but very little funding will remain to complete environmental restoration work. We are in a similar position with the Road/Trail Deposit funds (TRTR) with only 70% of the allocated amount available for direct project work.

PAMT (Trail Management)

Trail maintenance will be done by volunteers only (Estimated accomplishment of 40 miles or less than 5% of the total inventoried system). We are unable to fund a force account crew or award a contract. Permanent personnel will be used to accomplish the deferred maintenance inventory.

WFPR (Fire Management)

Our fire program will be cut by one engine and 6 crew people to stay within current allocations. The IR crew will also be cut by 6 crew people. This crew will no longer meet national standards. In general, these cutbacks are due to the correction in overhead assessment calculations. Forest staff have been working directly with the SP&F staff to keep the Region advised of the situation.

 

 

Following is a list of requested Forest Perm/Trust Authorities . We are also requesting authority for collection funds brought forward from FY'99 that are not covered in PCAS just in case they were not covered under some other process. Please note that KV, BD and Salvage Sale only include Forest Cost Pool and project needs. No allowance has been made for RO/WO assessments which will need to be added to these authorities:

 

Forest Perm/Trust Authorities

BCBC $ 15,000

BDBD $ 10,600

CWFS $ 60,000

CWKV $ 157,200

FDAS $ 2,000

FDDS $ 4,000

FEFE $ 15,000

GBGB $ 15,000

QMQM $ 40,000

RIRI $ 189,000

SDSD $ 62,200

SSSS $ 76,200 *

RBRB $ 90,000

* Forest has restructured timber funds

to Salvage funds to cover $41,200 for

Forest Cost Pool assessments.

It distresses us to have to report these deficiencies after all the hard work and efficiencies gained in FY99. Please contact Donna Bergstrom at dbergstr/r2,shoshone, or (307) 578-1225, if you have any questions or concerns.

 

/s/Stanley G. Sylva

STANLEY G. SYLVA

Acting Forest Supervisor

Enclosures

cc: flt/r2,bighorn

dbergstrom/r2,shoshone

Tom Ryan/r2