FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION (R5)
VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST
RECOVERY PROCEDURES
CHAPTER - ZERO CODE
Amendment No.: R5 6509.22-2015-1
Effective Date: 10/2/2015
Duration: This amendment expires 5 years from the effective date unless superseded or
removed earlier.
Approved: Randy Moore, Regional Forester
Date Approved: 9/11/2015
Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by title and calendar year.
Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this amendment. Retain this
transmittal as the first page(s) of this document.
Last Change: 6509.22-2014-01 to Chapter 20
New Document: 6509.22_00, 3 Pages
Superseded Document(s): 6509.22-2010-1, Chapter 00
Digest: Completed 5-year review and converted to a 508 compliant format.
CHAPTER - ZERO CODE
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
01 - AUTHORITY
Title 31 of the US Code, Section 3711(a)(1) and Section 901.1(a) of Title 31 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (31 CFR 901.1(a)) provides the authority to pursue the collection of costs
incurred by the Forest Service. For further direction on related authorities, see FSM 2400
Timber Management, FSM 5300 Law Enforcement, and FSH 5309.11 Law Enforcement
Handbook.
02 - OBJECTIVE
Establish consistent guidelines to carry out the requirements in developing the costs associated
with damage to National Forest property and natural resources resulting from trespass fires.
03 - POLICY
The procedures provided in this Handbook must be used at all organizational levels for
developing Resource Damage Assessments; unless other direction is provided by the Regional
Office.
04 - RESPONSIBILITY
04.1 - REGIONAL OFFICE, DIRECTOR OF ECOSYSTEM
MANAGEMENT
The responsibility of the Regional Office, Director of Ecosystem Management is to:
1.
Coordinate the need for periodic revisions of this Handbook with Law Enforcement,
our attorneys, and the Albuquerque Service Center.
2.
Provide the Unit a contact in the Regional Office, name of the lead OGC attorney,
and the ASC Claims specialist assigned to a case.
3.
Provide technical assistance to the Units in preparing the Resource Damage
Assessment.
04.2 - REGIONAL OFFICE, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
AND BUDGET
The responsibility of the Regional Office, Director of Program Development and Budget is to:
1.
Provide the Unit a unique job code, which will be used to charge the costs for
assessment of damages.
2.
Provide technical assistance to the Units in preparing the Resource Damage
Assessment.
04.3 - FOREST SUPERVISOR
The responsibility of each forest supervisor is to:
1.
Develop a plan for completing a detailed Resource Damage Assessment and
prepare the appropriate project work plans and job codes to assure accurate
planning and cost accounting by damage assessment activity.
2.
Maintain all financial records in hard copy format as well as electronically at the unit.
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CHAPTER - ZERO CODE
R5 FSH 6509.22 - FIRE DAMAGES AND COST RECOVERY PROCEDURES
Amendment No.:R5 6509.22-2015-1 - Effective Date: 10/2/2015
3.
Determine and document Burned Area Report (BAER; FS-2500-8) and all other
resource damages and associated costs, collectively called the Resource Damage
Assessment.
4.
Prepare detailed estimates of the restoration or replacement costs for each
improvement (e.g., structures, signs, campground facilities etc.) damaged or
destroyed by the fire.
5.
Determine the value of killed or severely damaged timber as a result of the trespass
fire.
6.
Determine the costs of reforestation.
7.
Determine all future costs for work now planned as a result of the fire, including
monitoring in all project areas.
8.
Prepare a detailed report explaining and supporting the resource damage costs.
Include a narrative that describes the losses in qualitative terms and that also
conveys the impacts of the resources damaged or destroyed and the significance of
the impacts.
9.
Submit the Resource Damage Assessment to the Albuquerque Service Center as a
final document as of the date of submittal.
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