Enclosure 3A - Project Summary Form
NATIONAL FIRE PLAN COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE PROJECTS
Application for Wildland Urban Interface Fuels / Education and
Prevention / Community Planning for Fire Protection Projects
Applicant
Applicant/Organization:
Robert W. Gear/Benton County Fire District #1
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
509-734-9100
509-734-9200
bcfd1@3-cities.com
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
144610 E. Law Lane Kennewick, WA 99337-2012
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Robert W. Gear, Fire Chief
Organization/Jurisdiction:
Benton County Fire District #1
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
509-734-9100
509-734-9200
bcfd1@3-cities.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Fuel Modification
Proposed Project Start Date:
Proposed Project End Date:
January 2003
December 2004
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
Brief Project Description:
This project is the second phase of our 2002 grant. The 2002 grant provided fuels mapping and risk analysis.
With this grant we will begin the process of fuels modification in the high risk areas. This modification will
include best practice ranging from landscape modification, fuels reduction and long term fuels modification.
Environmental assessments, including public participation, will be conducted for the chosen practice. Upon
successful completion of the envirnomental assessment contracts will be prepared and let to complete the
work. The actual fuels modification work will be targeted to treat at least 500 acres minimum.
Project Location (latitude/longitude if applicable):
County:
Congressional District:
Benton County, Washington
Benton
Four
Project Type: Check appropriate project type. More than one type may be checked. If only Box (4) is checked, use Enclosure 4.
(1)
(2)
Wildland Urban Interface Fuels Project
Wildland Urban Interface Education and Prevention Project
(3)
(4)
Community Planning for Fire Protection Project
Fuels Utilization and Marketing Project
If the applicant is an unincorporated area, define the geographic area being represented:
Benton County, Washington, including the Cities of Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, Benton City, and
Prosser, and the border areas of the Hanford Reach National Monument.
Enclosure 3B (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
Project Location: The project will include the unincorporated and incorporated areas of Benton
County, Washington, the Bureau of Land Management lands within Benton County and the lands lying
within five miles of boundary of the Hanford Reach National Monument.
Response:
Project Implementation: The project will be implemented by the following;
-hiring a contractor to implement
-utilizing the fuels mapping and risk analysis prepared by the previous grant
*identify high risk areas where fuels modification will lower the risk
*identify best practice fuels modification
*prepare an environmental assessment of chosen practice
*conduct public information and education of chosen practice
*implement chosen practice through private contractors.
Anticipated Outcomes: Long term risk reduction to high risk fire areas.
Measures and Reporting: Actual risk from wildfire is reduced by evaluation through standard risk evaluation
measurement.
Interagency Partners: Benton County Fire District #1, Benton County Planning and Building Department,
Benton County Clean Air Authority, Incorporated Cities within Benton County, USFWS Hanford Monument,
BLM Spokane District, US Soil and Conservation Service.
Project Relationship: This project continues the mapping, NFDRS, and response coordination project
implemented through our 2002 grant. The project will reduce the risk in the areas identified as high risk.
Project Time Frames: The project will take approximately two years to implement.
Activities and Equipment: Determine best practice fuels modification for; -high risk areas, -conduct
governmental and public reviews for suggested modifications, -develop and let contracts for chosen practice,
-monitor contractor activities for project implementation.
Extent of Actions: The detailed information needs to come from data developed through 2002 grant
information. However, our goal will be to modify or better manage 500 acres of the highest risk areas.
Environmental, Cultural, and Historical: All field work will have to have environmental assessments prior to
initiation. Some areas may have Native American cultural value that will have to be identified through the
environmental assessment. It is anticipated that some of the fuels may be returned to more historical fuel bed
composure.
Enclosure 3B (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. Reducing Fire Risk. (40 points))
A. Describe how the proposal promotes reduction of risk in high hazard areas or communities, or natural landscapes.
B. 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 to what extent the affected community or proponent has been involved or plans to involve the affected community in a
qualified fuels education program (e.g., FIREWISE).
E. 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 fuel conditions.
F. How will the proposed treatments or programs be maintained in future years?
Response: It
is anticipated that the 2002 grant will identify those areas at high risk from wildfire. With this
2003/2004 grant we will attempt to reduce those high risk areas by choosing and implementing a fuels
modification project. The method or practice utilized will vary, but any chosen method must provide a long
term, low maintenance solution. The Columbia Basin has changed from a natural bunch grass, sage brush
fuel bed to a primarily annual grass bed. These annuals border lands that are residential and agricultural.
Many acres of lands that have been in dryland wheat production are being impacted by spreading residential
development. In many cases these lands are being placed into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP.) An
important aspect of this project will be working with the soil conservation service on a way to reduce the
impact of CRP grounds on neighboring residential development. The project will place emphasis on fuels
modification practices that are long term and low maintenance.
2. Increasing local capacity. (30 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 yearround and seasonal jobs)? How will this proposal link to toher projects (or proposed projects) to create year-round jobs?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities or natural landscapes?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response: This
request will involve hiring a contractor to determine best practice for individual locations,
conduct environmental assessments and comply with governmental hearing requirements as well as public
hearings or meetings. Upon approval of plans for particular sites, the contractor will prepare and let on behalf
of the Fire District, contracts to private firms to conduct the field work. It is anticipated that the bulk of the
field work will be conducted in the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2004.
The Fire District will be available to assist other shrub steep communities with implementing this project.
Enclosure 3B (Page 3 of 3) - Project Evaluation Criteria
3. Increasing interagency and intergovernmental coordination. (15 Points)
A. Describe how this project implements a local intergovernmental strategy or plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. 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. List the cooperators (a detailed list
of cooperators will be required for projects that are funded).
Response: Benton
County is involved in ongoing Growth Management Area (GMA) planning as required by
the State. A component of the planning is designation of critical areas. Current critical area designations
have been implemented for steep hillsides and flood plains. We will work with Benton County Planning to
define areas where fuel modifications have been conducted, particularly those providing habitat cover, as
critical areas. This will provide restrictions on development on or next to those critical areas.
4. 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: The
Fire District’s in Benton County, Fire Departments of the Cities of Kennewick and Richland,
Hanford Fire Department, and USFWS Hanford National Monument have indicated a desire to work through
both phase 1 (2002 grant) and phase 2 (2003 grant) and we have a commitment from the Benton County
Planning and Building Department. The local newspaper has run articles on the availability of funding for
projects, which have generated inquiries from the public on our level of participation. Local support in the
community, particularly in the wake of the Hanford Fire of 2000 is strong. However, that commitment
cannot be fully evaluated until we propose projects on the ground.
Restoration of natural fuel beds is of particular interest to Washington State Fish and Wildlife. Much of the
Natural Cover is the area has been lost to development and agricultural use.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Prepare and let contract for project
planning and management
Month one and two
Benton County Fire District #1
Identify a mimimum of 500 acres of
high risk area
Month three
Contractor
Work with Benton County Planning to
develop critical area definitions and
implement into Growth Management
Planning
Month three, four, and five
Benton County Fire District #1
and Contractor
Determine best practices to reduce
wildfire risk from fuels in target areas
Month four and five
Contractor
Prepare environmental impact
statements for proposed projects
Month six and seven
Contractor
Conduct required additional public
hearings/meetings
Month eight, nine, and ten
Benton County Fire District #1
and Contractor
Prepare and let contracts for approved
project work
Months ten through twenty-four
Contractor
Monitor project work
Months ten through twenty-four
Contractor
Conduct public information
sessions/media events on project work
Months ten through twenty-four
Contractor
Prepare paper on lessons learned from
phase 1 and phase 2 of project
Months twenty through twentytwo
Benton County Fire District #1
and Contractor
Top of Form
Enclosure 4D - Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Personnel
Supervision and Contract
Management
Subtotal
Federal
Agency
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
$0.00
$0.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$21,000.00
$0.00
$21,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$100,000.00
$250,000.00
$350,000.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
$25,000.00
$0.00
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Travel
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Equipment
Subtotal
Supplies
Printing, Advertising,
Audio Visual
Subtotal
Contractual
Project Planning and Mgmt
Project Implementation
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$20,000.00
$1,000.00
$20,000.00
$1,000.00
$100,000.00
$250,000.00
$350,000.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Other
Public Information/Eduation
$5,000.00
$2,500.00
Subtotal
$5,000.00
$2,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$7,500.00
$0.00
$7,500.00
$375,000.00
$28,500.00
$0.00
$0.00
$403,500.00
Total Costs
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.
$0.00