getting prepared-part two analyzing issues preparing analysis defending your proposal getting help...
TRANSCRIPT
Getting Prepared-Part Two
• Analyzing issues
• Preparing Analysis
• Defending Your Proposal
• Getting help
Donald Parks18Oct15
Agenda
• Issue Analyses– Examples
• Analysis Approach• Where is the Information?• Assembling the documentation
– Briefing Books• Resources to Help
Issue Analysis
First Consideration:• History can give clues to potential problem areas• Issues can side track or doom your proposal• Wrong/misleading statements can destroy your credibility• Do not allow campaign to be surprised
Some Issues will drive the campaign?
First Cut at Evaluation:• Substantive or philosophical?• Needs research?• Answered by 1-3 sentences?• Answers compelling?• Is deeper analysis required?
Issue Analysis (continued)
Must know specifications of your proposal:
Examples:• Underlying management plan direction and acreage• Non-federal ownerships
– Who owns & owner objectives– Location & acreage
• Miles of trails & usage – in & near proposal
• Roads analyses inside & outside proposal– Open/closed/decommissioned
• Implications for commodity outputs (grazing, timber, minerals)• Plans for future development• Location of each non-conforming use
Issue Analysis (continued)
Briefing papers can address multiple issues
Example titles:Conservation History of Alpine Lakes 1946-2013Implications for:
– Road/Trail Construction & Access– Adjacent Stakeholders (to proposal)– Energy Development– Recreational Use– Logging, Mining Commodity Production
Addressed Issues (during campaign)Responses to Issues Raised by USFS Congressional TestimonyStakeholder Consultation with Upper Snoqualmie Valley Elk Management GroupSurvey of Potential Opponents to Alpine Lakes Wilderness & Additions and Wild Pratt River Act
Issue Analysis (continued)
Examples where deeper Analyses maybe needed
Historic mining and explorationTimber supply analysesValue of recreation to local economiesChanges to recreation opportunitiesVitality of local economiesProposal impacts to Local jobs and Income
Analysis ApproachEstablish ‘Baseline’ when assessing implications of output changes• Establish current outputs before proposal implemented
– Metrics: acres of land; cows; log volumes; jobs
Impact Analyses• Estimate outputs with proposal implemented• Estimate change between current (baseline) & proposal
– Output change is “impact” of interest
Use of Context• Compare “impacts” from proposal w/several geographies (%)
– NF level; county or counties; regional outputs• Think about output changes from other causes• Use analyses by non-interested parties
Analysis Approach (continued)
Guidance:
• Information may change or evolve
• Be conservative in your analyses – Scrutinize outputs– Never ‘lowball’ estimates of impact
• Cite sources liberally
• Protect your credibility as if you had none!
Issue Analysis--Example
Issue Analysis--ExampleAlpine Lakes Wilderness Additions
Land Allocations, 8th Congressional District
71.6%
0.1%
1.5%
0.5%
14.4%
6.0% 6.0%
Matrix-unproductive
Matrix-productive forest land
LSR-late successional reseves
AW-administrative withdrawls
LSOG & undefined allocations
WA State DNR
Cave Ridge donation
Source: Core GIS LLC, Matt Stevenson and USFS GIS Data 19-Mar-09
Total Area: 22,100 acres
[1]
[1]-Matrix-unproductive: The portion of matrix is made up of non-forest land, lands with unstable soils, and lands within NW Forest Plan Reserves[2] Matrix-productive forest land: Forested acres that contribute to probable sale quantity (PSQ)
[2]
Issue Analysis (continued)
Issue Analysis (continued)
Issue Analysis (continued)
Source: WA Labor Market & Economic Analysis Branch data, 9Oct15
Where to Find Needed Information?Land management agencies:• Current/historic planning documents• Historic project documentations (EA’s, EIS’s, other)
Land management research offices• Ecosystem studies, scientific reports,…• Example: USFS Research Stations (WA-OR Region, Portland)
Economic Data from State Employment Agencies• Employment reports; special county level studies, special
industry sector studies• Example: WA State Labor Market & Economic Analyses Branch
Federal Agency Data• Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analyses,
Bureau of the Census, Department Agriculture,…..
Where to Find Needed Information?(continued)
Non-Governmental Sources:• Headwaters Economics
– Many reports available on-line– Special tools for unique reports, no learning curve!– See: Headwaters Economics newsletter@
headwaterseconomics.org
• ECONorthwest (Eugene, OR)
• Universities (U of Oregon for example)
Assembling Documentation
Important Considerations• Who are customers?
– Campaign management team– Congressional Champions– Certain pieces of info for a few others? Be selective– Distribution very limited
• Who must not have this Briefing Book info?– Federal Management Agencies– Media– Opposition
• How to Assemble Information?– Create a ‘briefing book’– Example to follow
Assembling Documentation (continued)
Example Briefing Book Table of Contents
•Legislative Information–Senate Bill Text
–House Bill Text
–Legislative Proposal Map (USFS)
–Legislative Proposal Map (CoreGIS)
•Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Values–Wilderness Additions Fact Sheet
–Wild & Scenic River Fact Sheet
–General Wilderness Q&A
–General Wild & Scenic River Q&A
–Photo Options
Assembling Proposal Descriptions(continued)
•Outreach Summary–Stakeholder Consultation Document-all contacts
–Endorsement List
–Letters of Support•Every public official, state/local who endorsed•Every Conservation/Recreation Group who endorsed•Hunting & Fishing Organizations who endorsed•Religious Leaders who endorsed•Recreation Industry who endorsed•Mountains To Sound Greenway•Emerging Rivers Local Business Letter•Every Local Business who endorsed•Every Land Conservancy that endorsed•Stakeholder Support Letter (5/5/11)
–Testimonials
Assembling Proposal Descriptions (continued) •Issues of Potential Interest
–Addressed Issues Fact Sheet
–Potential Implications for Forest & Wildlife Management• Stakeholder Consultation with USVEMG
–Potential Implications for Adjacent Stakeholders•Initial Goldmyer Letter•Coalition Response Document to Initial Goldmyer Letter
–Potential Implications for Recreational Use
–Potential Implications for Road & Trails Construction and Access
–Potential Implications for Logging Mining & Commodity Production•ALPS Economic Impact Assessment 011908•Background on Past Mining Activity & Mineral Potential for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions•Mining Claim Map•Mining Fact Sheet
–Potential Implications for Energy Development
–Remnants of Historic Human Activities
–Potential Implications on Flood Management
Assembling Proposal Descriptions(continued)
•Media Coverage–02/13/2013 - SnoValley Star "Alpine Lakes Bill reintroduced in U.S. Congress"
–02/05/2013 - Seattle Times, LETTER (Meg Town), "Alpine Lakes Should be Expanded”
(every local print or electronic media story listed)
Why Prepare Detailed Boundary Definitions?•Forces attention to detail•Builds credibility•Increases potential for Champions to use our map when they introduce legislation•And, when bill passes…..
(B) MAP AND DESCRIPTION-
(i) IN GENERAL- As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall file a map and a legal description of the land designated as wilderness by paragraph (1) with—
(I) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(II) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(ii) FORCE OF LAW- A map and legal description filed under clause (i) shall have the same force and effect as if included in this section, except that the Secretary may correct minor errors in the map and legal description.
• Agency makes corrections in their favour
Club Resources & Other?
Internally:Wildlands Grass-Roots Network TeamOrganizing DepartmentClubhouse websiteGrass-Roots Network websitesOur Wild America Leadership TeamLocal Activists with experienceOther Club staff with experience
Externally:Other NGO’s with lands & waters experienceRetired Agency personnelOther retired specialists
Questions?
Donald Parks18Oct15