Forest
Service
File Code:
Route To:
Subject:
To:
Washington
Office
5420
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250
Date:
May 6, 2014
Fiscal Year 2016 Land and Water Conservation Fund Project "Core Project"
Nominations
Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director, Deputy Chiefs
and WO Directors
OPTIONAL REPLY DUE SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
Please send project nominations for fiscal year (FY) 2016 Land and Water Conservation Funds
(LWCF) “Core acquisition projects,” to the Washington Office (WO) by September 19, 2014.
The LWCF Core program provides a vital opportunity for the Forest Service to acquire and
protect important lands to support healthier forests, safer communities, and more vibrant local
economies. Land acquisition should be viewed as part of the larger agency strategy to create a
resilient and productive system of forests and grasslands that provide economic and
environmental stability to communities across America. Seen through this lens, land acquisition
is a key strategic tool for furthering agency and Administration initiatives, particularly
recreational access, ecological restoration, and watershed protection. Central to agency success
and that of LWCF is our work with partners and our neighbors. More than ever, the support of
local partners and citizens is vital to ensure the success of any proposed land acquisition.
The information requested in this reply due letter is for the Forest Service’s “Core” LWCF
program as distinguished from the Collaborative Landscape Planning (CLP) initiative, which
involves joint requests between the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. The Core
program is requesting proposed acquisition projects that primarily serve Forest Service
management goals and objectives.
Prioritization of the Agency’s FY 2016 LWCF Core projects is a two-stage process that is
competitive and merit-based. Regions first evaluate projects using the Strategic Landscape
Acquisition Ranking System (SLARS), and then send their top rated projects to the WO for
review by a national panel comprised of an inter-disciplinary team of WO and regional
representatives. The national panel will review each region’s nominated projects using the
national scoring criteria to create a prioritized project list. This project list is then forwarded to
the Office of Management and Budget through the Department of Agriculture.
Each region may submit up to five projects. We recommend that regions prioritize projects or
tracts already in process that can be finished. Given the uncertainty over the future of LWCF,
emphasis will be given to finishing high priority projects funded in previous years. The national
scoring criteria will give priority to the final phase of multi-tract projects and tracts that have
been partially funded in prior years, if they can be completed with $3 million in funding or less.
Projects that appear on the President’s list for FY15 may not receive funding, nor are they
guaranteed a place on the President’s list for FY16. Therefore, it is necessary to resubmit
America’s Working Forests – Caring Every Day in Every Way
Printed on Recycled Paper
Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director, Deputy Chiefs
and WO Directors
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projects for the FY16 fiscal year if there is any uncertainty about receiving an appropriation in
FY15. Consult with the WO about whether or not it makes sense to resubmit tracts for FY16
given the status of the FY15 Budget.
Project submissions must include: the 2 page fact sheet, a standardized map (which meets
legislative mapping requirements outlined in interim directive 1510-2011-1), and the completed
SLARS score sheet indicating regional rankings. One page of photos and one supplemental page
detailing how the region evaluated the project using the SLARS are both optional. Support
letters from Members of Congress, local officials, partners, and stakeholders are strongly
encouraged but only for the national competition. They are not required for the regional SLARS
competition. If you have submitted support letters previously, please make sure that information
is current and consider sending updated letters. As you develop your nominations, consider
agency objectives and policy concerning landownership adjustment. For guidelines refer to
Forest Service Manual (FSM) 5402, 5403, 5420.2, 5420.3, and 5421.34, including the following:
1. Give priority to acquisitions that would consolidate National Forest System lands
within existing National Forest boundaries (FSM 5403.1, policy 1 & 11), providing
there is no indication of opposition to the acquisition of the property;
2. Nominate properties as free of encumbrances as possible. Avoid acquisitions that are
subject to special conditions or covenants that limit the rights of the United States to
manage the lands for National Forest purposes (FSM 5403.1, Policy 22);
3. Give priority to acquisitions that meet goals and objectives of Forest Land and
Resource Management Plans (FSM 5403.1, Policy 11), and implementation of the
Agency’s 2011 Watershed Condition Framework;
4. Give priority to acquisitions that support the agency’s initiatives on ecological
restoration, particularly the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program;
5. Give priority to acquisitions that increase opportunities for recreational access; and
6. Identify nominations with outstanding mineral estates in the fact sheet.
Please carefully review each project nomination to ensure the accuracy of the data in the
submission, including acres to be acquired, estimated acquisition costs, public support, past
funding and accomplishments, and feasibility to complete acquisition in a timely manner. Your
care in submitting accurate and thorough project nomination data ensures the Forest Service land
acquisition program’s continued credibility with Congress and our many stakeholders.
All information regarding the FY 2016 prioritization process, including the fact sheet template
required for submissions, the SLARS and score sheet, and the national scoring guidance will be
available for Agency personnel and the public on the Lands and Realty Web site:
http://www.fs.fed.us/land/staff/LWCF/ by May 10, 2014. Regions should submit completed
project proposals to the Lands and Realty “National Shared” folder in the WO “0” drive by the
due date:
O:\NFS\WOLands\Program\NationalShared\Landownership Adjustment\Land
Acquisitions\FY16 LWCF Core Proposals
Regional Foresters, Station Directors, Area Director, IITF Director, Deputy Chiefs
and WO Directors
Please contact Nancy Parachini, National Land Acquisition Program Manager, at
(202) 570-9009, for additional information.
/s/ Tony Tooke (for)
LESLIE A. C. WELDON
Deputy Chief, National Forest System
Enclosures
cc: Regional Directors of Lands
Greg Smith
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