MOTION: Adopt alternative 2 proposed by IRMWT as presented
. The IRMWT needs to put together a report on staffing, reporting channels,
and cost with alternatives. The position should be funded by NWCG with supervision
and direction from the agency of the employees in the lead. Written documentation
will be available for distribution to NWCG second week of Jan 1998.
SECONDED AND CARRIED.
SUBJECT: National Interagency Fire Statistics Information
Project (NIFSIP).
DISCUSSION: John Skeels, Forest Service, Project Manager
provided an update on the status of the project to date. There are several
issues facing the NIFSIP group, such as terminology, financial systems, coding
structures, fire numbering and the reporting process and definition of a fire.
Approximately $100,000 has been spent on NIFSIP to date. The program is planned
for full implementation between October 1 and December 30, 1998.
SUBJECT: Wildland
Fire Qualification Subsystem Guide, ICS 310-1
DISCUSSION: John Roberts, Forest Service, National Advanced Resource Technology Center
is leading the group effort to complete this project. The final date for
completion of the project has not been designated and will depend on the amount
of field comments on 310-1.
SUBJECT: OSHA
Fire Standards.
DISCUSSION: The OSHA Fire Brigade Standards Committee has not been formed as of this
time. Rick Gale, NPS, will continue to follow up on this activity.
SUBJECT: Chair change on the IRMWT.
DISCUSSION: A Chair change on the IRMWT is planned for their next meeting. We
need to look at an Agency Administrator as a member of this team and other
working teams.
MOTION: Approve
Mike Funston, Forest Service, to replace John Gebhard as Chair of IRMWT.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: Pack
Test update
DISCUSSION: The Forest Service has run into opposition from the Union for use of the
proposed Pack Test. The Union intends to attempt to block the implementation
date of January 1, 1998. The Union considers this test as a condition of
employment. discriminatory by gender and age. They intend to ask the Forest
Service to do a Civil Rights Impact Analysis Assessment on the Pack Test.
Their premise is that the Pack Test is work related. The work relationship
of the Pack Test has been verified by Brian Sharkey, Missoula Technology
and Development Center. The Forest Service is looking at alternatives but
may have to back off on the start-up date for the Pack Test. A change in
Forest Service start up dates should not preclude other agencies from meeting
the current change of physical fitness standards. This is only a Forest
Service issue at this time and no NWCG action is required. Mary Jo Lavin,
Forest Service, feels that the issue will be resolved prior to the current
implementation date.
SUBJECT: Fiscal
Year 1998 budget.
DISCUSSION: NWCG worked on finalizing the preliminary budget presented at the 69th
NWCG meeting. Working Team Liaisons or Chairs had the opportunity to respond
to questions or changes from the preliminary budget proposal.
George Martin, Training Working Team, discussed
their position in falling behind a little on projects primarily because of
vacancies at the NIFC training center. S/J-400 is moved up to FY 98 but
S/J-440 will be delayed until FY 99. $40,000 in TWT budget for Interface
Courses is for needed assessment work. Propose increase in the preliminary
budget for S-320 from $105,000 to $114,500 and delete S/J 440, reducing the
cost by $9,500.
It was agreed to maintain the NWCG budget
level agreed to in June 1995 at $1,158,300. Fiscal Year 1997 was low at
a $989,500 level. The preliminary budget level for FY 98 is at $1,014,300.
One concern expressed was the share provided by the U.S. Fire Administration.
FEMA, the parent agency, may be undergoing some financial constraints that
would limit participation, but a telephone call to Tom Minnich confirmed the
U. S. Fire Administration’s continued support .
MOTION:
Approve the budget as submitted.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: Fire
Shelter Specifications, Safety and Health Working Team
DISCUSSION: No report was available from the SHWT. This
topic will be carried over to February 1998 meeting.
SUBJECT: Prescribed
Fire and Fire Effects Working Team (PFFEWT) air quality issues
DISCUSSION: The work proposed by the PFFEWT will coincide with the work being carried
out by the Forest Service in its Air Quality endeavors. The PFFEWT has the
funding inits FY 98 budget for $30,000 for an interagency Air Quality Express
Workshop. The workshop should produce some detailed information where wildland
fire agencies and groups like the Environmental Protection Agency and other
air quality groups should be headed in the future.
MOTION: NWCG supports the Air Quality Express Workshop
planned for November 1997.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: Incident Demobilization Vehicle Safety Inspection
Form
DISCUSSION: The Incident Operations Standards Working Team (IOSWT) recommended that
NWCG adopt the Incident Demobilization Vehicle Safety Inspection Form. This
form was submitted to the working team from the Firescope group in California.
MOTION: Approve the form as submitted.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: Crew
Study Plan and crew typing guidelines.
DISCUSSION: The IOSWT recommends that the crew study be part of the ICS 310-1 review.
Typing of crews is the responsibility of the IOSWT. The numbers of crews
is the responsibility of NICC, Boise. This recommendation and process will
be carried over to the February 1998 meeting.
SUBJECT: NWCG
budget distribution process.
DISCUSSION: There appears to be some confusion by some
of the Working Teams over how they actually receive the funding approved by
NWCG. Andrea Wojtasek, Forest Service, will develop a briefing paper on how
a WT will receiveits funding. The paper will outline how the funds are distributed
to the designated spending source from the WT.
MOTION: The information paper being prepared should include
how much was approved in the budget by working team, how the Chair of the
working team receives the funds, and state travel distribution. This will
be sent to the working teams annually with the transmittal of the final budget
document.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: Establishing
priorities in wildland and prescribed fire
DISCUSSION: We need to nationally be able to prioritize resource distribution for prescribed
fire, wildfire, etc. States need to be involved with the final decisions
on resource distribution. The National Multi-Agency Coordination group does
not make priority decisions on individual fires. The national MAC sets priorities
within specific geographical areas. The Geographical Area Coordinating
Groups (GACG) set specific priorities within their identified geographical
areas. It appears that there is confusion between the roles of NICC, GACG,
etc.
MOTION: Identify
a group to define the rules of engagement for NICC, and GACG in fire and mobilization
of resource decisions. The group will develop a proposal for the February
1998 NWCG meeting. The proposed group, listed below will be Multi-Agency
including state representation:
| Jerry Williams, Forest Service, Chair |
Rick Gale, Park Service |
| Clark Seely, Oregon |
Steve Haglund, Indian Affairs |
| Ron Dunton, BLM |
Charles Denton, Forest Service |
| Mike Long, Florida |
Candice Gregory, California. |
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: National
Weather Service Modernization.
DISCUSSION: Roger Erb discussed a letter recently sent to retired General Jack Kelly,
Assistant Administrator for Weather Services outlining fire weather needs
for wildland and prescribed fires. The modernization and potential down-sizing
of the Weather Service continues to be a concern that we need to provide follow-up
on. It was suggested the Fire Weather Working Team be the group assigned
to provide this follow up.
SUBJECT: Pacific
Northwest Coordinating Groups action on weather service problems
DISCUSSION: Gerry Day provided a briefing on the activities of the PNWCG Weather Assessment
Team. The group was formed to accomplish a local study on potential service
deficiencies in the Weather Service Modernization, loss of dedicated fire
weather forecasters and increased user needs of fire weather services. The
group will continue working on the results of improving weather services.
SUBJECT: Weather Service follow up
DISCUSSION: NWCG needs to continue to be informed and take a proactive lead in the
weather service modernization process. At this time there is no work group
within NWCG designated to accomplish this activity.
MOTION: Sunset
the existing Fire Weather Advisory Group (FWAG) and reconstitute a Fire Weather
Working Team (FWWT). The new group will develop a charter and identify ways
to complement the National Weather Service and what needs to be delivered
to the fire fighter. It was suggested that Gerry Day, BLM-OR, be appointed
as Chair. Other considerations for the Working Team may include:
| Bill Boyes, WA DNR |
Chris Fontana, CA-FS |
| Roger Tucker, FS |
Bill Clark, BLM, ID |
| Deborah Holle, Balcones Canyonlands
NWR (Texas) |
Miles Knight, SC (Current member of
NFWAG) |
MaryJo Lavin will be the Liaison to new WT.
The Chair will send formal letter to existing FWAG thanking them for the
job well done on the advisory group.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: DoD
and other agency participation in NWCG training
DISCUSSION: The Training Working Team (TWT) has questioned the prioritization of non-NWCG
members for training vacancies in National courses. No problem exists when
vacancies are available but when competition exists there is a reluctance
to admit non-NWCG members. The issue applies only to the National Advanced
Resource Technology Center (NARTC), not the geographical area training. The
question involves tuition vs. non-tuition and commitment of cadre time.
No recommendation has been made from the TWT.
MOTION: TWT
needs to provide a recommendation and accomplish the staff work for the recommendation.
This should be presented to NWCG at the February 1998 meeting.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: U.
S. Coast Guard participation on IOSWT
DISCUSSION: The U. S. Coast Guard Marine Safety program has recently adopted the National
Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS) Incident Command System (ICS).
They are requesting to be a participant of the IOSWT to better enable them
to stay current and learn more about ICS application. They have not requested
NWCG membership.
MOTION: The
IOSWT should make the decision to accept or deny the Coast Guard request.
NWCG has no objections to the either decision. Rick Gale, IOSWT Liaison,
will discuss this with the Coast Guard and the IOSWT.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT: Northern
Rockies Coordinating Group concerns
DISCUSSION: The Northern Rockies Group was concerned about NWCG not adhering to our
July 1, 1997 on communication with GACG. The letter in question was sent
by the National MAC Group and was not an NWCG decision or correspondence.
The MAC Group deals with operational activities rather than the policy/decision
making from NWCG. Using retirees as Incident or Area Commanders and for
the Command and General Staff is not appropriate. NWCG is not responsible
for the decision; the National MAC group issued the original direction.
MOTION: The
NWCG Chair will write a memo to the Northern Rockies Group to make certain
that all is understood and agreed.
SECONDED AND CARRIED
SUBJECT:
Working Team files at the National Interagency Fire Center, Boise.
DISCUSSION: It was suggested that if there was a location
at the fire center to establish permanent files it would provide for greater
consistency in records and save expense in transferring files when a Chair
was changed. Currently, the teams ship files and historical records to the
incoming chair. Roger Erb will follow up on available space to store files
at the fire center and report accomplishments at the next meeting.
SUBJECT: IRMWT
Strategy Project approval
DISCUSSION: The Strategy Project was completed by the IRMWT for the NWCG 66th meeting.
NWCG has approved several parts of the three findings and multiple recommendations
but has never agreed or rejected the recommendations of the WT.
MOTION: IRMWT findings 1-3 in the NWCG IRM Strategy Project
document should be approved as submitted.
SECONDED AND CARRIED.
SUBJECT: Prescribed
Fire and Fire Effects Working Team role in air quality, smoke management,
EPA, and other related activities.
DISCUSSION: Is the direction to the PFFEWT clear as they continue their actions and
interactions with non-NWCG groups? It would be desirable that NWCG receive
a letter of request from the smoke management, Grand Canyon Visibility Group,
Fire Policy, and EPA groups to formally request NWCG/PFFEWT involvement with
the air quality work groups outside of NWCG. Roger Erb will discuss this
with Jim Douglas, Department of the Interior, to see if he will make the request
of air quality groups to formalize the requests for NWCG assistance. NWCG
may want to rite a letter to these exterior groups and become proactive in
offering NWCG assistance. Roger Erb will draft a letter for NWCG Chairs approval.
SUBJECT: National
Multihazard Mitigation Council
DISCUSSION: NWCG received correspondence inviting us to
participate with the subject group. This is not within NWCG’s scope of work.
A letter was sent back to the Multihazard Council rejecting their offer.
SUBJECT: Engine
Typing status
DISCUSSION: The Fire Equipment Working Team is soliciting field input to the typing
status. FEWT is carrying out assignment from Federal Fire Policy Review.
A report will be submitted in February 1998.
SUBJECT: ICS
Training and testing materials
DISCUSSION: Carryover from previous mtg. Test questions password protected. This has
not been completed and will be carried to February 1998.
SUBJECT: Roles
of Federal Fire and Aviation Leadership Council (FFALC) and NWCG
DISCUSSION: Council of State Foresters is requesting NWCG to identify the specific
role of the FFLAC and the actions each is responsible for. MaryJo Lavin,
Chair of the FFLAC, sent a response to Larry Kotchman, Chair of the Council
of Western State Foresters. Additionally, the NWCG Chair will send
specific clarification documents showing the difference in roles to Larry
Kotchman.
SUBJECT: Wildland/Urban
Interface Advisory Group
DISCUSSION: Jim Smalley discussed some of the current concerns
of the Advisory Group. Getting information produced by the group out to the
people who need it is a major concern. All future and some past publications
are available on the Internet (http:\\www.firewise.org).
There is limited printed material available through U.S. Fire Administration
and NFPA. Protecting your Home Against Wildfire is out of stock but
may be printed by the insurance industry for distribution. In addition, the
Wildland/Uban Interrface Advisory Group may print a limited supply in 1998.
Working agreements are a set of guidelines
from the group that outlines how meetings are conducted and the decision making
process. NASF has designated two new representatives to the group: Joe
Stam,- Western Representative, and Don Smith, Connecticut, Eastern Representative.
SUBJECT: State
Travel Reimbursement
DISCUSSION: The Forest Service is converting to an electronic
system at its National Finance Center (NFC). They are having considerable
difficulties making payments to state travelers. Travel vouchers must be
written identically to the travel authorization and submitted promptly. Within
30 days after authorization is approved the authorization expires. It is
important that travelers submit current, accurate Travel Authorizations.
Following are other items State travelers can do to make the system work better:
1) State Travel must go through Forest Service
travel people for airline tickets.
2) State travelers who procure ticket will be
required to obtain approval by the Department of Agriculture.
3) Authorization for private owned vehicle (POV)
must be known in advance.
4) FAX travel Vouchers into NFC for processing.
The Department of the Interior travel system
seems to be working much better than the Forest Service is experiencing.
There may be a possibility that State travel processing could work through
NIFC Interior agencies (specifically, NPS). The Park Service and other Interior
agencies will do a some follow up on this possibility. Andrea Wojtasek,
Forest Service, will document the state traveler requirements for reimbursement
and this will be sent to the Working Team Chairs with the final budget advise.
Future meeting schedule:
February 10-12, 1998 starting at 1300 on
the 10th, ending no later than noon on the 12th - San Antonio
June 9-11, 1998 - East Coast (0800 6/9 to
1700 6/10)
October 6 to 8, (0800 10/6 to 1700 10/7)
- west coast
70th NWCG MEETING SUMMARY AND FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
| Issue |
Action |
Responsibility |
Accomplishment Date |
Status |
| Combine MIRPS and ROSS Project |
Develop a letter for MIRPS expressing NWCG concerns in combining these
programs. |
John Gebhard |
11/7/97 |
|
| Infrastructure for IRM |
Develop
a report on staffing, reporting channels, and cost including alternatives |
John
Gebhard |
1/14/98 |
|
| ICS
Training and testing materials in the Internet |
Need
to determine if or how password protection needs to be provided on Internet
training examinations. |
PMS
- Roger Erb |
2/98 |
|
| Update
ICS 310-1 |
Status
on the update process of ICS 310-1 |
IOSWT/NARTC
- Rick Gale, John Roberts |
2/98 |
|
| OSHA
Fire Brigade Standard Committee. |
1.
Provide Federal Registry information to NWCG on formation of the committee.2.
Nominate agency and NWCG member to the OSHA Committee. |
Rick
GaleNWCG Members |
CurrentCurrent |
|
| Fire
Shelter Specifications |
Follow-up
and complete Shelter specifications. |
SHWT |
2/98 |
|
| Crew
Study Plan and Crew Typing |
Provide
an update on the status of typing crews |
IOSWT-Rick
Gale |
2/98 |
|
| Working
Team files at NIFC |
Provide
file storage for master documents from all Working Teams and Advisory
Groups |
Roger
Erb |
2/98 |
|
| Distribute
FY 1998 Budget |
FY
98 distribution with explanatory letter on fund transfer. |
Andrea
Wojtasek,Forest Service |
12/97 |
|
| State
travel |
Develop
and distribute a letter to WT/AG Chairs outlining State Travel requirements |
Andrea
Wojtasek, Forest Service |
12/97 |
|
| Priorities
for resource distribution for wildland and prescribed fire |
Review
committee recommendations |
Jerry
Williams, Rick Gale |
2/98 |
|
| DoD
and other agency participation in NWCG Training. |
Provide
complete information on problem and recommended solutions. |
Mary
Jo Lavin, TWT |
2/98 |
|
| Fire
Weather Working Team |
Complete
the charter and submit for approval. |
Gerry
Day/MaryJo Lavin |
2/98 |
|
| FEWT
Engine Typing |
Solicit
agency comment on proposal and modify recommendation if necessary |
FEWT
- Roger Erb |
2/98 |
|
