SNEP ASSIGNMENT
Administration
Scope of SNEP
Technical Framework
Public Participation
Summary
FACA
CURRENT PAGE:
2 of 13
|
|
Additional Congressional Direction
Four legislators wrote the chief of the U.S. Forest Service to offer clarification
of both H.R. 5503 and H.R. 6013. In their letter, which SNEP later used for clarification,
they reemphasized that the scientific study of the Sierra Nevada should address the six objectives described in H.R. 6013 and that reports should be submitted for peer
review before they are submitted to Congress.
Steering Committee Guidance
The Steering Committee, which oversaw SNEP (see Administration), further interpreted
H.R. 5503 and H.R. 6013 in a charter to SNEP. In this document, the Steering Committee
called for a two-part study:
1. An evaluation of available data, literature, assessments, maps, and related information
to provide an inventory of old-growth and other associated ecosystems, including
provisional strategies for management of these ecosystems.
2. An ecosystem study of the entire Sierra Nevada, including assessments, alternatives,
and environmental, social, and economic consequences of provisional strategies.
The Steering Committee further clarified the assignment in stating that assessments
are to include the following:
A social overview of historic, current, and projected human influences and anthropogenic
effects on the Sierra Nevada ecosystem.
An economic overview of the current market and nonmarket economic effects of historic,
current, and projected management scenarios.
Resource inventories with an estimate of pre-Euro-American conditions that can be
used as a benchmark to describe ecosystem changes; the inventories should evaluate
the major geologic, climatic, physical, and biological conditions that influence
ecosystem development within the Sierra Nevada.
A special-feature assessment that identifies the remaining old-growth stands and the
key features or definitions used to describe this resource.
Examination of the Mediated Settlement Agreement, Section B, Sequoia Groves (Sequoia
National Forest) and recommendations for scientifically based mapping and management
of giant sequoia groves.
Evaluation of the health status and sustainability of the Sierra Nevada ecosystems.
Identification of the processes, activities, and other factors that affect the health
conditions and trends of Sierra Nevada ecosystems (drought, fire and fire suppression,
timber harvest and forest practices, disease infestations, livestock grazing, urban and residential development, water projects, forest regeneration, soil erosion,
and air quality); a quantitative assessment of risk in each area must be included
to the degree in which credible data exist.
Assessment of the past, current, and likely future effects of water resource management
strategies on aquatic ecosystems in the Sierra Nevada.
Descriptions and analysis of the analytical models used in all assessments, including
sensitivity analysis of the projected values.
Research gaps and data needs.
In addition, alternatives were to include the following:
A range of management scenarios for maintaining the health and sustainability of the
Sierra Nevada ecosystems while providing resources to meet human needs.
A wide range of themes or objectives; for example, alternatives could emphasize specific
themes of (a) establishment of coarse- or fine-grain filter strategies (or combinations
thereof) to enhance or maintain natural ecological values, (b) intensified zoning to emphasize featured uses or activities, and (c) natural values, recreational
values, or commodity values.
Environmental, social, and economic consequences, evaluated with regard to each alternative
and using a wide range of criteria, including temporal and spatial effects.
The Steering Committee called for peer review of publications, products, assessments,
and reports completed by the Science Team.
|
