Meeting Information June 2012

AGENDA

June 5, 2012

Department of the Interior

Room 5160

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, D.C

MEETING MINUTES - JUNE 5 - 6, 2012

SFBPC members participating: James Adams, John Arway, Janine Belleque, Doug Boyd, Noreen Clough, Jeff Crane, Thom Dammrich, Chris Edmonston, Jon Gassett, Mike Grayum, Fred Harris, Betty Huskins, Gary Kania, Scott Kovarovics, Ryck Lydecker, Mac McKeever, Mike Nussman, Geoff Ratté, John Sprague, Ron Regan, Dan Ashe

Other participants: Rowan Gould (FWS), Bryan Arroyo (FWS), Bob Ratcliffe (NPS), Andy Tenney (BLM), Mike Pool (BLM), Mickey Fearn (NPS), Rich Weideman (NPS), Joel Lynch (NPS), Kate Goggin (BOR), Anna Harris (FWS), Brian Bohnsack (FWS), Christian Hoehner (Volusia County, FL), Randal Bowman (DOI), Christy Vigfusson (FWS), Christine Dobday (RBFF), Jim Crum (Volusia County, FL), Ryan Roberts (AFWA), Russell Dunn (NOAA), Lori McCullough (Tread Lightly!), Gwen White (D.J. Case & Assoc.), Doug Hobbs (FWS), Sharon Rose (FWS), Jesse Trushenski (Southern Illinois U.), Todd Turner (FWS), Julie Collins (FWS), Tim Jennings (FWS), Dan Castleberry (FWS0, Greg Boland (BOEM), Jennifer Fowler-Propst (FWS), Steve Klosiewski (FWS), Larry Riley (Arizona Game & Fish), Christie McGregor (TNC), Leslie Pokladnik (FWS), Jaime Geiger (FWS), Jeff Underwood (FWS), Mary Beth Charles (NFWF), Tom Sadler (Middle River Group), Matthew Patterson (FWS), Richard Christian (FWS), Joe Larscheid (Iowa DNR), Chris Williams (American Rivers), Mike Weimer (FWS), Mark P. Smith (TNC), Elise Irwin (USGS), Tomer Hasson (OMB), Stephen Perry (New Hampshire Fish & Game)

June 5, 2012:

Meeting of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council

Location:         Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW

**Meeting held in the “North Penthouse” (8th floor)

CONVENE

Welcome & Introductions

Thom Dammrich, SFBPC Chair

Update briefing on the Removal of Inactive Oil/Gas Production Infrastructure from the Gulf of Mexico

Allen Thornhill, Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement, DOI

• Mr. Thornhill was not able to present. The Council discussed “Idle Iron” Policy.
• Action on a letter drafted by Council members about the issue was postponed until the afternoon of June 6 (see below).

Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation update

Mike Pool, Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management & FICOR Chair

• Mr. Pool updated Council members on the most recent actions of the FICOR.
• He also briefed Council members on the upcoming meeting of the FICOR.
• Council members asked Mr. Pool about issues areas that the FICOR would focus on in the near future.

National Park Service briefing

• Rich Weideman, Assistant Director, Partnerships and Civic Engagement, National Park Service
• Bob Ratcliff, Chief, Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Programs, National Park Service
• Mickey Fearn, NPS
  • Mr. Weideman stated that the NPS is very interested in engaging partners in issues pertaining to NPS management.
  • Mr. Ratcliffe and Mr. Fearn urged Council members to engage NPS staff on issues of concern within the recreational fishing and boating communities.

BREAK

Update on the National Ocean Policy

Deerin Babb-Brott, Director, National Ocean Council

• Mr. Babb-Brott updated Council members on the on-going implementation of the National ocean Policy.
• He discussed how the Administration is addressing concerns about policy.

Refuge Vision Implementation Plan update

Marcia Pradines, Chief, Division of Visitor Services & Communications National Wildlife Refuge System

• Ms. Pradines updated Council members on the status on implementation of the new Refuge Vision.
• She urged on-going participation by SFBPC members.

Break for Lunch

Reconvene

Update on the activities of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF)

-Frank Peterson, Jr., President, RBFF

• Mr. Peterson updated Council members on RBFF activities.
• He also updated the status of RBFF activities to implement SFBPC recommendations.
• He led a discussion with Council members about revising one of the RBFF accomplishment measures.
  • MOTION by ?? to agree to revise the Goal 1, Objective 1 measure.
  • SECOND by Adams.
  • Motion was APPROVED unanimously.

Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration program Update

Christy Vigfusson, Fish & Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, Branch of Programs

• Ms. Vigfusson presented an update on the boating programs implemented through the Sport Fish Restoration Program.
• She focused on the recently closed comment period on the rulemaking for the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Programs.

Welcome comments and Q&A

Dan Ashe, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Director Ashe highlighted FWS activities of importance to the SFBPC.
• He discussed the AGO initiative.
• He stated that the SFBPC could be helpful in highlighting the importance of outdoor recreation with the FICOR.
• He also indicated that the Council’s work related to the FWS Fisheries Program was important and the FWS looked forward to receiving Council recommendations.

BREAK

Update on NOAA Fisheries activities & issues

Russell Dunn, National Policy Advisor for Recreational Fisheries, NOAA Fisheries

• Mr. Dunn updated Council members on fisheries management activities at NOAA

Health of the smallmouth bass fishery in PA: National implications?

John Arway, SFBPC member & Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

• Council member Arway made a presentation about the decline of Smallmouth bass populations in both the Juniata River and Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
• His presentation focused on the scientific investigation of the situation and the possible management impacts.

Boating Issues Committee

John Sprague, Chair, SFBPC Boating Issues Committee

• Committee Chair Sprague updated Council members on the status of rulemaking for the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program.
• Sprague highlighted proposed rulemaking for the program and recounted concerns that Boating Issues Committee members have.
• Sprague stated he was hopeful that the FWS would address concerns raised by the SFBPC and others.
• Sprague urged that the Council should make sure to weigh in on the rulemaking during the upcoming.
  • MOTION by ?? to have the Boating Issues Committee draft a letter to the FWS with comments on the BIG rulemaking and asking for an extension of the comment period. The letter would be considered at a subsequent Council teleconference meeting.
  • SECOND by Adams.
  • Motion was APPROVED unanimously.

Public comment

• Lori McCullough, Executive Director for Tread Lightly! Inc., made brief comments making Council members aware of the “Respected Access is Open Access” campaign.

ADJOURN

June 6, 2012

**Meeting held in the “North Penthouse” (8th floor)

CONVENE

Thom Dammrich, SFBPC Chair

Welcome and introductions

Fisheries Issues Committee working session

• Mike Nussman, SFBPC Fisheries Issues Committee Chair, history of involvement; expectations for process and outcomes; introduce Doug Hobbs, Whitney Tilt, & Gwen White
• Whitney Tilt & Gwen White, D.J. Case & Associates, Explain use of demographic information for cross-tabulation

Context of FWS Fisheries Program Strategic Planning

• Tribal interests.
• Steve Perry and Larry Riley led presented material regarding the State interest in the Fisheries Program.
• Office of Management & Budget examiner Tomer Hasson provided perspective on what OMB was looking for from a revised strategic plan and vision, to include accountability measures.
• Council member Noreen Clough recounted the past work of the SFBPC and the recreational fisheries community in working to provide input to the Fisheries Program.
  • Review of Councils assistance in shaping fisheries program (presentation on history of SFBPC involvement)
• FWS Deputy Director Rowan Gould provided the perspective of the Director’s Office and FWS leadership.

BREAK

Overview of FWS Fisheries Program Strategic Planning Revision Process

• Mr. Hobbs made a presentation identifying key reference points for the effort.
• He highlighted the current vision, strategic plan, two council assessments, quarterly update on implementing recommendations from last assessment.
• Mr. Tilt led a briefing on issue White Papers drafted by the FWS.

LUNCH

Stakeholder interests

• Whitney Tilt led participants in a discussion about highlighting areas within the Fisheries Program that had particular relevance within the stakeholder community.
• Tilt led an open discussion to identify what is missing.
  • What’s missing in seven major topics with 36 subtopics? Do you need additional information on any of these topics? Which will be most controversial? Which will be most critical to the stakeholders that you represent?

FWS Role in Strategic Plan revision

• FWS Fisheries Program AD Bryan Arroyo provided a situational briefing on the program, including the budget, program update, status of implementation of Council recommendations, implications beyond FWS.

FWS Work Areas in Revising the Fisheries Program Strategic Plan

• Whitney Tilt led a discussion on what the key themes for a Vision statement
  • Brainstorm key themes inspired by stakeholders.
  • Break into small groups to use information to draft Vision statement.
  • Participants discussed commonalities and differences. What is missing?
  • Council and Steering Committee members were asked which themes were the highest priority?

BREAK

Closing remarks

• Present combined draft Vision statement
  • Recapped role of SFBPC
  • Discussed the approach to stakeholder input sessions
  • Round table comments – Each participant had opportunity to make closing statement providing guidance for the Steering Committee.

Open Council discussion / Consideration of Action Items / New business

• Update briefing on the Removal of Inactive Oil/Gas Production Infrastructure from the Gulf of Mexico
  
  
  
  ACTION: Council drafted a letter to Interior Secretary Salazar, asking for a 2 year moratorium on implementation of the ‘Idle Iron” policy to allow time for a public process to be undertaken that would provide for public input on how to implement the policy without harming habitat that benefits fish species.
  
  
  
  MOTION by John Sprague to send the letter.
  
  SECOND by Fred Harris.
  
  Motion was APPROVED unanimously.

Council members selected November 7 & 8, 2012, as the date for its Fall meeting. Members decided to meet in Corpus Christi, TX.

Meeting ADJOURNED