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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />programs is also a key criterion in the proposal. The Federal Register Notice and other information is <br />available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/initiative/. <br /> <br />Groundwater Conference: The 2002 annual conference ofthe Groundwater Foundation, <br />"Groundwater: the Forgotten Element of Watershed Protection," will be held in Eugene, Oregon from <br />Nov. 17-20. Conference presentations will showcase innovative strategies and programs for local <br />watershed management. For more information, visit: <br />http://www.groundwater.org/ProgEvent/conference.htm. <br /> <br />The Groundwater Foundation also has a new e-zine, "The Recharge Report," which offers perspectives <br />on timely groundwater issues. To receive a free trial issue, or to sign up for a free subscription, go <br />http://www.groundwater.orgfFoundation/rechargereport.htm. <br /> <br />Thin Forests to Prevent Fire: On Aug. 22 President Bush announced he will pursue a new forest <br />management policy that calls for clearing more trees from fire-prone forests. Through the "Healthy <br />Forests Initiative," the Administration will work with Congress to "streamline unnecessary, burdensome <br />red tape that prevents timely and effective implementation of wildfire prevention and forest health <br />projects on public lands. Delays of these projects can have devastating environmental and social <br />consequences when catastrophic fires strike." <br /> <br />The Initiative is designed to implement components of the National Fire Plan's 10-year Comprehensive <br />Strategy and Implementation Plan. The plan was adopted this spring by Secretaries Norton and <br />Veneman and 17 western governors. The plan calls for more active forest and rangeland management <br />using thinning, planned bums and forest restoration projects. A process would be established for <br />concurrent project review by federal agencies, and develop guidance for consistent application of <br />National Environmental Policy Act procedures. Secretaries Veneman, Norton and Connaughton will <br />develop draft regulations and policy guidance to reduce the time and cost of planning and improving <br />collaboration with local governments on wildland hazardous fuels reduction projects. <br /> <br />Under the Healthy Forest Initiative, federal agencies will also: <br /> <br />. Work with Congress on legislation to expand the authority of agencies to enter into long- <br />term stewardship contracts with states, localities, the private sector and non-profits and expedite <br />fuels reduction proj ects in high priority areas. <br /> <br />. Work with Congress to enact legislation that ensures that the courts give appropriate weight to <br />the long-term benefits of fuels treatment versus other short-term risks and removes a legislative rider <br />that imposed extraordinary procedural requirements for Forest Service appeals. <br /> <br />. Work with Congress to enact legislation that will strengthen Interior and Agriculture's efforts to <br />fulfill the original promise of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan. <br /> <br />For more information on about the President's Healthy Forest Initiative visit the following web sites: <br /> <br />http://www . whitehouse.gov <br />htto://www.usda.gov <br />htto://www.doi.gov <br /> <br />Family Farm Alliance Annual Meeting: The lsth Annual Family Farm Alliance meeting will be held <br />on Mar. 6 and 7, 2003 in Las Vegas. <br /> <br />Hydropower Regulation Review: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has announced <br />its intention to begin a review ofthe need for new regulations for the licensing of non-federal <br />hydroelectric projects. A September Federal Register notice will announce a series of regional forums to <br />be jointly sponsored with the Departments of Interior, Commerce and Agriculture in October and <br /> <br />3 <br />