1 Jason Spadero of SD&S Lumber reported on the current status of their Biomass project. - WA DNR has approved it as one of the state's biomass pilot projects. - This may mean 5-year supply contracts; issue is before the current Legislature. - Partners - Parametrix Engineering, Organix, and ROI (Renewable Oil International ). - Pyrolysis project to produce bio-oil, bio-gas, and char. Plan is to have a portable unit, in order to transport only higher-energy-density product. “Transportation costs are the big hurdle.” - Looking for site; when available, they look to start up within 3 months. - SD&S is qualified under BCAP (Biomass Crop Assistance Program) as buyer/user. - Process will start using fuel, then will switch to process by-product. - Nancy R. asked if process will be open to review. Jason S. - “Maybe”. - Looking for possible Dept. of Commerce grants; requires 100% cash match. - Projecting $3.7 million to develop and implement. - Jim W. moved to write a support letter for the any grant-funding request that SD&S might make; second Jay McL.; approved. - Jamie T. will discuss with Jason S. 2 Jim M. raised concerns about costs related to biomass utilization. - Market $ seem elusive. Jay McL. will send out information that he has gleaned. - Encompasses hog fuel, clean chips, posts, poles. - Nancy R. - need market first. - Joanna G. - fuel-price volatility and future energy supply issues favors biomass in time. - Norm W. mentioned Bear Mountain's involvement with a pellet project in John Day area. - Costs partly absorbed in Forest Service/forest owner's disposal costs. - We need to view Bob Sourek's biomass utilization presentation. 3 Meeting minutes from Dec. 17. Jim W. supplied the missing items from the Bear Creek review; Spencer will modify minutes accordingly. - Jim W. moved to approve as amended; second Terry T. Approved. 4 Biomass Subcommittee report: - RVCC Working Group will draft a Thermal Energy bill for presentation to Congress. Awaiting results of Jan. 21 meeting called by Sen. Sanders (VT); core group is compiling all current bills with reference to biomass. Start work on T.E. bill in mid-February. - Mentioned possible 'heating district' approach being discussed by two landowners in Carson. Jim M. stated that there may be an air quality issue in the Carson area. - We will schedule Bob S. presentation for next meeting. 5 Cave/Bear project: - Extend stand-exam contract? 25% completed before snow shut-down – satisfactory results. Norm W. moved to extend; second Tom L. Approved. - Lisa M. - meeting yesterday with staff about restoration possibilities. - Need another meeting to identify sites more specifically. - Lisa noted announcement of new Critical Habit Planning protocol. Calls for consultation with appropriate agencies. New map associated with results. Discussed in the Jan. 14 Federal Register. - Nancy R. - may raise new restoration possibilities. 6 RAC II, 2011 – Announcement within 2 weeks. Applications will be due in mid-March. 7 National Forest Foundation grant was approved. - Will finance 4 facilitated meetings. Jamie T. assured that they will not be consecutive. - Nancy R. - Erin Black has a contact for a possible facilitator. - Todd M. suggested someone from the WSU Master Facilitators program. - Jay McL. suggested Mary Vasse, formerly with the National Forest Foundation. - Lisa M. suggested Marcus Kauffman from U of Oregon. - Subcommittee formed: Jamie T., Jay McL., Todd M. 8 Facilitated meetings: - Nancy R. - are other Collaborative groups aware that we may ask them to participate? - Jim M. stated that there is a frustrating lack of 'sideboards' in the definition of the Forest Service relationship to Collaborative groups. - Jamie T. - one of the proposed meetings would be with the F.S. to discuss this. - Norm W. - we have had some practical successes, such as Cave/Bear. - Jim W. - communications are important in any case. - Jamie T. - Clackamas River Partners might serve as model/goal. - Lisa M. - process involves identification of project, prioritization, monitoring. - Jim M. - Mt. Hood staff told him that involvement of 'enviros' has eliminated legal obstacles. - Norm W. - the Siuslaw N.F. model shows the way forward. - Nancy R. - Cave/Bear is a perfect example. Carson watershed area is another. - Lisa M. - need to develop an annual work plan. - Facilitated meetings – Bimonthly? Quarterly? - Time constraints? Full day? Which day? Current meeting scheme? Evenings? Weekends? - Let's get some advice from prospective facilitators. - Jamie T. - discuss via e-mail. 9 Forest Service Planning Rule process: - Nancy R. - caused by lawsuits against the 2000 Rule, which caused planning to refer back to the 1982 Rule. (2008 Rule unworkable, too.) - Lisa M. - “too big”. She will review the RVCC' position on the matter. - Norm W. - are rural county organizations involved? Jamie T. will research. - Thanks to Terry T. for raising this question. No role currently for us, but will watch. 10 Next meeting - Janine Clayton is available; may make presentation. - Meeting place will be the Skamania County Courthouse Annex to equilibrate travel. - Bob S. presentation, too. - Jim M. - discuss/brainstorm RAC II proposals. 11 MARS web-site/newsletter is available. 12 Rick Larson will contact appropriate Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation person(s) for projects in our region. 13 Contact David Anderson, John Weinheimer to try to encourage more biologist's input. 14 Coalition-building conference @ Skamania Lodge, March 24 – 26. Jay and Nancy are going; maybe Jamie. 'Scholarship' may be available, if interested. 15 Next meeting: Feb. 18, 2010 at the Skamania County Courthouse Annex @ 15:00. Attendees: Peggy Bryan, Rick Larson, Paul Spencer, Lisa Moscinski, Nancy Ryke, Jamie Tolfree, Jim White, Terry Tanner, Jay McLaughlin, Tom Linde, Gail Fullerton, Joanna Grammon, Jim Mickel, Norm Ward, Jake Anderson, Bruce Holmson, Todd Murray, John Marker | 
