[Agriculture Fact Book 98]
The Forest Service mission is "Caring for the Land and Serving People." The mission is further expressed in the Forest Service land ethic: "Promote the sustainability of ecosystems by ensuring their health, diversity, and productivity," which is coupled with the service ethic: "Work collaboratively and use appropriate scientific information in caring for the land and serving people."
These land and service ethics are applied by the Forest Service through ecosystem management. Ecosystem management is the integration of ecological, economic, and social factors in order to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment to meet current and future needs.
The four strategic goals of the Forest Service are to: (1) protect ecosystems, (2) restore deteriorated ecosystems, (3) provide multiple benefits for people within the capabilities of ecosystems, and (4) ensure organizational effectiveness.
In 1998, the Forest Service Chief introduced the Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda. The agenda identifies four key areas of national focus. They are:
Implementation of the agenda will help bring people together and help them find ways to live within the limits of the land. This in turn will ensure that future generations will forever be endowed with the rich natural bounty of our Nation.
The Forest Service administers the lands and resources of the National Forest System (NFS) under the Organic Administration Act of 1897, the Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act of 1960, and the National Forest Management Act of 1976.
The agency also conducts research, provides assistance to State and private landowners, assesses the Nation's natural resources, and provides international assistance and scientific exchanges. These activities are carried out under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, the Renewable Resources Extension Act of 1978, the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978, the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, and the International Forestry Cooperation Act of 1990.
The Chief, the top administrative official of the Forest Service, reports to the Secretary of Agriculture through the Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. The Forest Service typically is viewed as consisting of three major components: (1) the National Forest System (NFS), (2) State and Private Forestry (S&PF), and (3) Research and Development (R&D). However, the agency supports many other programs, such as International Programs and Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. The NFS is organized into a Deputy Area within the Washington Office, 9 regional offices, 155 national forests managed by 115 supervisors' offices, and approximately 570 ranger districts and national grasslands.
The Forest Service manages the 191.6-million-acre NFS and supports multiple use; sustained yields of renewable resources such as water, livestock forage, wildfire, habitat, wood, and recreation; and integration of mineral resource programs and visual quality. The agency also mitigates, when appropriate and in a scientific manner, wildfires, epidemics of disease and insects, erosion, floods, water quality degradation, and air pollution.
The NFS provides many recreational activities for the public. In 1997, it hosted more than 800 million recreation experiences–43 percent of the outdoor recreation use on public lands–including 60 percent of the Nation’s skiing and significant percentages of hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and driving for pleasure. NFS takes care of 4,385 miles of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System; 412 units of the National Wilderness Preservation System, 133,000 miles of trails; more than 250,000 heritage sites; and over 18,000 campgrounds, picnic areas, and visitor facilities.
The National Forests and Grasslands contribute $134 billion to the gross domestic product.
The Forest Service administers many S&PF programs to provide technical and financial conservation assistance to State and private nonindustrial forest land. These programs serve as a link among many public and private organizations and they help to promote the best use and conservation of America's natural resources on private lands. Wildland fire protection on private and public lands, Smokey Bear, forest health protection, and natural resource education are examples of S&PF programs. S&PF is organized into a Deputy Area within the Washington Office; it has an office in Radnor, PA, to work with States and landowners in the Northeastern United States, and has programs delivered from most NFS offices.
The R&D program is organized into a Deputy Area within the Washington Office, including four program staffs and six geographically dispersed research stations. R&D also includes the Forest Product Laboratory in Madison, WI. R&D conducts and sponsors basic and applied research that generates credible, relevant knowledge and new technologies that are used to sustain the health, productivity, and diversity of the Nation’s forests and rangelands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The R&D effort is focused on four broad themes: (1) to provide the information necessary to improve management and protection of the vegetation on the Nation’s forest and rangeland ecosystems, (2) to provide the information necessary to sustain ecological processes in the terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric components of forest and rangeland ecosystems and enhance the biological diversity of the water, wildlife, and fish resources, (3) to provide resource data, technologies, analysis tools, and information that can be used to assess the extent, health, productivity, and sustainability of forest and rangeland ecosystems, and (4) to assess the condition, trends, and capabilities of forest and rangeland resources and provide conservation technologies that improve their use and reuse.
International Program activities supported by the Forest Service, including programs at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico, promote sustainable development and global environmental stability. The director of International Programs reports directly to the Chief.
The Office of Communication, Civil Rights Program, Reinvention Program, and Law Enforcement and Investigations Program also report directly to the Chief.
The agency has received tentative approval from the Secretary to reorganize the Operations area of the Washington Office into three areas: Financial Management, Business Operations, and Programs and Legislation. The Financial Management area is led by the Chief Financial Officer to ensure proper allocation of funds, tracking, control, and reporting of expenditure of funds. The Business Operations Deputy Chief manages the human resource, information resource management, and procurement programs. The Programs and Legislation Deputy Chief manages the development of the agency's budget and coordinates legislative affairs.
As a part of the Business Operations area and through agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Forest Service operates 18 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers on Forest Service lands. This is the only Federal residential education/training program for the Nation's disadvantaged youth. Over 8,000 students enroll in Forest Service centers each year.
Creating a Forest Service that works better and costs less--that's what Forest Service reinvention is all about. As one of 30 Federal agencies designated by the National Partnership for Reinventing Government as a "High Impact Agency," it is dedicated to delivering first-rate customer service, cutting red tape to do its job more efficiently, and working with its partners--both in and out of government--to do the best job of caring for the land. Some recent highlights:
This new one-stop source lets customers discover for themselves the tremendous recreation options in "America's Great Outdoors" and to plan their vacations on-line. Try it out at www.recreation.gov and see for yourself what reinvention at the Forest Service can do for you.
Key Facts About the Forest Service
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Key Forest Service figures for 1996:
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Lands
Lands-related activities include land exchanges to protect and enhance the National Forest System, preventing encumbrances, protecting boundaries and records, granting appropriate rights to others, and administering rights granted to or retained by other agencies, governments, and landowners.
Wildlife, Fish, and Rare Plants
In 1996, wildlife and fish recreation expenditures tied to national forests tallied $6.8 billion in association with 125.7 million visitor days of hunting, fishing, and wildlife/fish-associated viewing. Anglers spent $2.7 billion (46.8 million visitor days), wildlife/fish viewers spent $2.1 billion (52 million activity days), and hunters spent $2.0 billion (27 million activity days) in pursuit of their pastimes. This $6.8 billion in direct spending translates to a total of $20 billion in local economic output and 226,000 jobs. Specific examples include:
Key Facts About Wildlife, Fish, and Rare Plants
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Partnerships
In 1997, over $13 million in Federal funds was matched by partners' contributions, for a total of $37 million to accomplish partnership projects on wildlife; fish; and threatened, endangered, and sensitive species on the national forests and grasslands. Specific partnership examples include:
Water, Soil, and Air
About 20 percent of the surface water supply in the United States flows from National Forest System (NFS) watersheds. Three major goals of the Forest Service's watershed management programs are to (1) maintain or improve water quality, quantity, and timing consistent with hydrologic potential, (2) sustain soil productivity, (3) protect 88 Class I wilderness areas from air pollution, and (4) evaluate Forest Service activities and mitigate any effects on air quality and water quality. (Class I areas are National Wilderness Areas that exceed 5,000 acres, as designated by the Clean Air Act of 1977.) The task of mapping all soils within NFS, with the cooperation of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is about 70 percent complete. The Forest Service improved 66,314 acres of watershed in FY 1996 using appropriated funds and other funding sources, primarily emergency supplemental funds to restore acres flooded in the 1995-96 winter floods.
Other significant activities include watershed analyses and watershed restoration work, especially in the Pacific Northwest; participating in water right adjudications in eight Western States; assessing water quality problems from abandoned mines located on national forests with assistance from States and other Federal agencies; monitoring lichens, lakes, snow, vegetation, and the atmosphere to determine air pollution impacts on visibility, water, and soil chemistry in wilderness areas.
Key Facts About Water, Soil, and Air
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Rangeland
NFS rangeland is managed to conserve the land and its vegetation while providing food for both livestock and wildlife. Under multiple-use concepts, grazing areas also serve as watersheds, wildlife habitat, and recreation sites. Grazing privileges are granted on national forests and grasslands through paid permits; permittees cooperate with the Forest Service in range improvement projects.
Key Facts About Rangeland
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Energy, Minerals, and Geology
Energy and mineral development fosters economic development, as does the application of geologic principles on National Forest System lands, including development of private minerals underlying these lands. Ecosystems are protected by requiring appropriate design, mitigation, and reclamation measures, and by monitoring and inspecting operations to ensure compliance. Reclaiming abandoned mines on Forest Service land restores deteriorated ecosystems, and the Forest Service has reclaimed 38,000 abandoned mines.
Exploration, development, and production of energy and minerals from National Forest System lands contribute to economic growth, provide employment in rural communities, and raise revenues that are shared with the States. The energy and minerals component of the program is directed at obtaining these benefits while ensuring operations are conducted in an environmentally sound manner. In terms of the magnitude of the energy and minerals program, there are approximately 5.4 million acres leased for oil and gas, over 150,000 mining claims, about 7,000 mineral material pits and quarries, over 2,000 new operations proposed each year, and more than 20,000 operations to monitor and inspect. The largest coal mine in the United States is on NFS lands, and much of the Nation's phosphate and lead production comes from NFS lands. The value of all energy and mineral production exceeds $2 billion per year. Annual revenues are about $150 million, 25-50 percent of which is returned to the States where production occurs.
The geology and paleontology components of the program provide basic scientific information about the Earth's materials and processes. Forest Service geologists and paleontologists identify and interpret geologic and paleontological conditions and hazards for land management decisionmaking and cost-effective project design; inventory and evaluate sites with geologic and paleontological resources such as groundwater, fossils, and caves for appropriate management; and interpret sites having significance for scientific, educational, or recreational use. The interpretation is the legacy of all people, and the Forest Service recognizes its responsibility to manage that part of the fossil record occurring on NFS lands as a public legacy for future generations. Fossils are nonrenewable resources and their value may be greatly diminished or lost entirely in the absence of proper management.
The USDA Forest Service recognizes multiple-use values for fossil resources that include: legacy value for present and future generations, scientific value, educational and interpretive values, and recreational and aesthetic values.
Key Facts About Forest Service Energy, Minerals, and
Geology Program
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Timber
Approximately 73 percent of the 191 million acres of national forests is considered forested. Of that forested land, 35 percent is available for regularly scheduled timber harvest and less than 1 percent of that area is subject to some form of harvest in any year. The remaining 65 percent of the forested land is allocated to nontimber uses such as wilderness, set aside for recreation, or cannot be harvested due to environmental conditions such as steep slopes or fragile soils.
In most cases, forested ecosystems on the national forests are in a healthy, functioning condition due to past active management and environmental protection measures. These forests provide highly diverse and often unique resources, opportunities, and experiences for the public. In some cases, ecosystems are not functioning in a way that can be sustained without unacceptable risk of losses to wildfire, insects, or diseases. It is important that the agency assess each ecological situation at the local level, establish management objectives based on ecological, social, and economic information, and utilize the best tools available to achieve the established vegetation objectives. There are critical reasons to retain timber harvest as a component of national forest management. Restoration and maintenance of healthy forests is the best way to sustain resource production and provide goods and services while protecting the environment. Timber sales are one vegetation management tool used by foresters to achieve restoration and maintenance of healthy forests, sustain resource production, and provide goods and services while protecting the environment.
The Forest Service is strongly committed to the management of NFS lands in an environmentally sensitive manner. One of the agency's top priorities is to maintain and improve the health and vigor of forest ecosystems for the enjoyment of current and future generations. The Forest Service operates Federal timber sales under some of the most substantial and effective environmental protection policies in the world.
The Forest Service manages the national forests to achieve healthy and ecologically sustainable ecosystem conditions. The agency is taking an active role in managing vegetation to help achieve the complex interrelated objectives of resource use and environmental protection. Along with helping to meet congressionally established objectives of harvesting national forest timber on a sustainable basis, timber sales provide an economic means of managing vegetation.
Passport in Time
Through the Passport in Time program, the Forest Service offers unique, nontraditional recreation opportunities such as archaeological excavation, historic structure restoration, and wilderness surveys. These experiences foster environmental stewardship while providing the public with unusual, educational experiences.
Passport in Time has over 13,000 volunteers contributing over $5.2 million worth of time and effort to preserve our Nation's history by restoring historic structures, stabilizing National Register eligible sites, evaluating sites for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, working on projects in wilderness, and developing heritage interpretive sites. Every activity is aimed at making our Nation's unique history accessible to the public and preserving it for future generations.
The State and Private Forestry programs represent important tools for the monitoring, management, protection, and better use of America's forests, with emphasis on non-Federal forest land stewardship. These programs connect forestry to all land managers--whether small, urban woodlot owners, tribal foresters, State agencies, or Federal--in efficient, nonregulatory ways. Through a coordinated effort in management, protection, and better use, the programs of State and Private Forestry help facilitate sound forestry across ownerships on a landscape scale.
About 70 percent of America's forests are in State and private ownership, and 80 percent of the wood fiber potential comes from these lands. These lands are also critical to watershed conditions, fish and wildlife habitat, and the aesthetic quality of the Nation's landscape; and they represent one of the best sources of carbon sequestration. Since these non-Federal forests represent most of the forests in our country, keeping these lands healthy, productive, and sustainable in the rural and urban areas on a cumulative basis is especially important to the Nation. With increasing fragmentation and development pressure, the unique Federal role in maintaining the value and functions of these lands across ownership divisions has never been greater or more important.
Through a partnership role of technical advice and focused financial assistance, the program leverages Federal resources to help produce a variety of forest-based goods and services-- including recreation, wildlife and fish, biological diversity, and timber--to help meet domestic and international needs.
Forest Health Protection
The Forest Service provides technical and financial assistance to Federal agencies, tribal governments, States, and (through State foresters) to private landowners. In 1997, with the assistance of State foresters and others, the Forest Service conducted insect and disease detection surveys on 203 million acres of NFS, other Federal land, and tribal lands, and 552 million acres of State and private lands. In addition, the Forest Service and State foresters participate in a forest health monitoring program. With USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Forest Service works to protect the Nation's forests from exotic insects, diseases, and plants. The Forest Service provides technical assistance in the safe and effective use of pesticides, shares the cost of insect and disease prevention and suppression projects with States, and funds prevention and suppression projects on Federal lands. The agency also evaluates and applies new, more efficient and environmentally sensitive technologies for forest health protection.
Cooperative Forestry--Providing Assistance to Nonindustrial Private Landowners and Community and Urban Areas
Cooperative Forestry (CF), in partnership with State forestry and other non-Federal forestry interests, provides for multidirectional links between Federal forestry programs and objectives and the non-Federal forestry sector. CF connects ideas and people to resources and one another so they can better care for forests to sustain their communities. Since the 1990 Farm Bill, all programs have strategic plans in place to guide nationwide delivery. CF has three major goals.
The Forest Stewardship Program provides technical assistance to nonindustrial private forest landowners interested in managing their forests for multiple resources. More than two thirds of the Nation's forests are non-Federal, owned by 9.9 million nonindustrial private forest land owners. Since 1990, over 133,400 landowners have enrolled in the program and stewardship plans have been prepared on more than 16.6 million acres of nonindustrial private forests.
The Stewardship Incentives Program provides cost share assistance to landowners implementing Forest Stewardship Landowner Plans. This program is managed in cooperation with State forestry agencies and USDA's Farm Service Agency to provide assistance on more than 250,000 acres annually. This includes approximately 50,000 acres of tree planting annually. Since 1990, Stewardship Incentives Program practices have been implemented on 1.5 million acres, including approximately 200,000 acres of tree planting.
The Forest Legacy Program is designed to effectively protect and conserve environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to nonforest uses. These lands can be protected through conservation easements and other mechanisms. This program is based on the concept of "willing seller and willing buyer" and is completely nonregulatory in its approach. No eminent domain authority or adverse condemnation is authorized. To date, 15 States have completed an Assessment of Need, which is the formal document that allows for entry into the Forest Legacy Program. Program partners include The Trust for Public Lands, State governments, and local land trusts. Since 1993, almost 62,000 acres in eight States have been protected from development. These lands have a value of more than $25 million and have been protected with about $18 million of Federal funds. States with legacy lands include Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Washington.
Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) is a key part of the agency's interest in urban forest resources management; it helps people better manage the natural resources where 80 percent of America lives. Through the National Tree Trust Foundation, the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council, Urban Resources Partnerships, and State Forestry agencies, the U&CF program provides support for ongoing, critical developments in urban ecosystem management through improvements in urban forest policy, planning, assessment, tree planting, technical standards, education, budgets, and financial management. Education activities include support for the Treeture environmental education program through a partnership with the International Society of Arboriculture, the National Tree Trust, and American Forests. To assist with building local community forest management capabilities, technical and financial assistance is currently provided to more than 11,600 communities annually.
Grants made available through Federal funding from U&CF totaled more than $9.9 million in 1997 to support a full range of program development activities from the national to the local level. Matching grants generate more than $49.1 million in private donations of cash, goods, and services for all activities supporting tree planting, care, and protection, approximately a 5:1 ratio of private to Federal financing of urban and community forestry activities.
Economic Action Programs
A collection of long- and short-term programs together make up a strategic overall effort to help communities and businesses that depend on natural resources to pursue self-sufficiency and sustainability. Through Economic Action Programs, the Forest Service provides technical and financial assistance to more than 3,240 rural communities and businesses that are adversely affected by change in availability of natural resources or in natural resource policy. Of the total number assisted, more than 130 were tribal and minority communities.
Rural Community Assistance
The Forest Service implements the national strategy on rural development in coordination with USDA's Rural Development mission area and other State and Federal agencies. The goal is to strengthen rural communities by helping them diversify and expand their economies through the wise use of natural resources. In FY 1997, the Forest Service initiated an outcomes measurement process for rural community capacity building; over 150 communities have established indicators and measures to determine progress.
Economic Recovery is a long-term program that targets areas with acute economic problems associated with changes in Federal land management policies and natural resource decisions. The purpose of the effort is to assist eligible natural-dependent areas to diversify by developing new or different economic activities. In FY 1997, over 600 eligible communities received technical and financial assistance, training, and education to help them diversify their forest- based economies. Of these communities over 530 are taking action based on locally led strategic plans.
Rural Development is a long-term program that provides technical and financial assistance to help strengthen, diversify, and expand local economies, especially those experiencing long-term or persistent economic problems. Rural Development is a grant program that provides technical assistance and matching funds for locally initiated and planned projects. They are designed to stimulate improvements in the economic, environmental, or social well-being of rural citizens through forest resources.
A short-term emphasis is the Pacific Northwest Assistance effort, which supports the diversification of local economies experiencing reductions in Federal timber harvest levels. This effort provides technical and financial assistance to over 900 communities. It is part of a larger, multi-agency effort to target resources to rural areas facing acute economic problems. Over 90 percent of these Forest Service funds are granted directly to the communities, counties, and tribes for community-identified projects to meet local needs. About 7.5 percent of the funds goes into agency technical assistance. In addition, for every dollar of Forest Service funding, over $2 is leveraged from partners.
The Forest Products Conservation and Recycling Program continually provides a cadre of Federal forest products technology transfer specialists trained in logging, sawmilling, drying, processing, marketing, engineering, and wood technology. This assistance directly affects communities and businesses that foster conservation and ecosystem health through proper utilization of forest products. In FY 1997, over 1,100 technical assists were provided and over 90 workshop presentations made, leading directly and indirectly to over 100 jobs being created or retained. This work is supported by regional and State specialists as well as a Technology Marketing Unit at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI.
The Wood in Transportation Program improves rural transportation networks and demonstrates the commercial potential of using wood from undervalued tree species for bridges and other transportation structures in rural communities. This demonstration program has built market value for these species, which in turn stimulates economic return and value for protecting the forest and its ecosystems. In FY 1997, 14 structures were funded, leveraging over $772,000, with nearly a 2:1 ratio of private to Forest Service funding. More than 57,000 pieces of technical information were requested and disseminated to local and State officials responsible for transportation infrastructure.
Natural Resource Conservation Education
The Forest Service supports a lifelong learning process that promotes the understanding of ecosystems and natural resources--their relationships, conservation, use, management, and values to society. Our large partnership base assists the Natural Resource Conservation Education (NRCE) program in about 200 projects across the country each year, reaching about 2.4 million young people and more than 118,700 teachers. More than 40 separate program efforts are coordinated. They include Project Learning Tree, which reaches 400,000 teachers. The Forest Service budget is leveraged through a variety of organizations and groups to reach a 3.8:1 ratio of private to agency funds.
Smokey Bear. Smokey Bear has been spreading the forest fire prevention message for 54 years. The Forest Service began a fire prevention program during World War II, and in 1944, a bear was introduced as the program symbol. Smokey is one of the most recognized symbols of fire prevention worldwide. Educational programs using Smokey Bear are delivered to people of all age groups and backgrounds. The message is primarily oriented toward elementary-school-age children. Almost every State has a Smokey suit that is used for a wide variety of fire prevention purposes from school programs to parades. There is a Smokey Bear hot air balloon that is displayed at events across the Nation.
Woodsy Owl. Woodsy Owl is a colorful and fanciful character designed to be especially appealing to young children. Woodsy is recognized by over 83 percent of all American households and is America's leading symbol for environmental improvement. Woodsy's appearance and message have recently been redesigned and revitalized. He now sports a backpack, hiking shoes, and field pants. His new slogan builds on his previous message: "Lend a hand--care for the land!" The Woodsy Owl campaign was officially launched by the Forest Service on September 15, 1971. In June 1974, Congress enacted a law establishing "Woodsy Owl"--with his slogan, "Give a hoot! Don't pollute!"--as a "symbol for a public service campaign to promote wise use of the environment and programs that foster maintenance and improvement of environmental quality."
Wildland Fire Management
The Wildland Fire Management program protects life, property, and natural resources on the 191 million acres of NFS lands. An additional 20 million acres of adjacent State and private lands are also protected through fee or reciprocal protection agreements. Wildland fire activities are conducted with the highest regard for public and firefighter safety.
Preparedness provides the basic fire organization and the capability to prevent forest fires and take prompt, effective initial attack suppression action on wildfires.
In FY 1997, 1.1 million acres of NFS lands received Hazardous Fuel Treatment to reduce the amount of hazardous fuels (combustible carbon from trees, understory growth, etc.). This was a 120-percent increase over the 1987-1996 average of 0.5 million acres. Fuel treatment benefits the health of the forest and can reduce the danger of catastrophic wildfire.
Suppression Operations provide for the suppression of wildfires on or threatening NFS lands or other lands under fire protection agreement.
In 1997, over 7,800 fires burned approximately 129,000 acres of NFS and other protected lands. The annual average is approximately 11,500 fires burning on 634,000 acres.
Cooperative Fire Protection
The Cooperative Fire Protection (CFP) program provides technical and financial assistance to State and volunteer fire departments to aid in the protection of over 1 billion acres of State and private lands.
The State Fire Assistance component of this program protects natural resources from fire on State and private lands. This is done through fire prevention efforts, training and equipping fire organizations, and aggressive initial attack to keep wildland fire ignitions small. Federal funds are cost-shared with State and local funds and help augment State protection needs. State and local fire organizations, capable of quickly and efficiently extinguishing wildland and wildland/urban interface fires, reduce risk to public safety, prevent resource loss, and help contain costs of fire suppression.
The Volunteer Fire Assistance component of the CFP improves the ability of America's 26,000 rural fire departments to protect lives, property, and natural resources in rural and wildland/urban interface areas. The focus of the Federal assistance is to provide adequate fire and personal safety equipment, provide training, and to organize new fire departments in unprotected communities.
Federal Excess Personnel Property is acquired by the Forest Service and loaned to State forestry agencies and their cooperators, rural fire departments, for wildland and rural community fire protection. In 1997, 11,271 excess property items valued at $128,008,876 were acquired and placed in service in the United States. In the past 42 years, this program has saved taxpayers of the United States over $1 billion.
Forests are critical to the global environment and the global economy. They are the source of food, raw material, shelter, and income for millions, and they provide sanctuary for people and habitat for wildlife. Forests filter and protect water supplies and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Agency research and development activities are conducted in areas requiring urgent policy and management action, including studies related to watershed health and restoration, sustainable forest management, economic and social values, and forest health.
Since its establishment in 1876, Forest Service Research and Development has become the world's single largest source of natural resource information. It includes:
The Forest Service Research and Development Program provides:
The Forest Service provides scientific and technological information to manage the Nation's forests and associated ecosystems. This includes studies in vegetation management, watersheds, fisheries, wildlife, forest products and recycling, insects and diseases, economics, forest and rangeland ecology, silviculture, fire ecology, fire prevention, ecosystem functioning, and recreation.
Priority research items include:
The agency spent approximately $700 million for goods and services in FY 1997. Over 72 percent of total contract and purchase order dollars went to small businesses. Awards included more than $49 million to small disadvantaged businesses and $29 million to women-owned firms.
Forest Service dollars benefited States, research, international organizations, and other organizations through a variety of grants and cooperative agreements totaling more than $273 million.
The agency managed approximately 22 million square feet of owned office and related space plus 6 million square feet of agency leased and General Services Administration-controlled space with an annual rental of $62 million. The agency also manages approximately 4,000 units of living quarters for employees valued at $375 million.
Property managers oversee more than $2.7 billion worth of Forest Service personal property, including property on loan to State forestry departments. The agency supports the President's initiative on recycling and emphasizes procurement and efficient disposal of recyclable materials. The agency national strategy for waste prevention and recycling is available via the Internet's World Wide Web at: http://www.fs.fed.us/land/recycle.html
Senior, Youth, and Volunteer Programs
Senior, Youth, and Volunteer Programs provide job opportunities, training, and education for the unemployed, underemployed, elderly, young, and others with special needs, while benefiting high-priority conservation work. In FY 1997, these programs included more than 134,000 participants and accomplished over $116 million in conservation work on Forest Service lands.
Through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, the Forest Service operates 18 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers on Forest Service lands. The Job Corps program is the only Federal residential education/training program for the Nation's disadvantaged youth.
Key Facts About Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers:
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The Senior Community Service Employment Program is designed to provide useful part- time employment and training for persons age 55 and over.
Key Facts About the Senior Community Service Employment
Program:
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In the Youth Conservation Corps summer employment program, persons aged 15-18 accomplish projects that further the development and conservation of the United States' natural resources.
Key Facts About the Youth Conservation Corps:
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The Volunteers in the National Forests program allows organizations and individuals to donate their talents and services to help manage the Nation's natural resources.
Key Facts About Volunteers in the National Forests:
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Hosted programs provide conservation training and work opportunities on national forests or in conjunction with Federal programs. Programs are administered through agreements with State and county agencies, colleges, universities, Indian tribes, and private and nonprofit organizations.
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Through a partnership with the National Forest Foundation, the Forest Service operated one Youth Forest Camp during the summer of 1997. Camp TIPS provided jobs, work training, and environmental education for persons aged 14-20.
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The Forest Service is a global conservation leader and the Office of International Programs (IP) promotes technical cooperation and develops support for sustainable forest management practices worldwide. In addition, many individual research relationships exist between Forest Service researchers and managers and their counterparts around the world.
IP is divided into three program areas: technical cooperation, policy, and disaster assistance support. Partners include other U.S. Government agencies, as well as international organizations such as the International Tropical Timber Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In addition, IP has developed numerous country-specific partnerships that promote training and technical exchange and tap into the diversity of experience within the Forest Service.
IP is involved with a wide variety of activities. Some examples from 1997 include: organizing a workshop on nontimber forest products in Central Africa; facilitating research to combat invasive pests in the United States; and coordinating Forest Service technical participation in response to drought, flood, and fire disasters in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
In addition, long-term partnerships include working with the Partners in Flight program to support neotropical migratory bird habitat restoration in Mexico, working with the Federal Forest Service of Russia to advance the ability of their fire ecologists and managers to more effectively use fire as a management tool, and working with the Indonesians to develop mapping technology for land management.
In the policy area, IP is working to develop criteria and indicators for international and forest level monitoring. Further policy work includes issue briefs that explore current issues affecting international and domestic forestry. Other efforts include providing Incident Command System training to foreign firefighters so that they are prepared to deal with wildfires when they arise, and promoting reduced impact harvesting techniques through a network of forestry research organizations.
Since October 1997, over 100 Forest Service employees representing each of the 10 regions as well as research stations have been involved in international forestry work. They have participated in international forestry meetings, conducted assessments of disaster situations, coordinated interagency response teams, and conducted original research. The partnerships that have developed and that are being encouraged enable a great exchange of ideas and techniques, which lead to more sustainable forestry practices, in this country and abroad.
Key Facts About the Impact of International Programs:
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The objective of the Forest Service law enforcement program is to serve people and protect natural resources and property within the authority and jurisdiction of the Forest Service. The program focuses on activities such as vandalism, archaeological resource violations, timber theft, wildland arson, and the cultivation and manufacture of illegal drugs.
Forest Service drug control efforts continue to focus on the detection, apprehension, and prosecution of persons responsible for illegal drug activities on the forests. Drug enforcement efforts annually result in the seizure of several million dollars’ worth of assets and the seizure and destruction of several million dollars' worth of marijuana and other drugs.
In FY 1997, 540 cooperative law enforcement agreements enhanced cooperation with State and local law enforcement agencies and with other Federal agencies to increase the protection and service to forest visitors. About 170 drug enforcement agreements were set up between the Forest Service, State and local law enforcement agencies, and other Federal agencies or task forces to cooperate in eliminating illegal drug activities in the National Forest System.
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As USDA's lead private lands conservation agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical assistance and administers a wide range of programs to solve the Nation's natural resource problems.
The well-being of our Nation depends on healthy, productive natural resources and their sustainable use. Just as soil, water, and habitat are interrelated, the programs that address these resources are interrelated, and programs that help one resource also benefit others. If you stop erosion, for example, you enhance soil productivity and protect water and air quality. Improving the environment enhances the economic future of communities throughout the United States.
The mission of NRCS is to provide national leadership, using a cooperative partnership approach, to help people conserve, improve, and sustain their natural resources and environment.
For more than 6 decades, NRCS employees have worked side-by-side with landowners, conservation districts, Resource Conservation and Development Councils, State and local governments, and urban and rural partners to restore and enhance the American landscape. The agency helps landowners and communities take a comprehensive approach in conservation planning, working toward an understanding of how all natural resources--soil, water, air, plants, animals--relate to each other and to humans. The agency works to solve the natural resource challenges on the Nation's private lands--reducing soil erosion, improving soil and rangeland health, protecting water quality and supply, conserving wetlands, and providing fish and wildlife habitat.
Most NRCS employees serve in USDA's network of local, county-based offices, including those in Puerto Rico and the Pacific Basin. The rest are at State, regional, and national offices, providing technology, policy, and administrative support. They serve all people who live and work on the land. Nearly three-fourths of the agency's technical assistance goes to helping farmers and ranchers develop conservation systems uniquely suited to their land and their ways of doing business.
The agency helps rural and urban communities curb erosion, conserve and protect water, and solve other resource problems. American Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, Pacific Islanders, and other native groups work with NRCS on a variety of initiatives that include resource inventories and the adaptation of conservation programs to fit the special needs of their people and their land. Also, countries around the globe seek NRCS advice on building their own conservation delivery systems and in coping with severe natural resource problems.
NRCS provides conservation technical assistance (CTA) to improve and conserve natural resources. This assistance is based on voluntary local landowner cooperation.
CTA is the foundation upon which NRCS delivers its services--through local conservation districts--to private landowners, communities, and others in their care of natural resources. CTA is the intellectual capital of the agency; it is made up of people who are well-trained and competent in soils and other physical and biological sciences, and who have the interpersonal skills and knowledge of local conditions to work with private landowners in the stewardship of our natural resources.
CTA provides the infrastructure through which the agency is able to respond to a multitude of needs from natural resource disasters to complex, site-specific natural resource problems. CTA is the means by which this Nation is able to voluntarily bring about land stewardship that improves our soil, water, wildlife, and air resources while providing for sustainable agricultural production. The investments in CTA return significant benefits to the American public--from an improved environment and quality of life to a safe and abundant food supply.
Following is an overview of NRCS programs:
Wetlands Reserve Program
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program to restore wetlands. Participating landowners can establish conservation easements of either permanent or 30-year duration, or can enter into restoration cost-share agreements where no easement is involved. In exchange for establishing a permanent easement, the landowner receives payment up to the agricultural value of the land, plus 100 percent of the restoration costs for restoring the wetland. The 30-year easement payment is 75 percent of what would be provided for a permanent easement on the same site, plus 75 percent of the restoration cost. The voluntary agreements are for a minimum 10-year duration and provide for 75 percent of the cost of restoring the involved wetlands.
Conservation Farm Option
The Conservation Farm Option was authorized as a pilot program for eligible producers of wheat, feed grains, cotton, and rice. The purpose of the program is to address the conservation of soil, water, and related resources; water quality; wetlands; wildlife habitat; and other resources. Producers who have contract acreage under production flexibility contracts are given an option of a 10-year contract with a single annual payment equivalent to the amount of the combined payments under the Conservation Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program works primarily in locally identified priority areas where there are significant natural resource concerns, such as soil erosion, water quality and quantity, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and forest and grazing lands. Priority is given to areas where State or local governments offer financial, technical, or educational assistance, and to areas where agricultural improvements will help meet water quality objectives. Activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan. The program offers financial, educational, and technical help to install or implement structural, vegetative, and management practices called for in 5- to 10-year contracts. Cost sharing may pay up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Nationally, half of the funding for this program is targeted to livestock- related natural resource concerns and the remainder to other significant conservation priorities.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program provides financial incentives to develop habitat for fish and wildlife on private lands. Participants agree to implement a wildlife habitat development plan, and USDA agrees to provide cost-share assistance for the initial implementation of wildlife habitat development practices. USDA and program participants enter into 5- to 10-year cost-share agreements for wildlife habitat development.
Farmland Protection Program
The Farmland Protection Program provides funds to State, tribal, or local government entities to help purchase development rights to keep productive farmland in agricultural use. Working through their existing programs, USDA joins with State, tribal, or local governments to acquire conservation easements or other interests from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the cost of purchasing the easements. To qualify, farmland must be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can support long-term agricultural production.
Conservation of Private Grazing Land
Conservation of Private Grazing Land will ensure that technical, educational, and related assistance is provided to those who own private grazing lands. The Nation’s more than 600 million acres of private grazing lands produce food and fiber, hold and carry important water resources, and offer wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.
Soil Surveys
NRCS conducts soil surveys cooperatively with other Federal agencies, land-grant universities, State agencies, and local units of government. Soil surveys provide the public with local information on the uses and capabilities of their soil resource. Soil surveys are based on scientific analysis and classification of the soils, and are used to determine land capabilities and conservation treatment needs. The published soil survey for a county or designated area includes maps and interpretations with explanatory information that is the foundation of resource policy, planning, and decisionmaking for Federal, State, county, and local community programs.
Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasts
NRCS field staff collect snow information through a network of about 600 Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) and 1,000 traditional snow courses to provide 11 Western States and Alaska with water supply forecasts. The data are collected, assembled, and analyzed to make about 4,000 annual water supply forecasts, which provide estimates of available annual yield, spring runoff, and summer stream flow. Water supply forecasts are used by individuals, organizations, and State and Federal agencies to make decisions relating to agricultural production, fish and wildlife management, flood control, recreation, power generation, and water quality management. The National Weather Service presently includes the snow information in its river level forecasts.
Plant Materials Centers
NRCS employees at 26 Plant Materials Centers assemble, test, and encourage increased plant propagation and usefulness of plant species for biomass production, carbon sequestration, erosion reduction, wetland restoration, water quality improvement, streambank and riparian area protection, coastal dune stabilization, and for meeting other special conservation treatment needs. The work is carried out cooperatively with State and Federal agencies, commercial businesses, and seed and nursery associations. After species are proven, they are released to the private sector for commercial production. In 1997, NRCS developed cultivars that were turned over to others to produce plant stock that generated more than $175 million in revenue for private sector nurseries and seed companies.
Small Watersheds Projects
The Small Watershed Program works through local government sponsors and helps participants solve natural resource and related economic problems on a specific watershed. Project purposes include watershed protection, flood prevention, erosion and sediment control, water supply, water quality, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, wetlands creation and restoration, and public recreation in watersheds of 250,000 or fewer acres. Both technical and financial assistance are available.
Emergency Watershed Protection
The Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program is designed to reduce threats to life and property in the wake of natural disasters. It provides technical and cost-sharing assistance. Assistance includes establishing vegetative cover; developing gully control; installing streambank protection devices; removing debris and sediment; and stabilizing levees, channels, and gullies. In subsequent storms, EWP projects protect homes, businesses, highways, and public facilities from further damage. Floodplain easements under EWP may be purchased to help prevent future losses due to natural disasters.
Watershed Operations
Under the Flood Control Act of 1944, NRCS is authorized to administer watershed works of improvement. Flood prevention operations include planning and installing works of improvement and land treatment measures for flood prevention; for the conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water; and for the reduction of sedimentation and erosion damages. This may also include the development of recreational facilities and the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat. Activities are authorized in 11 specific flood prevention projects covering about 35 million acres in 11 States.
River Basin Surveys and Investigations
NRCS cooperates with other Federal, State, and local agencies in conducting river basin surveys and investigations, flood hazard analysis, and flood plain management assistance to aid in developing coordinated water resource programs, including their guiding principles and procedures. Cooperative river basin studies are made up of agricultural, rural, and upstream water and land resources to identify resource problems and determine corrective actions needed. These surveys address a variety of natural resource concerns, including water quality improvement, opportunities for water conservation, wetland and water storage capacity, agricultural drought problems, rural development, municipal and industrial water needs, upstream flood damages, and water needs for fish, wildlife, and forest-based industries. Flood plain management assistance includes the identification of flood hazards and the location and use of wetlands. NRCS represents USDA on river basin regional entities and River Basin Interagency Committees for coordination among Federal Departments and States.
Forestry Incentives Program
The Forestry Incentives Program supports good forest management practices on privately owned, nonindustrial forest land nationwide. The program is designed to benefit the environment while meeting future demand for wood products. Eligible practices are tree planting, timber stand improvement, site preparation for natural regeneration, and related activities. The program is available in counties designated by a Forest Service survey of eligible private timber acreage.
Resource Conservation and Development Program
The Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program provides a framework for local people to join together to improve their community’s economy, environment, and living standards. RC&D areas are locally organized, sponsored, and directed. USDA provides technical and financial assistance and helps sponsor secure funding and services from Federal, State, and local sources. The major emphases are environmental conservation and rural development. Currently there are more than 300 RC&D areas covering more than 75 percent of the United States. Each year, these locally organized and directed areas create thousands of new jobs, protect thousands of miles of water bodies, conserve hundreds of thousands of acres of land, and improve the quality of life in hundreds of communities.
RC&D areas are run by a council of volunteers who serve without pay; currently more than 20,000 people donate their time and talents to improve their communities through this program. USDA provides a coordinator to work full-time with each area to help them implement their objectives.
National Resources Inventory
Every 5 years, NRCS develops an inventory of the condition and trends of natural resources on non-Federal land. The "National Resources Inventory," or NRI, contains the most comprehensive and statistically reliable data of its kind in the world. It measures trends in soil erosion by water and wind, wetland losses, prime farmland acreage, irrigation, and habitat and conservation treatment at national, regional, State, and sub-State levels.
National Conservation Buffer Initiative
In April 1997, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced a new public-private partnership called the National Conservation Buffer Initiative. The goal is to help landowners install 2 million miles of conservation buffers by the year 2002.
Conservation buffers are areas or strips of land maintained in permanent vegetation and designed to intercept pollutants. Buffers can be installed along streams or in uplands-- within crop fields, at the edge of crop fields, or outside the margins of a field.
The National Conservation Buffer Initiative is a multi-year effort led by NRCS, in cooperation with other USDA agencies, State conservation agencies, conservation districts, agribusinesses, and agricultural and environmental organizations. Six national agricultural corporations have pledged nearly $1 million over the next 3 years to complement USDA’s efforts to promote conservation buffers.
To date, approximately 595,000 acres--or nearly 165,280 miles--of buffers have been established under the Conservation Reserve Program continuous sign-up. Agricultural producers and other landowners who install buffers can improve soil, air, and water quality; enhance wildlife habitat; restore biodiversity; and create scenic landscapes.
International Programs
NRCS helps improve the management and conservation of natural resources globally. Participation in collaborative efforts with other countries results in benefits to the United States. During FY 1997, NRCS specialists completed 490 assignments in 47 countries. The objectives of the assignments were to provide short- and long-term technical assistance and leadership for the development of natural resource conservation programs and projects, and to exchange conservation technology with countries that face soil and water conservation issues similar to those in this country.
NRCS provided opportunities for approximately 210 foreign nationals from more than 25 countries to gain a better understanding of natural resource conservation activities by observing and discussing conservation programs in the United States.
Agricultural Air Quality
The 1996 Farm Bill established a Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality to make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture with regard to the scientific basis for agriculture's impact on air quality. This task force is to strengthen and coordinate USDA air quality research efforts to determine the extent to which agricultural activities contribute to air pollution and to identify cost-effective ways in which the agricultural industry can improve air quality. The task force is also charged with ensuring that data quality and interpretation are sound. The Farm Bill requires that policy recommendations made by any Federal agency with respect to agricultural air quality issues must be based on sound scientific findings, subject to peer review, and must consider economic feasibility.
Backyard Conservation Campaign
NRCS has developed a new Backyard Conservation campaign to inform urban, suburban, and rural residents of the good conservation work being done by farmers and ranchers. At the same time, it encourages them to adopt miniature versions of the same practices in their own backyards, such as composting, mulching, tree planting, nutrient management, and water conservation.
Farmers and ranchers are already making progress in natural resource conservation by protecting and restoring wetlands, enhancing wildlife habitat, and curbing soil erosion. There are nearly 2 billion acres of land in the United States. Most of that land, 1.4 billion acres, is managed by farmers and ranchers. More than 92 million acres, however, are privately developed and much of it is tended by homeowners. These homeowners can join the conservation tradition of farmers and ranchers right in their own backyards to curb water pollution and enhance wildlife habitat.
For more information on this campaign or on other agency programs, visit the NRCS web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov
| FOREST SERVICE Officer of Communications Director 202-205-1760 2CEN-Aud Washington, DC 20250
George Lennon glennon/wo@fs.fed.us FAX 202-205-0885
Media Officer 202-205-1134 2CEN-Aud Washington, DC 20250
Alan Polk apolk/wo@fs.fed.us FAX 202-205-0885
Program Director 202-205-1780 2CEN-Aud Washington, DC 20250
Carl Holguin cholmes/wo@fs.fed.us FAX 202-205-0885
Program Director 202-205-1781 2CEN-Aud Washington, DC 20250
Denver James djames/wo@fs.fed.us FAX 202-205-0885
Photo, Video Ser.(Acting)202-205-1719 2Cen-Aud Washington, DC 20250
Mary Jane Senter msenter/wo@fs.fed.us FAX 202-205-0885
FOIA Officer 703-235-9488 1012-RPE Arlington, VA 22209
Naomi Charboneau naomi.charboneau/wo@fs.fed.us FAX 703-235-9498
FS REGIONAL INFORMATION OFFICES
Northern Reg. Officer 406-329-3089 P.O.Box 7669-Fed. Building
Beth Horn FAX 406-329-3411 Missoula, MT 59807
bhorn/rl@fs.fed.us
Rocky Mountain Region 303-275-5135 P.O.B. 25127-11177 W.8th Ave
Steve DeiTemeyer FAX 303-275-5366 Lakewood, CO 80225
sdeitemeyer/r2@fs.fed.us
Southwest Region 505-842-3290 517 Gold Ave., SW, Fed.Bldg.
Carolyn Bye FAX 505-842-3457 Albuquerque, NM 87l02
cbye/r3@fs.fed.us
Intermountain Region 801-625-5347 324 25th St. Fed. Bldg.
Robert Swinford FAX 801-625-5240 Ogden, UT 84401
bob.swinfore/r4@fs.fed.us
Pacific SW Region 415-705-2804 630 Sansome Street
Marilyn Hartley FAX 415-705-1097 San Francisco, CA 94111
mhartley/r5@fs.fed.us
Pacific NW Region 503-808-2971 P.O.B 3623 - 333 S. First St
Al Matecko FAX 503-808-2229 Portland, OR 97208
amatecko/r6@fs.fed.us
Southern Region 404-347-7226 1720 Peachtree Rd, NW
Angela Coleman FAX 404-347-3808 Atlanta, GA 30367
acoleman/r8@fs.fed.us
Eastern Region 414-297-3640 310 W. Wisconsin Ave., Rm 500
Sherry Wagner FAX 414-297-3808 Milwaukee, WI 53203
swagner/r9@fs.fed.us
Alaska Region 907-586-8803 P.O.Box 21628 - Fed. Bldg.
Pamela Finney FAX 907-586-7892 Juneau, AK 99802
pfinney/r10@fs.fed.us
NE Area State-Private 610-975-4186 100 Matsonford Road, Rm 200
Jill Cherpack FAX 610-975-4177 Radnor, PA 19087-4585
jcherpac/na@fs.fed.us
FS RESEARCH STATIONS COMMUNICATIONS OFFICES
Forest Products Lab. 608-231-9314 One Gifford Pinchot Drive
Debra Dietzman FAX 608-231-9592 Madison, WI 53705-2398
debra.dietzman/fpl@fs.fed.us
N. Central Research Stat. 612-649-5276 1992 Folwell Avenue
Mike Prouty FAX 612-649-5285 St. Paul, MN 55108
mprouty/nc@fs.fed.us
Northeast Research Station 610-975-4112 100 Matsonford Rd., Rm 200
Deidra McGee FAX 614-368-0152 Radnor, PA 19087
dmcgee/ne@fs.fed.us
Pacific NW Research Stat. 503-808-2137 P.O. Box 3890
Sherri Richardson FAX 503-326-2455 Portland, OR 97208
sherri.richards/r6pnw@fs.fed.us
Pacific SW Research Stat. 530-242-2465 2400 Washington Ave.
Connie Gill FAX 530-242-2460 Redding, CA 96001
cgill/psw@fs.fed.us
Rocky Mtn. Res. Station 970-498-2340 240 W. Prospect Road
Rick Fletcher FAX 303-498-1660 Fort Collins, CO 80526-2098
charlesr.fletcher/rmrs@fs.fed.us
Dave Tippets 801-625-5434 324 25th Street, Federal Bld.
FAX 801-625-5129 Ogden, UT 84401
dtippets/rmrs,ogdens@fs.fed.us
Southern Res. Station 704-257-4389 P.O. Box 2680
Carol Ferguson FAX 704-257-4330 Asheville, NC 28802
carol.ferguson/srs@fs.fed.us
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
Dir., Conservation Comm. Staff 202-720-3210 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
David C. White dave.white@usda.gov FAX 202-720-1564
Program Assistant 202-720-3210 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
Joyce Hawkins joyce.hawkins@usda.gov FAX 202-720-1564
Public Affairs Specialist 202-690-0547 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
Mary Cressel mary.cressel@usda.gov FAX 202-690-1221
Public Affairs Specialist 202-720-3876 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
June Davidek june.davidek@usda.gov FAX 202-690-1221
Visual Information Specialist 202-720-5157 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
Robert Gresh robert.gresh@usda.gov FAX 202-720-9925
Editorial Assistant 202-720-6243 Rm 6116-S Washington, DC 20013
Sandy Grimm sandy.grimm@usda.gov FAX 202-690-1221
Public Affairs Specialist 202-720-4649 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
Fred Jacobs fred.jacobs@usda.gov FAX 202-690-1221
Public Affairs Specialist 202-720-5776 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
Ted Kupelian ted.kupelian@usda.gov FAX 202-690-1221
Public Affairs Specialist 202-720-2536 Rm 6116-S Washington, DC 20013
Tom Levermann tlevermann@usda.gov FAX 202-690-1221
Visual Information Specialist 202-720-4244 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
Chris Lozos chris.lozos@usda.gov FAX 202-690-1221
Public Affairs Specialist 202-720-4772 Rm 6123-S Washington, DC 20013
Diana Morse diana.morse@usda.gov Fax 202-690-1221
Printing Specialist 202-720-5157 Rm 0054E-S Washington, DC 20013
Doug Wilson doug.wilson@usda.gov Fax 202-720-6009
Freedom of Info Act Office 202-720-9348 Mezzanine 1 Cotton Anx.
Wilda Grant wgrant@usda.gov Washington, DC 20013
FAX 202-690-3174
Natural Resources Conservation Service State Public Affairs Contacts
St. Pub. Aff. Specialist Telephone Fax Internet E-mail
AL Joan Smith 334-887-4530 334-887-4551 jlsmith@al.nrcs.usda.gov
665 Opelika Road, Auburn, AL 36830-0311
AK Vacant 907-271-2424 907-271-3951
949 East 36th Avenue, Suite 400, Anchorage, AK 99508-4362
AZ Mary Ann McQuinn 602-280-8778 602-280-8809 mmcquinn@az.nrcs.usda.gov
3003 North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85012-2945
AR Suzanne Pugh 501-324-5464 501-324-6138 mpugh@ar.nrcs.usda.gov
Fed. Bldg., Rm 5404, 700 W. Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201-3228
CA Anita Brown 530-757-8241 530-757-8217 abrown@ca.nrcs.usda.gov
2121-C 2nd Street, Suite 102, Davis, CA 95616-5475
CO Petra Barnes 303-236-2886 303-236-2896 pbarnes@co.nrcs.usda.gov
655 Parfet Street, Room E200C, Lakewood, CO 80215-5517
CT Carolyn Miller(acting)860-487-4062 860-487-4054 cmiller@ct.nrcs.usda.gov
16 Professional Park Road, Storrs, CT 06268-1299
DE Paul Petrichenko 302-678-4178 302-678-0843 ppetrichenko@de.nrcs.usda.gov
1203 College Park Drive, Suite 101, Dover, DE 19904-8713
FL Dorothy Staley 352-338-9565 352-338-9574 dstaley@fl.nrcs.usda.gov
2614 N.W. 43rd Street, Gainesville, FL 32606-6611
GA Art Greenberg 706-546-2273 706-546-2276 art@ga.nrcs.usda.gov
Federal Building, Box 13, 355 East Hancock Ave., Athens, GA 30601-2769
HI Jolene Lau 808-541-2600 808-541-2652 lau@hi.nrcs.usda.gov
300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 4316, Honolulu, HI 96850-0002
ID Sharon Norris 208-378-5725 208-378-5735 snorris@id.nrcs.usda.gov
3244 Elder Street, Room 124, Boise, ID 83705-4711
IL Paige Mitchell 630-505-7808 630-505-7992 paige.mitchell@il.nrcs.usda.gov
1902 Fox Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-7335
IN Michael McGovern 317-290-3222 317-290-3225 mmcgovern@in.nrcs.usda.gov
6013 Lakeside Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46278-2933
IA Lynn Betts 515-284-4262 515-284-4394 lbetts@ia.nrcs.usda.gov
693 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-2180
KS Vacant 785-823-4570 785-823-4540 mschaffer@ks.nrcs.usda.gov
760 South Broadway, Salina, KS 67401
KY Lois Jackson 606-224-7772 606-224-7393 ljackson@kcc.fsa.usda.gov
771 Corporate Drive, Suite 110, Lexington, KY 40503-5479
LA Herb Bourque 318-473-7762 318-473-7771 hbourque@las02.la.nrcs.usda.gov
3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302-3727
ME Elaine Tremble 207-866-7241 207-866-7262 etremble@me.nrcs.usda.gov
5 Godfrey Drive, Orono, ME 04473
MD Carol Hollingsworth 410-757-0861 410-757-0687 chollingsworth@md.nrcs.usda.gov
John Hanson BC, 339 Bucsh's Frontage Rd., #30, Annapolis, MD 21401-5534
MA Alyssa Aldrich 978-692-1904 978-392-1305 aaldrich@ma.nrcs.usda.gov
451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002-2995
MI Christina Coulon 517-337-6701 517-337-6905 ccoulon@ma.nrcs.usda.gov
1405 South Harrison Road, Room 101, East Lansing, MI 48823-5243
MN Sylvia Rainford 612-602-7859 612-602-7914 str@mn.nrcs.usda.gov
600 Farm Credit Building, 375 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-1854
MS Jeannine May 601-965-4337 601-965-4536 jbm@ms.nrcs.usda.gov
Fed. Bldg., Suite 1321, 100 W. Capitol St., Jackson, MS 39269-1399
MO Norm Klopfenstein 573-876-0911 573-876-0913 normk@mo.nrcs.usda.gov
Parkade Ctr., #250, 601 Business Loop, 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203-2546
MT Lori Valadez 406-587-6842 406-587-6761 lvaladez@mt.nrcs.usda.gov
Fed. Bldg., Room 443, 10 East Babcock Street, Bozeman, MT 59715-4704
NE Pat McGrane 402-437-5328 402-437-5327 pat.mcgrane@ne.nrcs.usda.gov
Fed. Bldg., Rm 152, 100 Centennial Mall, North, Lincoln, NE 68508-3866
NV Liz Warner 702-784-5288 702-784-5939 lwarner@nv.nrcs.usda.gov
5301 Longley Lane, Building F, Suite 201, Reno, NV 89511
NH Lynn Howell 603-868-7581 603-868-5301 lhowell@nh.nrcs.usda.gov
Federal Building, 2 Madbury Road, Durham, NH 03824-1499
NJ Irene Lieberman 732-246-1171 732-246-2358 ilieberman@nj.nrcs.usda.gov
1370 Hamilton Street, Somerset, NJ 08873-3157
NM Rebecca de la Torre 505-761-4404 505-761-4463 rdelatorre@nm.nrcs.usda.gov
6200 Jefferson, NE, Suite 305, Albuquerque, NM 87109-3734
NY Cynthia Portalatin Valles 315-477-6505 315-477-6550 cvalles@ny.nrcs.usda.gov
441 S. Salina Street, 5th Floor, Suite 354, Syracuse, NY 13202-2450
NC Andrew Smith 919-873-2107 919-873-2156 asmith@nc.nrcs.usda.gov
4405 Bland Road, Suite 205, Raleigh, NC 27609-6293
ND Arlene Deutscher 701-250-4768 701-250-4778 ajd@nd.nrcs.usda.gov
Fed. Bldg., Room 278, 220 East Rosser Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58502-1458
OH Latawnya Dia 614-469-6962 614-469-2083 latawnya.dia@oh.nrcs.usda.gov
200 North High Street, Room 522, Columbus, OH 43215-2748
OK Dwain Phillips 405-742-1243 405-742-1201 dphillips@ok.nrcs.usda.gov
100 USDA, Suite 203, Stillwater, OK 74074-2654
OR Gayle Norman 503-414-3236 503-414-3101 gnorman@or.nrcs.usda.gov
101 SW 3rd Ave., Rm. 1640, Portland, OR 97204-2881
PAC Vacant 671-472-7490 700-550-7288 pacbas@ite.net
BAS FHB Building, Suite 301, 400 Route 8, Maite, GU 96927
PA Stacy Mitchell 717-237-2208 717-237-2238 smitchell@pa.nrcs.usda.gov
1 Credit Union Place, Suite 340, Harrisburg, PA 17110-2993
PR Becky Fraticelli 787-766-5206 787-766-5987 becky@pr.nrcs.usda.gov
IBM Bldg., 6th fl. 654 Munoz Riveria Ave., Hato Rey, PR 00918-7013
RI Vacant 401-828-1300 401-828-0433
60 Quaker Lane, Suite 46, Warwick, RI 02886-0111
SC Perdita Belk 803-765-5402 803-253-3670 pbelk@sc.nrcs.usda.gov
Strom Thurmond FB, 1835 Assembly St., Rm 950, Columbia, SC 29201-2489
SD Joyce Watkins 605-352-1227 605-352-1261 joyce.watkins@sd.nrcs.usda.gov
Federal Building, 200 4th Street, SW, Huron, SD 57350-2475
TN Larry Blick 615-736-5490 615-736-7764 lblick@tn.nrcs.usda.gov
675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203-3878
TX Harold Bryant 254-742-9811 254-298-1388 hbryant@tx.nrcs.usda.gov
W.R. Poage Fed. Bldg., 101 South Main Street, Temple, TX 76501-7682
UT Ron Nichols 801-524-5050 801-524-4403 rnichols@ut.nrcs.usda.gov
W. F. Bennett FB, 125 S. State St., Rm 4402, Salt Lake City, UT 84138
VT Anne Hilliard 802-951-6796 802-951-6327 ahilliard@vt.nrcs.usda.gov
69 Union Street, Winooski, VT 05404-1999
VA Pat Paul 804-287-1681 804-287-1737 ppaul@va.nrcs.usda.gov
Culpeper Bldg., #209, 1606 Santa Rosa Rd., Richmond, VA 23229-5014
WA Chris Bieker 509-323-2912 509-323-2909 cbielcer@wa.nrcs.usda.gov
Rock Pointe Tower II, W. 316 Boone Ave., #450, Spokane, WA 99201-2348
WV Peg Reese 304-291-4152 304-291-4628 preese@wv.nrcs.usda.gov
75 High Street, Room 301, Morgantown, WV 26505
WI Renae Anderson 608-264-5341 608-264-5483 randerso@wi.nrcs.usda.gov
6515 Watts Road, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53719-2726
WY Nancy Atkinson 307-261-6482 307-261-6490 natkinson@wy.nrcs.usda.gov
Fed. Bldg., 100 East B Street, Room 3124, Casper, WY 82601-1911
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