Document aDDn0LjrZ6n9yangKGz8Yqgye

From: To: Subject: Date: Attachments: Seth Mott Beniamin Fwd: NCT: For Review - Briefing for PDD Sheehan Wednesday, February 7, 2018 3:14:53 PM ATT00001.htm PDD Memo - NCT and Climate Change Jan 12 2018.docx Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "Goldberg, Jason" <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> Date: January 12, 2018 at 1:48:50 PM EST To: FWS National Climate Team <fws_national_climate_team@fws.gov> Subject: Re: NCT: For Review - Briefing for PDD Sheehan Hi all, Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on the briefing paper. Mike and I completed our review of everyone's comments and the work is much stronger for your input! I've attached the draft that we've sent forward to the DAD-SA for review. In addition to the briefing paper, we included several references I think many of you have seen previously, such as the response we submitted last year on policies related to SO 3349. If you want would like a copy, please let me know. We will continue to keep you updated on the status of the briefing. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of additional assistance. Regards, Jason On Tue, Jan 9, 2018 at 10:38 AM, Goldberg, Jason <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> wrote: Hi all, This is a friendly reminder, comments on the briefing paper for PDD Sheehan are due by COB tomorrow. We're running a little over two page, so I've included a few edits where we might make cuts to bring us back in the page limit. After tomorrow, Mike and I will complete edits and send a draft for review to DAD Mott on Friday. I'll keep you informed of the status moving forward. Thank you again to everyone who has provided feedback! Regards, Jason On Tue, Jan 2, 2018 at 2:45 PM, Goldberg, Jason <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> wrote: Good afternoon, Happy New Year to everyone! I am following up on the status of the briefing for PDD Sheehan. I learned that the SA ARDs are meeting next week. As a result, it's not necessary to complete our review of the briefing paper by tomorrow COB as initially planned. In addition, I've received a few out of office notes indicating several people are still out this week. I would like to revise the deadline for review to next Wednesday COB, January 10. That gives Mike and I two days to make additional revisions if needed and submit a package for review to DAD Mott by Tuesday, January 16. Thank you for your time. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of any assistance. Regards, Jason On Tue, Dec 26, 2017 at 2:26 PM, Goldberg, Jason <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> wrote: Hi all, Thanks to everyone who contributed to a great discussion last week on the briefing for PDD Sheehan. Extra credit goes to Mike, Don, Scott, and Stephen from R1 and R2 for calling in early at 9 am ET. Based on the discussion, I produced a revised draft of the briefing document, annotated and available by clicking here. The original plan had been to complete the draft this week but based on the discussion we'd like to extend that a few days to COB Wednesday, January 3, to give everyone another opportunity to review. The current draft meets the two-page requirement when I checked it in Word. If you suggest adding anything new, please suggest what you think is lower priority and should be deleted. We have a few clarifications to include so I'll be seeking to cut a few lines. I'll be happy to share notes from the discussion if anyone would like them, just e-mail me and I'll send them along. Thank you again for your time and contributions to the review. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of additional assistance. Happy New Year, Jason On Tue, Dec 19, 2017 at 8:10 AM, Goldberg, Jason <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> wrote: Hi all, This is a friendly reminder to please submit comments on the briefing for PDD Sheehan by COB Wednesday, 12/20. Thanks to everyone who has already replied! I've started working on comments to clean up the file. I've accepted those which seemed noncontroversial and left others for discussion later this week. If you would like to join either of Friday's discussions, please RSVP so I know how many people to expect. There is no need to participate in both, I scheduled two on Friday to make it easier for staff on each coast to participate given a possible early holiday release. I'll produce a next draft by Tuesday COB, 12/26, in response to your feedback. The NCT will have until that Thursday to provide additional comments, after which Mike and I will produce a final draft and clear it through SA. Thanks again for your time! Please let me know if I can be of any additional assistance. Regards, Jason On Tue, Dec 12, 2017 at 9:58 AM, Goldberg, Jason <jason_goldberg@fws.gov> wrote: Hi all, I am following up about an upcoming briefing for Principal Deputy Director Sheehan that Dr. Tuggle would like to hold in January on the National Climate Team. The briefing is an informational opportunity to make PDD Sheehan aware of the NCT, the 2010 Climate Strategic Plan, and the capacity and issues we've identified that we are continuing to invest in to help address the Service mission. Dr. Tuggle will ask PDD Sheehan what guidance and direction he might want to give us. We're not delivering recommendations or policy changes, just providing information about the Service's climate change-related work and what we plan to do in FY18. I spoke with DAD Mott about what to prepare for the briefing, and he suggested shorter is better. The FY18 Workplan needs to be part of the briefing package. I suggest a briefing paper, two pages max, should also be included that covers the following issues: Why is climate change important to FWS and our partners, especially the States? Note key policies, especially 2010 Strategic Plan and NFWPCAS. . What is the NCT? What does success look like for FWS in addressing climate change adaptation and other related issues? [What are our key accomplishents? I don't recommend including the FY17 Accomplishments Report, but rather focusing on broader examples.] What's Next? [What do we think we can achieve in 2018?] We also have a memo that was submitted to DOI earlier this year that outlines FWS-related policies on climate change. I suggest it's also worth including as it was submitted to DOI before PDD Sheehan came on board and covers the second question noted above. With the holidays, I know there isn't much time to complete this review. I would still like to hear from NCT members (and others on this list) who would like to contribute. I have posted a very rough draft of a briefing paper on Google Drive for your review. It needs to be condensed, but it's a start. I've set it up so everyone can make comments instead of direct edits. Please let me know if that creates any difficulties. I suggest the following timeline: Please provide feedback by COB Wednesday. 12/20. Please feel free to add other examples or suggest which ones are more important. I'll monitor comments and provide updates as needed. If anyone wants to talk anything through as a group. I will organize two teleconferences for follow-up discussion on Friday 12/22: one at 9 am ET for East Coast Staff and one at 2 pm ET for West Coast staff. (I'm assuming we may get early release that day and want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate.) I will set those up shortly - please RSVP if you plan to attend. I will produce a second draft by COB Tuesday. 12/26. NCT has until COB Thursday. 12/28 to provide additional comments. Mike and I finalize the draft by 12/29. I will clear the draft through DAD Mott (with NCT follow-up if needed). We will send a draft to Dr. Tuggle for review. I know some NCT members may not be available through the holidays. Please feel free to connect with me at your convenience to discuss any thoughts or feedback you would like to provide. My calendar is up to date. just pick a time that works for you and set it up at your convenience. Thank you again for your time. Please let me know how I can be of assistance moving forward. Regards. Jason Jason Goldberg U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Ph: 703-358-1866 Cell: 240-687-8213 Jason Goldberg U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Ph: 703-358-1866 Cell: 240-687-8213 Jason Goldberg U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Ph: 703-358-1866 Cell: 240-687-8213 Jason Goldberg U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Ph: 703-358-1866 Cell: 240-687-8213 Jason Goldberg U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Ph: 703-358-1866 Cell: 240-687-8213 Jason Goldberg U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Ph: 703-358-1866 Cell: 240-687-8213 INFORMATION MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR DATE: January 12, 2018 FROM: Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Assistant Director, Science Applications SUBJECT: Climate Change and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service BACKGROUND Environmental conditions are changing rapidly and include the effects of climate change, which are compounding existing impacts to fish and wildlife and adding new ones. This poses significant challenges for accomplishing the Service mission. Without acknowledging and factoring them into our work, these changes are expected to increasingly result in impacts on ecosystems, the economic and cultural services they provide, and local, State, and Tribal communities. Service climate change-related efforts promote efficient and cost-effective management. As part of this effort, the Service's National Climate Team (NCT) works internally and with partners to anticipate and address these challenges to trust resources. DISCUSSION Why must the Service consider climate change impacts? Climate change affects stakeholders who rely on healthy natural resources for recreation and livelihood: hunters and anglers, wildlife-related industries, State fish and game agencies, and Tribes. The more detrimental the changes linked to climate change, the more focus, response, staff resources, and funding that are required by States and other partners to address those changes. The effects of climate change, particularly in combination with other existing stressors, are affecting every aspect of the Service mission and already are resulting in habitat loss, range shifts, population declines, changes in bird migration patterns, spread of invasive species, greater wildfire frequency and intensity, and a higher incidence of insect and disease outbreaks. These effects will continue into the future and are likely to increase. Service lands and facilities, and those of States and partners we support, are facing increasing climate-related challenges including more frequent or severe floods, fires, sea level rise, and drought. Understanding the risks to Federal, State, Tribal and private infrastructure helps the Service prevent loss of structures and habitat and avoid costly replacement in the future. The Service has a long-standing commitment and legal responsibilities to manage resources based on a strong science foundation. For example, the Refuge System Mission and Guiding Principles state "We subscribe to the highest standards of scientific integrity and reflect this commitment in the design, delivery and evaluation of all our work;" several sections of the Endangered Species Act require the use of the best scientific information available; and DOI and Service scientific integrity policies guide our work. What is the National Climate Team (NCT)? The Service-wide, cross-programmatic NCT is comprised of professional staff who provide relevant technical expertise and facilitate communications on climate change science, adaptation, outreach, policy, and guidance to the Service and its partners. The NCT's FY18 Workplan has five key priorities: Provide Technical Assistance and Internal Coordination, Review the 2010 Climate Change Strategic Plan, Improve Communications, Enhance Partnerships and External Coordination, and Facilitate Delivery of Training. What are examples ofthe Service's climate change-related accomplishments? The Service collaborated with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) to assist States in voluntarily incorporating climate science and adaptation into State Wildlife Action Plans. Following Hurricane Sandy, the Service led more than 30 projects to restore coastal marshes, wetlands, and shoreline; create or open connections to rivers and streams for fish passage; and reduce the risk of future flooding and damage to local infrastructure. This work benefited National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries and surrounding communities. The Service provides climate-related technical capacity such as decision support tools, modeling, vulnerability assessments, and other science products that manage and synthesize large amounts of data. Examples include: an application matching 16 climate variables and nonnative species' ranges to better predict the risk of invasive species introductions; a Weather Severity Index to help estimate influences of climate change on waterfowl populations, habitat, and hunter opportunity; and the FishVis Mapper for identifying vulnerabilities of riverine habitat and fishes to climate change in the Midwest. The Service recognizes that some climate changes result in beneficial conditions. For example, part of the basis for the Service downlisting the wood stork from endangered to threatened was modeling which projected habitat expansion due to changing climate. The Service works with partners to improve understanding of species adaptive capacity to cope with changing climate; this will help improve status assessments and the effectiveness of conservation planning and management.. The Service developed tools to assess vulnerability of its infrastructure. For example, Fish and Aquatic Conservation developed a tool that is currently being applied to National Fish Hatcheries to evaluate how climate change may impact hatchery infrastructure and operations in the Pacific Northwest. Where feasible, the Service implements projects to reduce energy use, such as retrofitting existing facilities, incorporating the latest energy efficient products into designs for new construction, and expanding renewable energy availability. As a result, the Service has reduced its energy consumption per gross square foot by an impressive 24.6% from the FY 2015 energy intensity baseline. This reduction has resulted in a savings of nearly $2 million since FY 2015. Developed at the direction of Congress and published in 2013, following public review, the Service helped lead the development of the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy with the States and other partners. The Strategy advocates a coordinated response across management and jurisdictional boundaries in light of environmental changes being observed across the nation. The Service's National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) designed and offered climaterelated courses to address natural resource management needs of the Service and its partners. NEXT STEPS The Service will continue to pursue opportunities, within existing capacities and consistent with Departmental guidance such as Secretarial Order 3360 and our Director's Office, to better conserve trust resources in the face of a changing climate, including continuing work to implement the NCT FY18 Workplan.