1. Click to edit Master title style 1 BLM Vegetation Management EIS - WELCOME! AGENDA Introductions, Meeting Objectives, Meeting Manners EIS – EIS Overview Local Issues, Need, Expectations Next Steps, Timeline Public Comment

2. Click to edit Master title style 2 Introductions EIS Team, Oregon State Office –Todd Thompson, BLM Project Manager –Ken Denton, Contract Team Lead –Jeanne Standley, BLM Botanist –Susan Hale, Contract Meeting Manager District Office –, District Manager –, District Botanist / Weed Coordinator

3. Click to edit Master title style 3 Meeting Objectives Introduce the EIS objectives to the Public Gather information from the public about: –Scope of the EIS –Issues that should be examined in the EIS –Alternatives that should be examined in the EIS

4. Click to edit Master title style 4 Good Manners - Please hold comments until after the presentation - Be respectful of others and varying points of view - Speak only when called upon - Do not interrupt other speakers - Do not have side conversations, which can affect other people’s ability to hear

5. Click to edit Master title style 5 Providing Comments Oral comments - We will attempt to record main points - We will ask for clarification - Contribute ideas for issues and alternatives - Avoid repeating comments already made Written comments - Just as important as oral comments - Contribute ideas for issues and alternatives - Complete a comment form at the meeting - Mail or email comments; addresses are provided

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7. 7 Vegetation Treatments EIS The BLM is initiating an EIS to examine the effects of adding up to 14 herbicide active ingredients to the 4 currently used to other tools already available to the BLM districts in Oregon for use in their noxious weed, invasive plant, and other weed management programs.

8. Click to edit Master title style 8  Of the 15.7 million acres managed by BLM in Oregon:  Invasive plants and noxious weeds currently affect over 1,000,000 acres  Invasive plants & noxious weeds are increasing at an estimated rate of 10% – 15% per year Invasive Plants on BLM Lands in Oregon

9. Click to edit Master title style 9 Invasive plants and noxious weeds invade desirable plant communities and:  Displace native vegetation  Degrade soil fertility and stability  Dominate riparian habitats and degrade water quality  Compete with trees and important forage plants  Harm habitats for fish, wildlife and endangered species  Reduce restoration success Invasive Plant Damage

10. Click to edit Master title style 10  Invasive plants and noxious weeds also:  Poison livestock, wildlife, plants, and even people  Reduce native species diversity  Increase fuel loading and the frequency & intensity of wildfire  Reduce recreational access, enjoyment, and aesthetics  Increase land management costs and reduce property values Invasive Plant Damage (continued)

11. Click to edit Master title style 11 Weeds and Other Plants  Other weeds are undesirable plants that interfere with land management objectives.  The EIS proposes to use herbicides on “other weeds” in rights-of-way, administrative sites, and recreation sites.  The EIS proposes to use herbicides on any plants to control pests and diseases and to meet landscape health objectives.

12. Click to edit Master title style 12 Weed Examples Noxious Weeds – Law Himalayan blackberry Japanese knotweed Canada thistle Scotch broom Tansy ragwort Knapweeds Invasive Weeds - Behavior Cheatgrass Dandelion Common periwinkle Sow thistle Teasel Other Weeds - Location Poison oak or ivy Water hemlock Alder English hawthorn

13. Click to edit Master title style 13  Several Laws and an Executive Order provide for the management and control of invasive vegetation, including:  Noxious Weed Control Act of 2004  Plant Protection Act of 2000  Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974  Invasive Species Executive Order of 1999  Carlson-Foley Act of 1968 Legal Direction

14. Click to edit Master title style 14 BLM Policy & Plan Direction BLM policy for noxious weeds and invasive plants requires: –Prevention including education, awareness, and regulation –Early detection and eradication of new invaders –Control of existing infestations –Cooperation with state, counties, and landowners

15. Click to edit Master title style 15 BLM Treatment Methods Treatment methods used to control vegetation include: –Biological –Fire –Mechanical –Manual –Chemical –Other (shade, hot water, etc.)

16. Click to edit Master title style 16  BLM uses both manual & mechanical methods to treat vegetation including invasive plants and noxious weeds  Manual methods such as hand-pulling and mowing are used to treat approximately 5,000 acres per year  Mechanical methods (motorized equipment) and fire are used to treat approximately 11,000 acres annually Manual & Mechanical Treatments

17. Click to edit Master title style 17  BLM also uses biological and chemical controls exclusively on noxious weeds :  Biological methods include insects, pathogens, disease, and directed livestock to target specific noxious weeds on approximately 2,400 acres per year  Herbicides are used alone or in conjunction with other methods to control noxious weeds on approximately 12,000 acres of noxious weeds each year Biological & Chemical Treatments

18. Click to edit Master title style 18  For many weed species, herbicides used alone or in combination with other treatments provide the most effective control.  For certain species, such as Canada thistle, herbicides provide the only practical treatment to meet land management objectives.  Herbicides may be more effective, environmentally friendly, and selective than other treatment options.  Herbicide use may prevent the spread of priority pathogens better than other treatments. Use of Herbicides

19. Click to edit Master title style 19  In 2007, BLM National Office released the Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides Final Programmatic EIS and Record of Decision (PEIS & ROD)  The PEIS & ROD analyzed and approved national use of 18 herbicides for non-commodity weed management  This decision also specified Standard Operating Procedures and Mitigation Measures (see handouts) National BLM PEIS

20. Click to edit Master title style 20 As a result of 1984 and 1987 U.S. District Court Orders, the BLM in Oregon is limited to:  Only four herbicide ingredients: dicamba, glyphosate, picloram, and 2,4-D  Applying these four herbicides only to county, state, and federally listed noxious weeds Other chemicals may not be used on BLM lands at this time, nor may any chemical be used for control of non-noxious invasive plants, or other weed control along rights-of-way such as roads and power lines. Oregon BLM Herbicide Injunction

21. Click to edit Master title style 21  In order to implement the national decision, to address the deficiencies identified by the U.S. District Court, an Oregon-specific programmatic EIS is being prepared.  The Oregon EIS will tier to the National PEIS and adopt its analysis including its human and environmental risk assessments. Oregon BLM Vegetation Treatments EIS

22. Click to edit Master title style 22  The BLM in Oregon has a Need to treat noxious weeds; treat invasive plants and other weeds in administrative sites, recreation sites, and rights-of-way; treat hazardous fuels; treat forest pests and diseases; and, achieve landscape health objectives.  The Proposed Action is to improve program effectiveness by including 18 herbicide active ingredients with the other (existing) tools being used for treating the above vegetation and areas. The Need & Proposed Action

23. Click to edit Master title style 23 INSERT DISTRICT PRESENTATION HERE

24. Click to edit Master title style 24 The Oregon BLM is seeking public input on:  The scope of the EIS analysis  Issues that should be examined by the EIS  Alternatives that should be examined in the EIS Vegetation Treatments EIS Scoping Comments

25. Click to edit Master title style 25 The OR EIS will provide the BLM Oregon/ Washington State Director with:  A description of all significant environmental effects; and,  Any other information needed to make a reasoned choice from among the alternatives. The topic areas that address these two needs are referred to here as Issues. Oregon EIS Issues

26. Click to edit Master title style 26 Make Your Comments Count How would weed management with herbicides affect local resources? Are you aware of research, studies, or local issues that should be considered? Do you have other ideas, suggestions, or concerns that should be included?

27. Click to edit Master title style 27 Preliminary Issues include:  Effect on fish and other non-target aquatics  Effect on water quality  Effect on wildlife and other non-target terrestrial organisms including non-target plants  Public and worker health & safety  Treatment effectiveness  Cost effectiveness Vegetation Treatments EIS Preliminary Issues

28. Click to edit Master title style 28 Alternatives to the Proposed Action may include:  Using fewer herbicides  Limiting application methods  Limiting treatment locations  Expanding invasive plant treatments beyond rights-of-way, administrative sites and recreation areas All alternatives will, at a minimum, include the Standard Operating Procedures & Mitigation Measures from BLM’s National PEIS Oregon EIS Alternatives

29. Click to edit Master title style 29 Alternatives will NOT: - Evaluate the use of herbicides for commodity production such as livestock forage and/or timber volume - Address project-specific details. Specific treatment proposals will require project-level analysis tiered to this EIS Oregon EIS Alternatives (cont.)

30. Click to edit Master title style 30 EIS Schedule  July 2008 – EIS Scoping to identify Alternatives and Issues  August 2008 – Team examines input and comments from Scoping to recommend Issues and Alternatives to include in the EIS  May/June 2009 – Public Comment Period on Draft EIS  January 2010 – Issue Final EIS  March 2010 – Sign Record of Decision Next Steps

31. Click to edit Master title style 31 Providing Comments Oral comments - We will attempt to record main points - We will ask for clarification - Contribute ideas for issues and alternatives - Avoid repeating comments already made Written comments - Just as important as oral comments - Contribute ideas for issues and alternatives - Complete a comment form at the meeting - Mail or email comments; addresses are provided

32. Click to edit Master title style 32 Good Manners - Please be respectful of others and varying points of view - Speak only when called upon - Do not interrupt other speakers - Do not have side conversations, which can affect other people’s ability to hear

33. Click to edit Master title style 33 www.blm.gov/or/plans/vegtreatmentseis/ Join the mailing list and track progress at our website: www.blm.gov/or/plans/vegtreatmentseis/  Please submit Scoping Comments by July 28, 2008 which can be done:  Here today vegtreatments@blm.gov vegtreatments@blm.gov  By email to: orvegtreatments@blm.govorvegtreatments@blm.gov  On the website at  By letter to: Getting Involved! Bureau of Land Management Vegetation Treatments EIS P.O. Box 2965 Portland, OR 97208