I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Expectations and Mission: Interagency Biologists on Air Force Property 1 Mr. Jason Gibbons AFCEC/CZOW 5Mar15

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 2 Overview Air Force Leadership - One Mission Wildlife Services - Federal Leadership Managing Expectations and Expertise o Air Force Safety Center o Air Force Civil Engineer Center o Wildlife Services

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 3 Mission Air Force Leadership - One Mission Fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 4 Mission Air Force Leadership - One Mission o Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazards  Air Force Safety Center  Air Force Civil Engineer Center

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 5 Mission Air Force Leadership - One Mission o Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazards  Air Force Safety Center – BASH Team  Goal is the preservation of war fighting capabilities through the reduction of wildlife hazards to aircraft operations.  Air Force's point-of-contact for worldwide on-site and remote technical BASH assistance.  Air Force's point-of-contact for worldwide on-site and remote technical BASH assistance.  Coordinate and develop policy, collect and analyze wildlife strike data through AFSAS, provide the BAM/AHAS for low-level BASH awareness, and coordinate for BASH equipment approval.  Coordinate and develop policy, collect and analyze wildlife strike data through AFSAS, provide the BAM/AHAS for low-level BASH awareness, and coordinate for BASH equipment approval.

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 6 Mission Air Force Leadership - One Mission o Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazards  Air Force Civil Engineer Center – Environmental Management Directorate, Operations Division  Provides direct installation support by planning and programming environmental requirements, developing permits and plans, and executing projects.  Installation Support Teams (ISTs) serve as installation advocates and are the office of primary responsibility for execution, addressing regional issues or leading regional enterprise initiatives.  ISTs also develop, acquire, and oversee environmental- funded contracts in their regions.

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e Davis -Monthan AFB Maxwell/ Gunter AFB Seymour Johnson AFB JB Andrews Hanscom AFB Niagara Falls Westover ARB Homestead ARB New Boston AFS Pittsburgh Minot AFB Grand Forks AFB Laughlin AFB Dobbins BMGR (Range) Poinsett (Range) Cape Canaveral March ARB Patrick AFB MacDill AFB Avon Park AFS Moody AFB McConnell AFB Cannon AFB Youngstown ARS Vance AFB Dyess AFB Shaw AFB Dover AFB Edwards AFB Luke AFB Mountain Home AFB Fairchild AFB Malmstrom AFB Ellsworth AFB Holloman AFB Sheppard AFB Grissom ARB Altus AFB Hurlburt Robins AFB Carswell ARS West Region (EPA 4, 6 and 9) East Region (EPA 1, 2, 3 and 4) Midwest Region (EPA 5, 7, 8 and 10) Hill AFB Willow Grove Los Angeles AFB a/o 15 Jul 14 UTTR (Range) Claiborne Range Little Rock AFB Buckley AFB Air Force Academy Schriever AFB Cheyenne Mnt AFS F.E. Warren AFB Wright-Patterson AFB Beale AFB Travis AFB Eglin AFB Vandenberg AFB Nellis AFB Kirtland AFB Peterson AFB Offutt AFB Scott AFB JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst JB Langley-Eustis JB Charleston Barksdale AFB Tinker AFB JB San Antonio Alconbury Aviano Croughton Fairford Incirlik Izmir Lajes Lakenheath Menwith Hill Mildenhall Molesworth Moron Ramstein Spangdahlem HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 611 CES JB Elmendorf Richardson Kadena Kunsan Misawa Osan Yokota Eielson AFB Clear AFS PACAF Region All overseas US Space Assets (Central Peterson) Installation Support Team (IST) Regions USAFE Region Tyndall AFB Installation Support Team (IST) JB Cape Cod Columbus AFB Minneapolis-St Paul ARS Keesler AFB Goodfellow AFB Creech AFB Arnold AFB Whiteman AFB Rome Lab

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 8 Mission Air Force Leadership - One Mission o Air Force Instruction (Natural Resources): “The primary objective of AF natural resources programs is to sustain, restore and modernize natural, statutory and workforce infrastructure to ensure operational capability.” o Air Force Instruction (Mishap Prevention): “Minimize loss of Air Force resources and protect Air Force personnel from death, injuries or occupational illnesses by managing risks on- and off-duty.

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 9 Mission Air Force Leadership - One Mission o Air Force Instruction (Natural Resources): “The primary objective of AF natural resources programs is to sustain, restore and modernize natural, statutory and workforce infrastructure to ensure operational capability.” o Air Force Instruction (Mishap Prevention): “Minimize loss of Air Force resources and protect Air Force personnel from death, injuries or occupational illnesses by managing risks on- and off-duty.

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 10 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Authorized by Congress to provide leadership and assistance in wildlife damage management

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 11 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Authorized by Congress: Animal Damage Control Act (1931): “The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed to conduct such investigations, experiments, and tests as he may deem necessary in order to determine, demonstrate, and promulgate the best methods of eradication, suppression, or bringing under control on national forests and other areas of the public domain as well as on State, Territory or privately owned lands of (a long list of wildlife)… and other animals injurious to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, wild game animals, furbearing animals, and birds, and for the protection of livestock and other domestic animals through the suppression of rabies and tularemia in predatory or other wild animals;

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 12 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Authorized by Congress: Animal Damage Control Act (1931): “ and to conduct campaigns for the destruction or control of such animals. Provided that in carrying out the provisions of this Section, the Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate with States, individuals, and public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions.”

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 13 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Authorized by Congress: Animal Damage Control Act (1931): o Strengthened in 1988 with the Rural Development, Agriculture, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. “… authorized to conduct activities… in the control of nuisance mammals and birds and those mammal and bird species that are reservoirs for zoonotic diseases…” o Amended in FY2001 Agriculture Appropriations Bill “… The Secretary of Agriculture may conduct a program of wildlife services with respect to injurious animal species…”

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 14 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Authorized by Congress to provide leadership and assistance in wildlife damage management

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 15 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Provide leadership and assistance: greater emphasis on the part of the Act discussing “bringing (damage) under control,” Since 1931, with changes in societal values, WS’ policies and programs place greater emphasis on the part of the Act discussing “bringing (damage) under control,” rather than “eradication” and “suppression” of wildlife populations

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 16 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Provide leadership and assistance: USDA National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO o Evaluates damage situations and develops methods and tools o Designs studies to ensure that the methods developed to alleviate animal damage are biologically sound, effective, safe, economical, and acceptable to the public. o Produce the appropriate methods, technology, and materials for reducing animal damage. o Through the publication of results and the exchange of technical information, the Center provides valuable data and expertise to the public and the scientific community, as well as to the operational WS program.

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 17 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Provide leadership and assistance: WS Operations

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 18 USDA-APHIS-WS Wildlife Services – Federal Leadership Provide leadership and assistance: WS Operations o Provide BASH or other WDM support at ~ 24 USAF installations nationwide Eglin Shaw Avon Park AFR JBLE-Eustis Tyndall Hickam Wake Is Bellows Malmstrom Minot Buckley Scott Whiteman JB Elmendorf- Richardson Beale Travis March Sheppard Vance Columbus Laughlin Luke JB San Antonio Eielson Eareckson

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 19 Expectations and Expertise Identifying appropriate projects Accepting respective roles and responsibilities Communication – internal and external

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 20 Expectations and Expertise Identifying appropriate projects o What is wildlife damage management? “The reduction or alleviation of damage or other problems caused by, or related to, the presence of wildlife”

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 21 Expectations and Expertise Identifying appropriate projects o What is wildlife damage management?  Ecosystem classification  Vegetation  Fish and Wildlife Management  Invasive Species  Threatened and Endangered Species  Forest Management  Wetlands  Floodplains  Coastal and Marine Resources  Grounds Maintenance  Wildland Fire Management  Outdoor Recreation  Agriculture Outleasing  BASH INRMP emphasis:

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 22 Expectations and Expertise Identifying appropriate projects o What is wildlife damage management?  Fish and Wildlife Management  Baseline presence/absence surveys (12 months)  Nuisance wildlife capture/removal and surveillance  Invasive Species  Vertebrates-only; capture/removal and surveillance  Threatened and Endangered Species  Focus on predators and T&E species protection  USFWS/NOAA BiOp compliance  BASH  Hazard assessment, wildlife hazing and depredation

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 23 Expectations and Expertise Identifying appropriate projects o What is NOT wildlife damage management?  Reconsider if needing:  Tree planting or habitat restoration (National Public Lands Day, Arbor Day, Earth Day…)  Recreation (Kid’s Fishing Day, other hunting/fishing programs)  Invasive plants/weed spraying  Wetland – 404 permit compliance  Building goose-nest boxes

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 24 Expectations and Expertise Accepting respective roles and responsibilities Wildlife Services Safety Environmental

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 25 Expectations and Expertise Accepting respective roles and responsibilities o Safety  Ensure airmen and aircraft operate in the safest possible environment  Identify, defend and communicate acceptable levels of risk  Implement programs and procedures to maintain that acceptable level

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 26 Expectations and Expertise Accepting respective roles and responsibilities o Environmental  Ensure the installation is in compliance with federal and state laws, including those for fish and wildlife, cultural, air, water, hazardous waste and solid waste, ensuring operational capability  Acquire appropriate staff to implement and maintain compliance

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 27 Expectations and Expertise Accepting respective roles and responsibilities o Wildlife Services  Embrace One-Mission approach: each squadron plays a role  Assistance on USAF property will increase with understanding and acceptance of roles and responsibilities  WS is the Subject Matter Expert in wildlife damage management (WDM)

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 28 Expectations and Expertise Communication – internal and external o Information flow process: Safety Wildlife Services CES/Natural Resources How do we change this…

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 29 Expectations and Expertise Communication – internal and external o Information flow process: To this? Safety CES/Natural Resources Wildlife Services

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 30 Expectations and Expertise Communication – internal and external o Information flow process:  Is there a working relationship between installation Safety and Environmental?  What level of support from AFSEC and AFCEC would benefit both parties?

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 31 Expectations and Expertise Communication – internal and external o Safety and Environmental  Recognize and accept each other’s BASH roles and responsibilities  Depredation Permits are typically assigned by the Installation Commander  Non-USAF personal should not make policy or speak on behalf of the USAF  We can never allow our management approach to become emotional or personal

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 32 Expectations and Expertise Communication – internal and external o Wildlife Services  Recognize and accept each USAF squadron’s role in BASH, regardless of who’s funding the program  On USAF property, incorporate Air Force Instructions into planning documents  Ensure mitigation recommendations are attainable and in accordance with applicable regulations

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 33 Summary USAF Team Concept: “A diverse group of individuals working together with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, have group goals, and take an approach for which they are mutually accountable (AFI )” BASH Safety, Environmental - One Mission

I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e QUESTIONS? 34