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![[graphic] Color Curve](../images/content_nrcg.gif) |
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CHARTER |
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INTRODUCTION
The Northern Rockies Coordination Group
(NRCG) is established to provide an interagency approach
to wildland fire management and all risk support on all
land ownerships within the States of Montana, North Dakota,
northern Idaho, and a small portion of South Dakota. |
AUTHORITIES
Interagency agreements between Bureau of Land Management,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department
of the Interior, and the Forest Service of the United
States Department of Agriculture, commonly called the
Joint Powers Agreement. The effective date of this agreement
was October 1, 1982.
• Cooperative
Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (P.L.) 95-313,92
Stat. 365; 16 U.S.C. 2101(note), 2110-2110,1606,2111)
• Federal Response
Plan, Stafford Act
• State Emergency Operations Plans |
SCOPE
NRCG deals with all fire management related issues or
opportunities that have interagency implications within
the Northern Rockies Geographic Area. NRCG conducts its
business at two levels. A Board of Directors deals with
issues that are Geographic Area in scope. Within the Geographic
Area, Zones are in place to conduct business at a more
local level. |
MEMBERSHIP
The NRCG Board of Directors is composed of representatives
from the following organizations (some of the Zones may
add other local representatives to their executive group):
Bureau
of Land Management
Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Forest Service
Montana
Disaster and Emergency Services Division
Idaho Department of Lands
North Dakota Forest Service
Montana Firewardens Association
Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation
Each member of the Board of Directors will have the authority
to speak for their organization. Agencies will be responsible
for the appointment of their representatives. |
MISSION
To further interagency cooperation, communications, and
coordination, and to provide interagency fire management
direction and all risk support for the Northern Rockies.
The mission is achieved by:
•
Operating at a strategic/oversight level
•
Encouraging cooperation across jurisdictional and administrative
boundaries
• Oversee
fire health and safety issues
• Providing interagency direction to field units
• Providing a group response
to agency specific requests that have interagency
implications |
OFFICERS
NRCG will appoint a chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson
that will serve for one year. An executive secretary will
be provided by the Forest Service. The Vice-Chairperson
shall advance to the office of Chairperson after the completion
of one year or upon the permanent vacancy of the Chairperson.
Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson: The Chairperson and
the Vice-Chairperson are responsible for the overall operations
of NRCG. The chairperson calls the meetings and conference
calls, sets the agenda, facilitates the meetings, and
facilitates efforts to reach agreement on issues. The
Chairperson will sign NRCG decision documents. A signature
by the chairperson represents consensus agreement by all
of the NRCG participating members.
Executive Secretary: The executive secretary reports to
the chairperson. The secretary will ensure that meeting
notices are distributed, minutes of meetings are taken,
edited, filed and distributed; products from working groups
are reproduced and distributed to NRCG members and agencies.
The secretary tracks work commitments, distributes executive
committee tasks, prepares decision documents and conducts
follow-up on the status of NRCG decision implementation.
Zone Coordinators: The duties of the zone coordinator
are closely aligned with the responsibilities of the executive
secretary. This individual provides the coordination bridge
between the Geographic Area NRCG Board of Directors and
the zone organization that is in place to manage the business
of a zone. |
COMMITTEES AND TASK
FORCES
NRCG will establish standing committees and task forces
to address issues. All standing committees will operate
with a charter. When task forces are established, work
orders will define specific issues to be addressed.
Standing committees may be composed of membership from
each of the Zones, technical specialists, and an NRCG
Director who will serve as a liaison. Committees will
appoint a chair.
Issue specific task forces are envisioned. Technical specialists
and interested individuals from the NRCG fire community
will make up the task forces. Standing committees can
develop their own task forces when they identify a need
and each task force must have a specific work plan defining
their objectives.
All committees and task forces will keep meeting notes
that will be distributed broadly to NRCG members. |
FINANCING
Each agency’s financial contributions will be through
negotiation for individual projects and will be limited
to expenses incurred by representatives of the agency
performing agency approved actions.
Nothing herein shall be construed as obligating any of
the member agencies to expend funds of the United States,
or the States of Montana, Idaho, or North Dakota, in any
contract or obligation for future payment or work in excess
of appropriations authorized by law and administratively
allocated for this work. |
ADOPTION OF POLICY
Agency representatives will have the authority to represent
their organizations in all operational aspects for fire
management. They will be expected to provide an interpretation
of their organization’s policy. If a change in policy
is required within an agency, the members will work through
the appropriate agency administrators. |
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