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:
City of Mt. Vernon
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-932-4688
541-932-4222
cmtv@ortelco.net
Address (Street or P. O. Box, City, State, Zip):
P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon, Oregon 97865
Project Coordinator
Project Coordinator (Name and Title):
Susan Newstetter, Administrative Consultant
Organization/Jurisdiction:
City of Mt. Vernon
Phone:
FAX:
Email:
541-932-4366
541-932-4364
suenew@highdesertnet.com
Project Information
Project Title:
Mt. Vernon Hazard Fuels Composting - Demonstration Project
Project Start:
Project End:
June 1, 2002
June 30, 2003
Federal Funding Request:
Total Project Funding:
$6,572.00
$18,415.00
Are you submitting multiple projects? If so, please explain and prioritize:
This is our only proposal
Brief Project Description:
Provide a mechanism for the reduction of ladder fuels and improvement of air quality through the
establishment of a demonstration community composting facility in the City of Mt. Vernon, Oregon.
Mt. Vernon is listed as a high-hazard community in Grant County and through this project we would
like to demonstrate the reduction of fuel loads within our community and at the same time produce
a high grade product to improve local soil quality and watershed health. It is anticipated this project
will help to reduce/eliminate the local "burn-pile" for yard debris and slash disposal within the City.
This project is designed to produce income to help offset the cost of hiring an attendent to monitor
the City "burn pile".
Project Location:
County:
Congressional District:
Eastern Oregon
Grant
2nd District
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:
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
 partners





project income
project time frames
specify types of activities and equipment used
amount or extent of actions (acres, number of homes, etc)
environmental, cultural and historical resource requirements
Mt. Vernon is an incorporated City located in the heart of the John Day Valley, surrounded by the
Malheur National Forest with both Ingle and Beech Creeks flowing through the community along with the
John Day River. Mt. Vernon is a small community (pop. 590) consisting of a business center (2 restaurants, 2
gas stations, small grocery store, auto repair shops, telephone company and 2 professional service companies)
and largely is a residential community (297 housing units). The total area, including both the corporate
boundary and urban growth boundary, encompasses 593 acres of which 278 acres (47%) are fully developed
land and committed to urban uses. 315 acres are identified as "Vacant," many of which are overgrown with
ladder fuels and decidious trees creating a fire hazard within the city. The ownership of these vacant lands
are both private and public.
Response:
The City of Mt. Vernon maintains a "burn pile" for local residents to dispose of yard debris (grass clippings,
leaves, brush, tree trimmings, etc) and it is monitored by Oregon DEQ. This pile, which becomes enormous,
is burned at least 2-4 times a year, creating air quality issues and a potential fire hazard to the community.
Past practices by local residents abused this privilage by disposing of lumber, plastics and other materials not
allowed, putting the City of Mt. Vernon in violation with the DEQ permited use and as a result the city was
fined. In 2001 the city re-evaluated this service to its citizens and instead of eliminating it, restructured its
availability. The City hired a part time attendent to monitor disposal and to educate the public on what can
and cannot be accepted; adding an additional cost to our small and very limited budget.
Discussions with city staff, city councilors and interested citizens were held to work on ways to improve this
service, both economically and environmentally. The opportunity for composting became obvious. By
utilizing a chipper/shredder and creating composting piles, the majority of these ladder fuels, grass clippings
and leaves could be used to produce a high value soil amendment. The material is present, the city owned
property is of such a size that the material can be easily sorted and processed by the part time attendent; the
city maintenance department can turn the compost piles with city owned equipment (backhoe) and utimately
the compost can be sold to local citizens to help offset the costs of hiring the part time attendent.
Composting is a long term resource benefit to the watershed. It increases soil fertility, water and nutrient
holding capacity and inhibits the growth of noxious weeds. It also reduces the need for chemical fertilizer
applications and reduces soil erosion and nutrient run-off which helps to improve water quality. These are all
important issues for the City of Mt. Vernon. In addition to these obvious benefits, another measurable benefit
will be the reduction/elimination of the "burn pile" and reducing the impact on our local airshed.
Interested partners have stepped forward to offer technical assistance to the City of Mt. Vernon including the
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), local
landscaping/grass clipping contractors, and local gardners/volunteers.
The City is hoping to begin the composting project during the spring of 2002. However it lacks the resources
to purchase a small, commercial grade Chipper/Shredder necessary for the project.
It is anticipated high grade compost can be sold for $15 (or more) a cubic yard, basically a pickup load.
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.
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 fuels treatment plan or 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 (a) leads to, enhances or restores a local fire-adapted ecosystem, and/or (b) mitigates or leads to the
mitigation of hazardous fuel conditions.
F. How will the proposed treatments be maintained over time?
Response: The short
term reduction of fire hazards within our community will be realized by reducing the
volume of the "burn pile" located within the city. Through outreach programs, we believe Mt. Vernon citizens
will have an incentive to expand their participation in disposing of hazard fuels and purchasing compost
produced by these fuels. Discussions with local citizens has only been positive to date.
This project will help to protect our community through reduction of hazardous fuels and will offer benefit
back to our local resources through the use of compost amendment to the soils, enhancing the local watershed
and reducing the air quality issues in our airshed when the "burn pile" is burned.
While the city does not have a cooperative fuels treatment plan/community fire strategy to date, this project is
the first step in that direction by helping to educate local citizens about fire hazard reduction. The City of Mt.
Vernon is considered a local leader in fire education and prevention. The City and Rural fire departments put
on classes for the local schoolchildren annually and are very active in the local fire defense board as well as
statewide issues working with the State Fire Marshall on community programs.
It is our belief that this project will inspire residents to mitigate hazardous fuel reduction, offer them high
quality compost that benefits the environment and by building upon the success of this demo composting
project, additional programs can be added.
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)?
B. To what extent will this project be offered to serve as a model for other communities?
C. Will biomass or forest fuels be utilized; if so, in what manner and how much?
Response: The partnership
of local government, non-profit groups, state agencies and local contractors will all
be important factors in creating a valuable local product that can improve soil fertility and water quality and
at the same time reduce hazardous fuels.
This project will be producing a product that is currently not locally available in quantity, thus giving value to
previously unmarketed and unuseable wood products and yard debris. This project will help to improve the
economic viability of local nurseries and landscapers as well as help to improve residential values through the
use of the environmentally beneficial soil amendment. At this time it is not anticipated this project will create
a full time position, however it will help to offset the costs of hiring a part time attendent, thus allowing the
city to continue to offer this service to its citizens. Depending upon community acceptance of this project,
there is always the possibility it could mushroom into a much larger operation and possibly create a full time
job. It is our hope this project can serve as a solution for other small communities to consider when faced
with disposal of hazardous fuels and yard debris.
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 plan, or creates such a plan. Describe the plan if it
already exists.
B. Explain the level of cooperation, coordination or strategic planning among federal, state, tribal, local government and
community organizations. List the cooperators.
Response: The City of
Mt. Vernon developed an economic strategic plan in 1998 and included in this plan
were goals such as: "Attract new businesses, including clean light industry and value added wood products";
"Create a clean and uncluttered community"; and, Promote positive attitudes inside and outside the
community". This proposed composting project addresses all of these goals.
This project has been discussed with the DEQ, RCAC, local contractors and local citizens and has been meet
with overwhelming support. DEQ, through its Eastern Region Community Solutions representative, has
offered to assist with technical advice. In addition, Mt. Vernon is a partner city with RCAC and they too have
embraced this project and will be assisting the city with technical advice.
This is a relatively simple project but the City does need financial assistance to be able to purchase a small
commercial chipper/shredder machine. It is our goal to produce 100 cubic yards of compost during this demo
project. This would require 200 cubic yards (the equivalent of 20 dump truck loads) of material to be used in
the process. If this 100 cubic yards of compost was sold at $15/cubic yard this would produce a program
income of $1,500 for this demo project. This may be somewhat ambitious for our first year, but based on the
amount of past years debris deposited in the "burn pile" we think this goal is attainable.
4. Expanding Community Participation. (15 Points)
A. To what extent have interested people and communities been provided an opportunity to become informed and involved in this
proposal?
B. Describe the extent of local support for the project, including any cost-sharing arrangements.
C. What are the environmental, social and educational benefits of the project?
Response: This
project has been discussed at the last several City council meetings and with interested parties.
As previously discussed, this project has been met with a very positive response. Many local citizens have
come forward and said they would be willing to volunteer their time to help get this project going, such as
designing the layout of the sorting area, offering expertise on composting, even offering suggestions for
naming this local product. "Mt. Vernon Black Gold" is currently the leading popular suggestion, especially in
light of the fact the composting area is located on gold mining tailings!
To date, no other cost sharing partner has been identified. It is the city's hope that this project will become so
successful that additional equipment and manpower is needed and we will be approaching our partners to
assist us, perhaps including some cost-sharing, in the future. If we are successful in this grant application, the
only other cost sharing partner will be the City of Mt. Vernon at this time.
Environmental and social benefits are the reduction of hazardous fuels within our community, through the
production of a product that improves soil quality and watershed health and improves air quality through
reduced burning. Educational benefits include increasing community awarness by linking fuel reduction with
the positive benefit of producing compost. Through sales of this valuable resource, a part time position will
continue to be financed and the possibility of creating a full time position looms in the future.
Enclosure 3C - Project Work Form
Tasks
Time Frame
Responsible Party
Develop site plan for composting piles
- sorting areas
- pile locations
Spring 2002
City of Mt. Vernon
Local Volunteers
Receive technical assistance
- different types of compost
- "receipe" suggestions
- other issues as needed
Ongoing throughtout the demo project
City of Mt. Vernon
DEQ
RCAC
Local Volunteers
Training part time attendent
- sorting and piling
- "receipe"
- safety issues
- record keeping
- sales
Begin Spring 2002 and throughout life of
the project
City of Mt. Vernon
DEQ
RCAC
Local Volunteers
Purchase of Chipper/Shredder
Upon award/contract of grant
City of Mt. Vernon
USFS - National Fire Plan
Operator Training of Chipper/Shredder
- Safety Issues
- Proper care and maintenance
Prior to use - Spring/Early Summer 2002
City of Mt. Vernon
Production/Sales of Compost
Ongoing throughout the demo project
City of Mt. Vernon
DEQ
RCAC
Local Volunteers
Community Outreach
- newspaper articles
- local radio show
- city newsletter
Ongoing throughout the demo project
City of Mt. Vernon
Project Reporting and Administration
- Updates to local coordinator
- ongoing administration of grant/project
- final closeout accounting and report
Ongoing throughout the demo project
City of Mt. Vernon
Enclosure 3D Project Budget
Cost Category
Description
Federal
Agency
Personnel
Subtotal
Applicant
Partner 1
Partner 2
Total
$0.00
$8,443.00
$0.00
$0.00
$8,443.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$9,772.00
$0.00
$0.00
$9,772.00
$0.00
$200.00
$0.00
$0.00
$200.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$8,443.00
$0.00
$8,443.00
$0.00
Fringe Benefits
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Travel
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
Equipment
$6,572.00
$3,200.00
Subtotal
$6,572.00
$3,200.00
Supplies
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$200.00
$0.00
$200.00
$0.00
Contractual
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Other
Subtotal
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Total Costs
$6,572.00
$11,843.00
$0.00
$0.00
$18,415.00
Project (Program) Income1
(using deductive alternative)
1
$1,500.00
$1,500.00
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.