Enclosure 4A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Fuels Utilization and Marketing Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Southwest Oregon Resource Conservation and Development Council
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-476-5906
541-955-9574
sw_oregon@fastmail.fm
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
576 NE E Street, Grants Pass, OR 97526
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Bob Jones, Chair/Amy Wilson, Council Coordinator
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Southwest Oregon Resource Conservation and Development Council
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-476-5906
541-955-9574
sw_oregon@fastmail.fm
Project Information
Project Title:
Southern Oregon Small Diameter Utilization Yard Trial
Proposed Project Start Date:
April 1, 2004
Proposed Project End Date:
March 31, 2005
Federal Funding Request:
$ 205,550
Total Project Funding:
$ 343,990
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Yes. The Clearinghouse is our #1 priority due to the
broad scope of its impact; the Utilization Yard is a re-submittal of a project submitted to region 5 in the last cycle, which will provide
useful information and support for the clearinghouse project.
Brief Project Description:
This pilot utilization yard will collect sub-merchantable small diameter material from private and
public fuels reduction projects, sort for highest use, and process material through machines colocated at the utilization yard, (to include a small log sorter, an economizer mini-mill, a post and
pole machine, and a chipper. This utilization yard trial will be coordinated through the Marketing
Clearinghouse. It will build upon the fuels reduction projects of the Medford Area BLM (Boaz 2003)
and the Medford Water Commission’s forest health project. The Watershed Research and Training
Center of Hayfork, CA will provide machinery, training, and technical assistance. The Forest
Products Lab will help with economic analysis. Jefferson Sustainable Development Initiative will
help with coordination, logistics and operations management. Markets will include flooring and
paneling, posts and poles, fencing, and engineered products like glu-lams and trusses. The
product and market information from this long-term trial will help establish the feasibility of similar
utilization yards in the southern Oregon area. Projected cost are $25-30/ton for material with 4”
tops (min) and 10” butts (max) and projected markets of $350/mbf for lumber and $4.50 average
pole. The utilization yard will operate 50 consecutive days with another 10 days for set-up and
break down.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
White City
Jackson
02
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Enclosure 4B (Page 1 of 3) - Project Narrative Description
Applications for funding must include a narrative response that describes the proposal. Please do not submit responses longer than one page,
single space, 12-pitch font.
Describe project including, but not limited to:
 project location
Address these
 project implementation
items as
 anticipated outcomes
applicable:
 measures and reporting
 interagency partners





project relationship to community or natural landscape fire plans.
project time frames and income
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Response:
Project Location: Location criteria include availability of 3phase power, water, zoning, and proximity to planned fuels
treatment areas. Four potential sites have been identified with negotiations ongoing. White City is the preferred
location due to substantial infrastructure, existing timber–related businesses(BioMass, Pressure-treatment, functional
mills, etc.), and industrial-friendly regulations.
Fuels treatment plans: Medford Water Commission plans to continue its fuels reduction activities on their watershed
outside of Butte Falls; Medford District BLM has fuels reduction projects ongoing/scheduled and the Advisory
Committee and the Marketing Clearinghouse will identify other sources from the high level of fuels reduction work
planned in Southern Oregon. These project areas have been identified as strategic acres in various fire plans including
the Applegate partnership, BLM/Butte Falls Resource Area and the Medford Water Commission Watershed/Forest
Management Plan.
Implementation, activities, time frames, and equipment: Our approach will build upon this years work by the
RC&D. We convened a small diameter working group and have a multi-stakeholder advisory committee. 1) This
committee will assist us in our site choice, communication plans and outreach to local businesses, agency, conservation
groups, and media. 2) They will guide the product and market assessment which will be carried out by staff. 3) Staff
will work with FPL to capture production rates and costs and recovery information. 4) Staff will work with local
businesses for product and market assessments. Actual marketing of processed material will provide some revenue for
continued work. 5) Staff will work with the advisory group, FPL and local businesses to draft a final report. 6) Staff and
advisory committee will decide if the trial is positive enough to continue as a for-profit entity. If the decision is to
move forward, Phase II will move forward with a business plan and financing. 7) Follow-up public meetings and
results dissemination including national forums. Time frame depends on grant authorization, but is expected to be
completed during the field season of 2004, given fire season and winter operational constraints. The utilization yard
will be able to process three logging truck loads of material per day. We anticipate a 60 day trial. We will use a small
log loader, a small scale log sorter, the economizer mini-mill, a post and pole processor and a small chipper. Other
processing equipment may be identified and co-located on the site as dictated by product and market information
revealed through outreach and marketing activities by the Small Diameter Advisory Committee and the Clearinghouse
project.
Project Income: We anticipate income of up to $220,000 from this trial. However, it could be significantly less,
depending upon market development and quality of raw materials.
Anticipated outcomes: We expect to be able to establish local markets for small diameter material currently
considered sub-merchantable. This small scale approach may lead to larger investments by others. Southern Oregon
still has a timber culture, local industrial capacity, and many secondary manufacturers compared to other regions. We
believe the availability of this processed material will allow those secondary manufacturers to experiment with these
new products and fit them into their supply chains. It will also allow some businesses to develop new products and
access new markets. Generating value for this currently negative value material will help defray the cost of fuels
reduction projects and stimulate private landowners to complete fuels reduction projects.
Measures and reporting: A clear Work Plan will be the first deliverable from the advisory committee. The Work
Plan will be posted on a web site that will also be used to track discussions, interim progress reports, pictures and
results. Draft and final reports will be prepared and reviewed and public presentations made to discuss results in
conjunction with local partners.
Interagency partners: The advisory committee is a mix of private representatives and government personnel
representing USFS, BLM, ODF, local contractors and industry. The Watershed Center will contribute equipment
currently valued at $320,000. FPL research and State and Private Forestry staff will also consult on the project.
Enclosure 4B (Page 2 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding must include narrative responses that address the following four criteria. Within each criterion, subcriteria are listed in descending order of importance. Limit your responses to the areas provided.
1. Increasing Local Capacity (35 Points)
A. How would the proposal improve or lead to the improvement of the local economy in terms of jobs and sustainable economic
activity? How many jobs are expected to be created or retained and for how long (please distinguish between essentially
year-round and seasonal jobs)? How will this proposal link to other projects (or proposed projects) to create year-round jobs?
B. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
C. Which, if any, private businesses will participate?
D. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or businesses, or natural landscapes?
Response:
A. This project will create at least five jobs at the utilization yard (seasonal). It will also support other jobs in fuels reduction and
trucking. We do not know how many jobs in the value-added sector it will help support. If the yard proves to work economically
then year- round jobs will be created.
B. We expect to utilize 3 logging truck loads per day of currently sub-merchantable material, for 50 days. (around 3,750 tons).
Suppressed fir will be used for flooring and paneling, glu-lam stock and engineered products. Pine and fir will be used for post and
poles. Fencing kits will be developed. Plantation pine may be used for finger-joint stock.
We expect other products to be developed by local businesses. Residual chips, sawdust, and peelings will either be used for hogged
fuel, animal bedding, or composted by mixing with local agricultural wastes.
C. Private businesses will participate through being direct consumers of products, both raw products and those processed to various
degrees. There will be potential to use some local equipment such as a peeler on a contract or subcontract basis to increase the
opportunities to add value on site. The project will create work for logging contractors, haulers and others. The Small Woodland
Owners Association will help us identify more supply through outreach to private landowners who may be planning forest
management activities including fuels reduction and small diameter materials.
D. This project is easily replicable in other communities. This project will take the technology and the economics beyond the scale
of a short term demonstration. These are relatively inexpensive, portable, small scale processors and they are designed for noncommodity production. This project will help provide real numbers on a scale that will be useful to industry in helping them assess
the value of merchandizing small diameter material.
2. Reducing fire risk. (30 points)
Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas and communities or natural landscapes.
Describe how the proposed project benefits resources on federal land or adjacent non-federal land, or how it protects the
safety of communities.
C. To what extent does the project implement or create a cooperative (1) fuels treatment plan or (2)community fire strategy
(include evidence of the plan if it already exists)?
D. Explain how the proposal (1) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (2) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuels conditions.
A.
B.
Response:
A. This proposal will make more fuels reduction projects economically feasible because it will help put a market value on currently
negatively valued material.
B. Market value for small diameter means more acres treated for the same amount of money spent.
C. This project will be coordinated with fuels treatment planning and implementation projects through the Marketing Clearing
house.
D. Markets for material removed during hazardous fuels treatments lowers the cost in two ways: it removes material that would
otherwise need to be piled and burned, so those costs are reduced, and it provides revenue from small diameter thinnings.
Enclosure 4B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested individuals, groups, and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and
involved in this proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support or opposition for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits or concerns of the project?
Response:
A. The Southwest Oregon RC&D Council has been holding small diameter utilization meetings for the last several months and has
formed a multi-stakeholder advisory group. These meetings are public meetings and will continue to be public meetings. Public
outreach is an important part of this project. We are also coordinating with the Jackson/Josephine County small diameter working
group headed by County Commissioner Sue Kupillas.
B. Local support/opposition: The Small Diameter Advisory Committee is an example of how much support and interest there is in
this topic in southern Oregon. Meetings which began in December have consistently drawn excellent attendance and participation,
with representative from all aspects of industry and community development. In addition there are more than 40 supporters who
follow the progress through regular updates, e-mail and personal communication with active participants.
The BLM Boaz project is specifically designed to help answer some of the questions of public acceptance to thinning and fuels
reduction on public lands. Although there is some localized anxiety over the larger material removed there is an overwhelming
support for fire prevention work. The project is not anticipated to be constrained by any difficulties. The Medford Water
Commission forest management project is not on public lands, but has not been under any protest.
C. Clearly this project has the potential to greatly benefit the environment through improving the economics of fuels treatments. It
has the potential to create local jobs and enhance local businesses. It also has the potential to create public/private partnerships for
the utilization of fuels reduction bio-mass and allow for innovative uses of the material in special composts for the local agricultural
community.
4. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (20 Points)
A. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning through a “Local Coordination Group” for wildland fire
activities, or among federal, state, tribal, local government and community organizations in developing this proposal. List the
cooperators (a detailed list of cooperators will be required for projects that are funded).
B. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if
it already exists.
Response:
A. The utilization yard project is very responsive to the issues being raised in local discussions about small diameter utilization.
This project will benefit from the cooperation and coordination of the Small Diameter Advisory Committee. Active participants in
the Advisory Committee include: Medford District BLM, Rogue/Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon Department of Forestry, OSU
Extension Forester, Jackson Small Woodland Owners, Jackson County, Josephine County Economic Development, Southern
Oregon Regional Economic Development, Watershed Center Hayfork, Josephine County, Collaborative Learning Circle, Southern
Oregon Timber Industries Association,, Medford Water Commission, Applegate Partnership, Oregon Economic Development
Department, Summit Wood Products, Jefferson Sustainable Development Institute, Rogue Valley Fuel, NW Forest Resources Inc,
Small Woodland Services Inc, Green Mountain Woodworks and other consulting foresters. Local agencies are very interested in a
project that helps demonstrate the value of the value added concept in small diameter utilization.
Most existing governmental strategies and plans address community planning and outreach to landowners about the importance of
removing fuels. This project will address critical market factors that will make forest management activities more cost-effective
and less dependent on cost-sharing strategies. This will provide a longer term solution by adding value to the by-products of
management practices.
B. This project is anticipated in various community development plans around the region. Local action plans for communities in
Jackson and Josephine Counties include utilization of small diameter material and underutilized species.
Enclosure 4C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
1. Complete work plan, site selection,
equipment alternative reviews, product
reviews, and identify other potential supply
through clearinghouse.
90 days
Southwest Oregon RC&D, JSDI,
WRTC and advisory committee.
2. Complete outreach and communication
plan and implement. Create web page, link to
existing sites.
150 days
JSDI and WRTC staff,
Southwest Oregon RC&D and
advisory committee
guidance
3. Complete site lay-out, equipment move,
safety plan, project assessments and cost and
production rate studies design
60 days
JSDI and WRTC staff with guidance
from FPL and Southwest Oregon
RC&D and advisory
committee
4. Secure supply. Negotiate costs
(preliminary assessment predicts our cost at
$30/ton delivered)
On-going
JSDI staff
5. Run trial, complete project assessments
and cost and production rates. Capture market
information. Sell processed material
Conduct outreach through tours for
businesses, agencies and the
media.
80-90 production days
WRTC staff and local hires
6. Run R&D experiments with some material.
Develop fencing kits, test market high grade
fir for glu-lam and engineered
products
210 days
JSDI staff, WRTC staff and
businesses from the area
7. Complete draft report, submit for review,
and incorporate comments
280 days
JSDI Staff, WRTC Staff,
Southwest Oregon RC&D staff,
advisory committee,
8. Complete final report, make two public
presentations in the area and disseminate
results to local businesses and the
media.
90 days
Southwest Oregon RC&D staff and
JSDI staff and WRTC staff.
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Organization, coordination, logistics
And outreach 1200hrs@ $25/hr
Subtotal
Fringe Benefits
@25%
Federal
Agency
Partner 2: Sm.
Applicant: Sw Or
Diam Advisory
RC&D
Partner 1: WRTC
Cte
Total
30,000
30,000
7,500
7,500
6,000
9,600
6,000
9,600
Subtotal
Travel
Equipment move in/out
Crew travel +per diem for 2
Subtotal
Equipment
Economizer, sorter, peeler, forklift
Small chipper and loader $198/hr
Subtotal
Supplies
Fuel, electricity and r&m
50 days x $400/day
Subtotal
Contractual
WRTC crews and local hires (5)
$17.20/hr av. plus benefits
Subtotal
45,000
48,440
93,440
24,000
20,000
56,050
56,050
Other
Raw Materials 150loads@$750
Site lease 2000/mo
Subtotal
22,500
6,000
90,000 from
Project income
112,500
6,000
Total Costs
205,550
48,440+90,000
343,990
Project income
is a soft figure
Cash flow is an
issue
220,000
Project (Program) Income1
1
Program income is the gross revenue generated by a grant or cooperative agreement supported activity during the life of the
grant. Program income can be made by recipients from fees charged for conference or workshop attendance, from rental fees
earned from renting out real property or equipment acquired with grant or cooperative agreement funds, or from the sale of
commodities or items developed under the grant or cooperative agreement. The use of Program Income during the project
period may require prior approval by the granting agency.