Minutes from 05/19/09 Meeting 1 Minutes of the April 23, 2009 meeting approved. Moved by Lisa M., 2nd by Tom L. Going forward, Spencer will send a Word .doc of the draft minutes to Jamie T. and will announce that the draft minutes have been published on our web-site via e-mail. 2 Announcement & Introductions: - One new participant: Todd Murray, WSU Extension Agent for Skamania County. 3 Jay McL. reported on his visit to various federal legislators in WA DC. - Currently, there is substantial activity concerning biomass in Congress. Particular focus is the definition of the Renewable Energy (Electricity?) Standard. Status of woody biomass is “in flux” and exclusion of removal from federal lands is still possible. The current Renewable Fuels Standard excludes the application of incentives for biomass removed from federal lands. There are several amendments currently which seek to revise the RFS to allow the application of incentives for woody biomass collected on federal lands with a few, defined exceptions. 4 Jamie T. reported on the Baird, Inslee, Walden Energy and Environment Subcommittee hearing in Vancouver on April 20. Reports submitted by experts for use in upcoming committee hearings. One repeated issue was the current lack of consistency in definitions of woody biomass in various existing laws. 5 Jamie T. also reported on Biomass Conference 2009 (April 29 – 30). She primarily attended sessions on direct-firing and co-generation, utilizing woody biomass. 6 Jacob Anderson reported that he has joined the Board of Directors of the South Central Washington Resource Conservation and Development Council as the representative from the Underwood Conservation District. This brings the service area of the UDC, which includes Skamania and Klickitat Counties, into the Council. They have finished a bio-fuels survey called the Tapash Report, but it has not been released to the public as yet. 7 Bear Creek proposal to the Title II RAC: - After the last meeting's discussion, Nancy R. and Spencer had further communication about the miscommunication concerning the purpose of the project. Spencer revised several parts of the Title II proposal and sent the revisions to Nancy, Jamie, and the original Bear Creek subcommittee. Additional changes were made due to comments from 2 participants. (Lisa M. asked for a copy; Spencer will send to the full MADCG.) - Jamie T. wrote a summary draft of the situation for MADCG to review. - Nancy R. - 2 scenarios: - Move the 2009/2010 projects to 2010/2011; - Try for the current 2010 proposal, do what we can with those funds. - Go for the hazardous-fuels assessment and pre-NEPA. - Spencer suggested that the 2010 funds might serve as a match for funds from some other source involved with hazardous-fuels reduction. 8 Cave/Bear project: - Nancy R. related a question from Sue Ripp – Who is administering funds? - Jay McL. And Lisa M. are the Contacts. - One suggestion was that Jay's Mt. Adams group would administer 2009; GP Task Force would administer 2010. - Both stated that the cost estimates in the proposal were based on “private” (subcontractor) administration. - Need to decide! Fiscal 2009 ends in October. 9 RAC Title II meeting for 2010 funds – Monday, June 8 – location? 10 Discussion of formal status (e.g., 501C3) for MADCG: - Cost estimate of $800 to go to non-profit IRS status. - National Forest Foundation might be source of grant to cover costs. - Jacob A. - What's the purpose if we have other financial administration options? - If we incorporate, we need articles and bylaws. - Lisa M. - we could potentially use bylaws of existing, similar groups. - Jim M. suggested that we research the issue with similar groups. He prefers other entity to administer funds due to the amount of work involved in financial reports, possible audits, general accounting work. Autonomy means staff. - Lisa M. asked if the Underwood Conservation District could handle administration for us. Jim W. said that it may be possible. - Could the RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development) handle this for us? - Set up subcommittee: - Jim W. - UCD discussion; - Lisa M. - send list of collaborative groups in this region; - Jamie T. - contact the National Forest Foundation - Suggestion to contact Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation representative; - Spencer will set up an e-mail list for subcommittee members; - Sally N. - Underwood Community Council. 11 Field trips: - July meeting date (July 16) – visit the Cave/Bear project area. Nancy R. suggests that we add side-trip to the Cold Springs fire area. - August 20 meeting – visit the Mowich and Dry Creek areas to see recent completed and semi-completed forest projects. - Jim W. suggested adding side-trip to a “spacing study” stand nearby. - Bruce H. will draft itineraries for these two field trips. - Logistics – County van? Multiple 4-wheel-drive, high-clearance private vehicles? Roads are bad. - Nancy R. will review the itineraries against her staff schedules to check availability. 12 Jamie T. presented a letter to the group announcing pre-commercial thinning on approximately 10,000 acres, based on CE (Categorical Exclusion). - Nancy R. - primary product may be bough sales. Initial estimate if that there is little biomass or commercial timber value involved. - Project is managed by Riley Dopler. Norm W. asked if Riley could come to a MADCG meeting to review the project, but the end of the public comment period is June 3. - Lisa M. stated that, if ground is disturbed, an EA will be needed. - Discussion of MADCG's possible comments. - Jamie T. will draft a letter. 13 Next meeting will be on June 18, 13:00 – 15:00 @ Underwood C.C. Discussion will include meeting/voting policy. | 
