Northwest Geographic Area Fire Environment Working Team Charter
Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group
Rev. January 17 2008
I.
Background
In June 2006 the decision was made by the Pacific Northwest Wildfire
Coordinating Group to formulate a new working group on the model of the
NWCG Fire Environment Working Team. This decision represents a fresh
opportunity to the Pacific Northwest region to explore ways to better integrate the
functional areas which deal the environmental conditions which influence so
many aspects of the wildland fire management program.
II.
Name
The Pacific Northwest Fire Environment Working Team (PNWFENWT);
hereinafter referred to as the Team.
III.
Authority
This Team is established pursuant to the charter authority granted to the parent
group, the Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group (PNWCG) through the
respective agency fire management leadership for the Department of Agriculture
and the Interior, plus the states of Oregon and Washington to assist in
accomplishing the PNWCG’s mission and goals. The Team has the authority to
develop and execute an annual program of work or execute work as assigned by
PNWCG. The Team Chair has authority to make contacts, assign work within
the Team, make commitments on behalf of the Team and commit such resources
that are available within the Team. The Chair may request further resources and
authority as needed.
IV.
Mission Statement
The purpose of PNWFENWT is to provide interagency, strategic vision and
direction relating to measuring and predicting the wildland fire
environment.
V.
Objectives
The Team will address the needs of the wildland fire management community by:
 Providing leadership in establishing and maintaining consistent regional policies,
standards, and procedures related to the wildland fire environment
 Promoting safe and efficient use of fire management resources by advancing the
science and application of the fire environment elements within the Northwest
Geographic Area.
 Facilitating coordination among fire weather, fire behavior, fire danger rating, fire
research, predictive services, and smoke/air quality groups.
 Promoting high standards for measuring, predicting and monitoring wildland fire
environmental conditions.
 Providing an interagency forum to collect and make recommendations on
application, training, emerging technologies, and enhancements related to
science and technology describing the wildland fire environment.
 Soliciting, assessing, and prioritizing users’ needs and providing a forum for input
into research priorities.
VI.
Membership
Members should include one voting representative from each of the following
agencies:
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USDA Forest Service
DOI Bureau of Land Management
DOI US Fish and Wildlife Service
DOI National Park Service
DOI Bureau of Indian Affairs
National Weather Service
PNW FERA/AirFire
NWCC Predictive Services
Washington Department of Natural Resources
Oregon Department of Forestry
Replacement members should be selected by the team based on a list of
candidates from the providing agency.
Representatives should include individuals with expertise in:
 Air quality
 Fire behavior
 Fire danger
 Fire research
 Fire weather
 RAWS and other environmental sensing technology
If expertise in these areas are not covered by the agency representatives, then
new members may be incorporated into the Team.
VII.
Organization
The Team functions under the direction of PNWCG and a member of PNWCG is
assigned liaison responsibility with the Team The Team nominates the Chair
and Vice-Chair, subject to approval by PNWCG
When the Chair steps down, the vice-Chair will assume the chair position on an
interim basis until a new Chair is appointed. The succession of Team leadership
and the re-adjustment of the Team membership will be forwarded to PNWCG for
approval.
VIII.
Membership definitions and responsibilities
Chair:
 Serves for a minimum two year term but with no limitation in number of
successive terms
 Represents the Team to PNWCG.
 Serves as Team spokesperson.
 Convenes meetings as deemed necessary by the Team or PNWCG.
 Presides over the meetings.
 Recommends the need for further resources and authority when it becomes
evident.
 Assigns work to task groups.
 Selects ad hoc subject matter experts to assist in issue resolution.
 Prepares and signs correspondence approved by the majority of the voting
members.
 Sends meeting announcements, agenda items, etc., to membership.
 Works closely with the Team’s PNWCG liaison.
Vice-Chair:
 Functions as Chair in the event the Chair is unavailable.
 Is responsible for follow up on on-going projects and the development and
implementation of Team procedures.
 Ensures a note taker is available for record keeping.
 Maintains the permanent record of Team activities.
 Distributes executive summary to Team, PNWCG, and other working teams
chairs/task groups.
Members:
 Solicit topics from their constituents for inclusion in the meeting agendas.
 Participate in all regularly scheduled meetings or send a designated
representative.
 Members unable to regularly attend meetings should resign their position.
 Submit sufficiently in advance any briefing papers concerning issues to be
included on the upcoming meeting’s agenda.
 Relay team activities and developments to constituents.
Subject Matter Experts:
 Assemble information requested by the for presentation and peer review by the
Team.
IX.
Cooperation and Coordination
The Team shall strive to coordinate with strategic partners as necessary on all
projects and products.
X.
Meetings
Meetings, including teleconferences, will be held to the minimum necessary to
accomplish the defined purposes of the Team in a timely fashion. Team meeting
schedules will be forwarded to the Team’s PNWCG liaison.
No scheduled meeting shall occur unless seven (7) voting members or their
designated representatives (DR) are present. The DR will be authorized to attend
the meeting and vote for the absentee member who made the temporary
appointment.
Agenda and briefing papers should be made available to all Team members two
weeks prior to a scheduled meeting. Minutes and executive summaries of the
meetings will be made available to the PNWCG. These items as well as other
pertinent information concerning Team activities will be posted on the Team’s
website.
XI.
Reports and Minutes
Sufficient records should be kept to analyze the performance of the Team and to
keep the Team progressing toward its objectives. Reports and accomplishments
shall be submitted to PNWCG as often as required.
XII.
Charter Approval and Amendment
This “original” Pacific Northwest Fire Environment Working Team Charter is
effective on the date of signature by the PNWCG Chair.
Charter revisions are made on the recommendation of the Team and with the
concurrence of the PNWCG. . All modifications to this Charter will be filed as
supplements to the original Charter.
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PNWCG Chair
Date