The name of this group is the National Wildfire Coordinating Group,
hereinafter referred to as the NWCG.
Purpose
NWCG will
provide national leadership and establish, implement, maintain,
and communicate policy, standards, guidelines, and qualifications
for wildland fire program management.
NWCG provides
a forum in which issues, both short and long term, involving standards
and program implementation can be coordinated, discussed, and resolved.
Serves as a clearinghouse and provides a forum for discussion of
short and long-term wildland fire management issues and initiates
actions to improve coordination and integration of state, tribal,
and federal wildland fire programs while recognizing individual
agency missions.
Functions:
Develops and maintains standards, guidelines, training, and certification
in interagency wildland fire operations.
Implements
the wildland fire program.
Participates
with and responds to wildland fire policy and program guidance and
direction.
Ensures strategic
policy and program coordination between fire, resources, aviation,
and other related program areas.
Participates
in the development and supports the National Response Plan, as well
as the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as required.
Guiding
Principles:
Safety is the
core value and consideration throughout all NWCG activities.
Wise and efficient
use of funds is a high priority consideration in planning and implementing
NWCG objectives.
Interagency
communication, coordination, and cooperation are vital to the effective
and efficient use of the nation’s wildland fire management resources.
Actions are based on the collective needs and capabilities of the
interagency community.
Effective
wildland fire management is a result of leadership at all levels.
Trust and
integrity are inherent to the success of NWCG. Deliberations are
open and transparent.
Differences
in member organizations’ responsibilities, missions, and capabilities
are recognized and mutually respected.
Responding
to change through a deliberative process and member accountability
for all actions contributes to excellence.
Membership
and Organization
Membership is limited to one individual organization representative,
except the Forest Service will be represented by two representatives
– one from Fire and Aviation Management and one from Fire Research.
Member Organizations:
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service
Forest Service, Fire and Aviation Management
Forest Service Fire Research
U.S. Fire Administration
National Association of State Foresters
Intertribal Timber Council
NWCG
will include a Chair, Co-Chair, and Executive Secretary. The Chair and
Co-Chair will each be elected from within the NWCG to serve a minimum
term of two (2) years.
The
Chair may establish working teams or other temporary ad hoc committees
to carry out the functional work of the NWCG. The Chair for any working
team shall be selected by a vote of the NWCG. Membership shall be invited
from member organizations and other organizations having the expertise
and interest in the particular subject matter. Working team reports
and recommendations shall be submitted to the Group for review, approval,
and further action.
Responsibilities
Chair:
The Chair may call and conduct meetings, establish working teams, and
submit NWCG recommendations to member agencies and other entities for
action, and sign NWCG correspondence. In addition, the Chair will represent
the Group at Fire Executive Council Meetings, National Association of
State Foresters Fire Committee Meetings, and other meetings and events
as appropriate. When the Chair is absent from a Group meeting or incapacitated,
the Co-Chair shall assume the full authority and responsibility of the
Chair.
Co-Chair:
The Co-Chair is responsible for serving as Chair in his or her absence
and for performing delegated duties.
Executive
Secretary:
The Chair will designate an Executive Secretary from outside the NWCG
membership. The Executive Secretary is responsible for recording the
actions and decisions of the NWCG, for distributing and communicating
information about the NWCG, and for keeping and securing permanent records
of the NWCG. The Executive Secretary will assist the Chair with organizing
and preparing for meetings.
Operating
Principles, Guidelines, and Procedures
The NWCG shall have an operating plan to provide protocols and procedures
for conducting NWCG business.
Meetings
and Reports
The NWCG shall meet monthly or as necessary to conduct business. Quarterly
meetings will be held at locations to be determined by the member organizations
through their representatives. The Group shall also meet upon the call
of the Chair at a location to be determined by the Chair. The Chair
shall submit necessary reports and have minutes prepared for each meeting
and distributed to the members.
Monthly
meetings shall focus on program implementation. Three times annually,
meetings shall focus on standards, guidelines, and training and certification
issues in interagency wildland fire operations. A quorum for conducting
business shall be a minimum of two-thirds of the members.
This
Charter is effective on the date of approval of undersigned officials
and shall remain in effect until revised or revoked by those officials.
