Document RJ7BLoOQ1bGVgRxvvQXqDjpm7

From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Attachments: Schmerfeld, John David Miko; Henning, Julie David Hoskins Fwd: SO 3349 climate change deliverables Monday, April 10, 2017 2:59:49 PM Information Memorandum SO3349 Climate Change final draft 4-10-17.docx Seth already sent this up. The NFHP piece looks fine. John Schmerfeld Deputy AD Fish and Aquatic Conservation 703/358-2332 -----------Forwarded message-----------From: Goldberg, Jason <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> Date: Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 3:54 PM Subject: Fwd: SO 3349 climate change deliverables To: John Schmerfeld < lohn_Schmetfeld@fws.gov> FYI -----------Forwarded message-----------From: Mott, Seth <seth_mott@fws.gov> Date: Mon, Apr 10, 2017 at 3:52 PM Subject: SO 3349 climate change deliverables To: Jim Kurth <.Tim_Kurth@fws.gov> Casey Hammond <casey_hammond@ios.doi.gov> Charisa Morris <charisa_morris@fws.gov> Gina Shultz <Gina_Shultz@fws.gov> Sanchez Shaun <shaun_sanchez@fws.gov>. "Ford, Jerome" <jerome_ford@fws.gov> Betsy Hildebrandt <betsy_hildebrandt@fws.gov> Jason Goldberg <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> Kurt Johnson <Kurt_Johnson@fws.gov> Tom Melius <tom_melius@fws.gov> Maureen Foster <maureen_foster@ios.doi.gov> Virginia Johnson <virginia_johnson@ios.doi.gov> per our meeting this morning, here is our final draft Seth Mott, Acting Assistant Director Science Applications 703-358-1969 seth_mott@fws.gov U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE MS: SA 3N091 5275 LEESBURG PIKE FALLS CHURCH, VA 22041-3803 Jason Goldberg U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Ph: 703-358-1866 Cell: 240-687-8213 Information Memorandum for the Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Date: April 10, 2017 From: Seth Mott, Acting Assistant Director for Science Applications, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) 202-208-7165 Subject: Preliminary response to the deliverable outlined in section 5(b)(1) of Secretarial Order 3349 - "American Energy Independence" I. Introduction This memorandum identifies FWS Actions relating to the Presidential Actions, reports, and guidance that are rescinded by the March 28, 2017 Executive Order that relate to climate change. II. Background The March 28, 2017, Presidential Executive Order entitled "Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth" revoked Executive Order 13653 of November 6, 2013 (Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change) and other related policies and directed the heads of all agencies to identify agency actions relating to or arising from those policies. On March 29, 2017, the Secretary signed Order 3349, "American Energy Independence," which established a "Climate Change Policy Review" that requires, among other things, each bureau and office to identify all actions they have adopted or are in the process of developing relating to Executive Order 13653 and other climate change policies identified in the March 28, 2017, Presidential Executive Order. III. Discussion The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has identified ten items relating to the Presidential Memorandum and Secretarial Order 3349. 1. 056 FW 1 (FWS Policy Manual, adopted July 22, 2013): responsibilities on climate change adaptation and steps down the Departmental policy on climate change adaptation (523 DM 1) 2. 056 FW 2 (FWS Policy Manual, adopted June 20, 2014): Establishes the Climate Adaptation Network in FWS, a team of senior-level staff which guides the bureau to enhance preparedness, adaptation, and resilience in the face of the impacts of climate change and its interaction with non climate influences on fish, wildlife, plants, ecosystems, cultural --resources, and facilities. 3. 1(b) (5) DPP I 7. A Framework for Building Climate Literacy and Capabilities among Federal Natural Resource Agencies: Under the leadership of DOI's Office of Policy Analysis, the FWS, NOAA, USDA-National Resources Conservation Service, USDA-Forest Service, EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contributed to this report. It describes common climate training and education goals and objectives, efforts to provide climate training for senior leaders, and opportunities to work with external partners and stakeholders on developing and delivering climate training. 8. Climate-Smart Conservation: Putting Adaptation Principles into Practice: This handbook, which underwent scientific peer review, was prepared in 2014. It offers guidance for designing and carrying out conservation in the face of a changing climate. The guide is designed to help conservationists and resource managers incorporate climate change considerations into their work. 9. Planning for Climate Change on the National Wildlife Refuge System: A publication completed in March 2014 to provide a practical primer for FWS employees. It is designed to help employees integrate climate change adaptation, mitigation and engagement strategies into planning activities. 10. Considering Multiple Futures: Scenario Planning To Address Uncertainty in Natural Resource Conservation: This guide, which was prepared in 2014 with FWS support and input, presents a broad synthesis of scenario planning concepts and approaches, focused on applications in natural resource management and conservation. IV. Next Steps The Fish and Wildlife Service has identified some examples of how it has stepped down climate change policy into guidance or criteria into project approvals or rankings in various FWS programs. 1. North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants (Migratory Birds): NAWCA Grants increase bird populations and wetland habitat. Grant decisions are based on scoring that includes categories such as waterfowl and wetlands status and trends, including climate change and long-term conservation. One criterion used in Standard NAWCA Grant proposal ranking is "Long term Conservation and Climate Change" which may include up to 3 points for climate change considerations out of a total possible score of 100. For Small Grants under NAWCA, "Climate Change and Long Term Conservation" is allocated 1 possible point out of a total of 15. In FY16, $66 million was available for NAWCA grants. https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/ProposalInstructions.pdf 2. Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) Grants (Migratory Birds): NMBCA Grants addresses migratory bird population needs on a continental scale and throughout their life cycles. Project proposals must identify whether the project reduces the effects of a predicted or current climate change impact on a highly vulnerable species or habitat and are scored up to 3 points (out of 60 total points) in proposal ranking. In FY16, $3.91 million was available for NMBCA grants. https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/nmbcaApplicationInstructions.pdf 3. Competitive State Wildlife Grant Program (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration): This program provides States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories (States) Federal grant funds to develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats. The application states that additional points toward consideration of the proposal may be awarded for projects that significantly incorporate climate change considerations in project design. In 2016, grants to States under this program totaled $5.6 million. https://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SWG/SWG-NOFA2015.pdf 4. Cooperative Recovery Initiative (CRI) (National Wildlife Refuge System): CRI is an internal FWS program with a strategic, cross-programmatic approach to recovering federally listed species on National Wildlife Refuges and surrounding lands that provides project funding for on-the-ground conservation efforts. Climate change is about 12% of the score for round 2 ranking of consideration of CRI Projects. In 2016, $6.8 million was available for funding projects under this program. https://www.fws.gov/refuges/whm/cri 5. National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program (Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, with assistance from the Coastal and Marine Program): This program annually provides grants of up to $1 million to coastal and Great Lakes states, as well as U.S. territories to protect, restore and enhance coastal wetland ecosystems and associated uplands. The grants are funded through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is supported by excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel. Ranking criteria include questions regarding wetlands conservation, coastal watershed management, conservation of threatened and endangered species. Criteria for "other factors" includes a request for how the proposed project addresses climate change concerns and how it will be affected by climate change impacts. In January 2017, $17 million in grants to States were awarded under this program. https://www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants/pdfs/FY2018NCWG NoticeAndInstructions.pdf 6. National Fish Habitat Action Plan (Action Plan) (Fish and Aquatic Conservation): Projects conducted under the Action Plan protect, restore and enhance the nation's fish and aquatic communities through partnerships that foster fish habitat conservation and improve the quality of life for the American people. The application process requests information from project applicants to identify when proposed projects address climate. However, no scoring or ranking criteria is based on this information, and it is used for internal reporting purposes only. In 2016, $1.8 million was available for funding projects under this program. 7. Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Grants (Ecological Services): CESCF grants provide funding to support voluntary conservation projects for federally listed species and species that are candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The projects reflect the collective priorities of the States and FWS. As part of review and scoring, each proposal is assessed for project readiness and conservation in the context of climate change and may be assigned additional points for such work. In 2017, grant awards included $9.48 million for Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance, 19.64 million for Habitat Conservation Plan land acquisition, and $11.16 million for Recovery land acquisition. https://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/pdf/FY17 CESCF-NOFO FINAL.pdf