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<br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />comprehensive study of the costs ofland and resource management planning. The study predicts the <br />proposed 2002 planning rule will save roughly 30 percent from the 2000 rule. <br /> <br />The National Forest Management Act requires the development, periodic revision and amendment of <br />forest and grassland plans. Existing plans for these lands were developed under regulations adopted <br />in 1982. There are currently 39 revisions and numerous amendments underway pursuant to the 1982 <br />regulations. <br /> <br />The proposed was published in the Federal Register in December. The proposed rule and related <br />documents are available at www.fs.fed.us/emc/nfma. <br /> <br />New BLM State Director: Ron Wenker who began his career in theBLM in 1971 as a Range <br />Technician and most recently served as District Manager in BLM's Medford, Oregon, Office, will <br />assume the position of State Director in Colorado. <br /> <br />TMDL Rule: The EP A has announced it will withdraw the 2000 Total Maximum Daily Load <br />(TMDL) rule. After receiving thousands of comments, and responding to several lawsuits on the <br />proposed rule, EP A decided that the rule was unworkable. <br /> <br />Dam Safety: On Dec. 2,2002 President Bush signed the Dam Safety and Security Act of2002. The <br />law amends the National Dam Safety Program Act and establishes a federal Interagency Committee <br />on Dam Safety. It requires the FEMA Director to prepare a strategic plan with goals, priorities, and <br />target dates for improving dam safety. It provides for technical assistance to improve security for <br />dams. <br /> <br />The FEMA Director is also directed to provide assistance to states in establishing, maintaining and <br />improving dam safety programs. The law requires FEMA to establish a board to monitor the safety of <br />dams and implementation of state programs and advise the Director on national dam safety policy. <br />This II-member board is to include five state dam safety officials and one member from the private <br />sector. Moreover, the Director, in consultation with this board, may invite a number of non-voting <br />representatives from "federal or state agencies or dam safety experts, as needed, to participate in <br />meetings ofthe Board." <br /> <br />The law authorizes the appropriation of $6 million annually through Fiscal Year 2006, $1.5 million <br />per year for dam safety research, $500,000 for dam safety training, and $600,000 for additional staff. <br /> <br />National Association of Homebuilders v. Norton: On Nov. 5 the D.C. Circuit Court held that the <br />Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) <br />disclose information specific to the location of listed species under the Endangered Species Act <br />(ESA). <br /> <br />Following the 1997 listing of the pygmy owl as an endangered species, and 1999 designation of <br />critical habitat, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) filed a request for information to <br />"allow an average person to locate the property where members of the species are known or believed <br />to exist." The USFWS response concealed site-specific information to prevent any intentional <br />disturbance oflisted species. <br /> <br />Central Delta Water Agency v. Norton: On Sept. 26 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that <br />"likely" enviromnental hann may give rise to standing under citizen suits, authorized by Clean Water <br />Act (CW A) Section 505, against one "who is alleged to be in violation" of the Act. <br /> <br />The plaintiffs, the Central Delta Water Agency (CDW A) and South Delta Water Agency (SDW A), <br />along with two Central Valley fanners, allege that Reclamation's operation of New Melones <br />Reservoir on the Stanislaus River does not ensure compliance with a salinity objective measured at a <br /> <br />3 <br />