I.   BACKGROUND

This team is formed as a working team of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) of the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of the Interior. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group was formed January 1974 to expand operational cooperation and coordination within these departments and the National Association of State Foresters. The Team chartered here is one of a number of support teams established by the NWCG to analyze specific problem areas in incident management and recommended solutions.

II.  NAME

The name of this team is the Incident Business Practices Working Team (IBPWT) of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group; herein-after referred to as the Team.

III. AUTHORITY

This Team is established pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding established by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, March 16, 1976, signed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior.

IV. PURPOSE

This Team will coordinate business practices for wildfire, non-fire, and FEMA emergency responses among the Federal and State agencies.

To fully and effectively execute this assignment, the Incident Business Practices Working Team will:

1. Maintain NWCG Handbook #2, the Interagency Incident Business Management Handbook, as generic business practices guidance. Agencies may supplement the handbook as needed.
2. Periodically review operational business practices to eliminate recurring problems.
3. Convene task forces, as needed, to resolve interagency differences to redesign business practices.
1. Establish priorities for addressing these needs.
2. Prepare project proposals and budgetary needs.
3. Recommend implementation of specific projects to the NWCG.
4. Monitor projects for progress and budgetary efficiency.
5. Disseminate products to the members of the NWCG.
4. Maintain electronic communication to facilitate problem solving and coordination during emergency response.
5. Provide input and consultation to the dispatch community (at State/Regional/Geographic Area Coordination Center levels) for timely access to scarce business practices skills.
6. Facilitate the movement of incident business practices into electronically collecting and transmitting data.

V.   ORGANIZATION

The Team is under the direction of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. A member of NWCG is assigned overview responsibility for the Team's activities as a Liaison. It is through this Group member that the Team relates to the Group.

VI.  MEMBERSHIP

The number of members of this Working Team shall not exceed ten (10), including the Chair. The membership shall be invited from organizations having the greatest expertise and interest in the particular subject matter. The terms of each Chair will be a minimum of three (3) years, with the term of each team member being indefinite. Replacement members are selected by the Chair, from a roster supplied by the NWCG, and approved by the Chairperson of the Group.

VII. CHAIR AUTHORITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chair:

• is authorized to convene meetings and schedule agenda items
• may make specific work assignments to team members or appoint task groups from outside membership to work on specific projects.
• will distribute copies of the Team minutes within 30 days after a meeting to team members, NWCG Liaison, NWCG members, all working Chairs, and the Executive Secretary.
• represents the Team in presenting recommendations to the NWCG, and, as appropriate, in contacts with outside individuals or groups.
• may recommend to NWCG the need for further resources and authorities as they become evident.
• keeps Executive Secretary currently advised as to meeting dates and locations.

VIII. MEETINGS AND REPORTS

1. Meetings: At least one annual meeting will be held to prepare operational plans and to identify issues for review during the following year. Additional meetings will be scheduled at the request of the NWCG or as determined by the Chair. Meetings will be scheduled and agendas will be provided in advance to members of the team and to the NWCG Liaison. The annual meeting location and time will be established one year in advance. The NWCG will concur on the appropriateness of the meeting sites. Subgroups within, or outside, team membership for ad hoc task assignments may meet at the direction of the Chair. Costs of the meetings will normally be borne by the agencies who sponsor team membership. Five team members will normally constitute a quorum, but the team may meet with fewer members at the discretion of the Group Liaison. The use of alternates is not allowed. Individuals from outside the team membership, having needed expertise, will be asked to participate when appropriate.
2. Reports: Special findings and reports will be appropriately published after being approved by the NWCG. Work plans will be submitted to the NWCG Liaison annually. Meeting schedules, financial consideration, recommended areas of investigation work and analysis, work schedules, and work area descriptions will also be submitted with the work plan.

IX.  OPERATIONAL INSTRUCTION

The IBPWT will interface whenever necessary with other working teams (especially the Information Resources Management Working Team), the Departments and Bureaus, FEMA, and other subcommittees for the purposes of coordination on systems, standardization, and organization requiring implementation or actions by those entities.

X.   APPROVAL

This Charter is effective as of the date of approval by the Chairperson of the NWCG. The Charter may be revised upon recommendation of the majority of the team members and with concurrence of the NWCG.

NWCG Chairperson

Date