Executive Order 2003-16
Forest Health and Safety
WHEREAS, the catastrophic wildland fire season of the year 2002: 1) destroyed over 400,000 acres of Arizona's forests, other natural resources, and property; 2) damaged watersheds, wildlife and wildlife habitat; and 3) threatened Arizona citizens; and WHEREAS, the continued drought has contributed to the loss of hundreds of thousands of additional trees to bark beetle infestation; and WHEREAS, the combination of these and other factors, including more than a century of mismanagement of our forests, has contributed to a very high level threat of catastrophic wildland fire that is expected to remain high for many years; and WHEREAS, numerous Arizona communities have been identified as "at risk" to wildfire and more than 500,000 acres of urban interface lands are highly susceptible to fire losses due to hazardous fuel conditions; and WHEREAS, the March 2003 Governor's Conference on Forest Health and Safety led to development of an Action Plan for Arizona, and a call for the creation of a broad, science-based Forest Health Advisory Council to improve the health of Arizona's forests; and WHEREAS, the Action Plan for Arizona also recommends the establishment of a Governor's Forest Health Oversight Council to ensure implementation of the plan and to coordinate efforts for fire prevention, suppression and recovery between government agencies and all levels of government; and WHEREAS, by working together to address forest health issues we can restore our forests to healthy condition and prevent other forest fire disasters. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janet Napolitano, by the virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and Laws of the State of Arizona, do hereby: 1. Establish the Arizona Forest Health Advisory Council (the "Advisory Council"). a. The Governor shall appoint members of the Advisory Council who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor; b. The Advisory Council shall have at least 15 members and no more than 19 members; c. All Advisory Council members shall have a forest-health science background and the Advisory Council shall include members from each of the following: ? Three representatives of Universities in Arizona; ? Two representatives of the Native American community; ? Three representatives of conservation organizations with interest in protecting forests; ? Four representatives from Arizona's business and ranching communities, including: o Two representatives of forest-based industry;
Executive Order 2003-16 May 22, 2003 Page two o Two representative with rangeland management expertise; ? ? ? ? d. Two representatives from a federal land management agency with interest in forest management; At least one representative from the Arizona State Land Department; At least one representative from the Arizona Game and Fish Department; At least one representative from the Governor's Office.
The Advisory Council shall: ? Develop guiding principles for the design and implementation of restoration-based fire fuel reduction and forest health projects based on the best-available science; ? Monitor and evaluate results of existing demonstration restoration projects in Arizona to share lessons learned; ? Identify new opportunities and alternative strategies for demonstrating restoration-based fuel reduction and forest health projects and the resources to fund them; ? Evaluate existing and potential sustainable economic uses for small diameter trees based on their compatibility with long-term protection of forest health and economic development opportunities focused on the creation of local jobs; ? Develop incentives for homeowners and homeowner associations to make their homes and properties fire safe.
2. Establish the Governor's Forest Health Oversight Council ("Oversight Council"). a. Except as otherwise provided below, the Governor shall appoint members of the Oversight Council who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. b. The Oversight Council shall have at least 25 members and no more than 27 members; c. The Oversight Council shall include members from each of the following: ? the Chairs of the Natural Resource Committees of the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives; ? One member representing a rural forested district; who shall be appointed by the minority party leader of the Arizona House of Representatives; ? One member representing a rural forested district, who shall be appointed by the minority party leader of the Arizona Senate; ? At least one representative of a University in Arizona; ? Two representatives of Tribal governments in Arizona; ? Two representatives from conservation organizations with an interest in protecting forests;
Executive Order 2003-16 May 22, 2003 Page three ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? d. Two representatives from forest-based industry; One representative with rangeland management expertise; One representative from an organization with interest in rural economic development; One representative from a citizen-based organization focused on forest health; One representative from a utility responsible for management of a forested transmission corridor; One representative from a health-related field or agency; One representative from the Arizona State Land Department; One representative from the Arizona Division of Emergency Management; One representative from the Arizona Department of Commerce; Two representatives from federal agencies interested in forest health; At least one representative from a Municipal Fire Department; One County Supervisor from a county with a significant forested community; One Mayor from a forested community; One representative from the Arizona Governor's office.
The Oversight Council shall: ? Develop a timeline for the implementation of the Governor's Forest Health and Safety Action Plan for Arizona; ? Provide oversight to timely implementation of the Governor's Forest Health and Safety Action Plan for Arizona; ? Coordinate with the Governor's Forest Health Advisory Council; ? Perform such other tasks as the Governor or the Advisory Council may suggest.
3. Direct the Advisory Council to submit written recommendations to the Governor, with copies transmitted to the regional executives of the affected agencies. The Advisory Council may submit recommendations for each charge separately in order to expedite process and progress. 4. Direct the Oversight Council to submit to the Governor by June 30, 2003, a recommended timeline for implementation and to provide quarterly updates on progress. 5. Direct the Arizona State Land Department to lead the prioritization of communities most at risk of wildfire in the State of Arizona. The Arizona Division of Emergency Management shall cooperate with the Arizona State Land Department on such prioritization.
Executive Order 2003-16 May 22, 2003 Page four 6. Direct the Arizona Division of Emergency Management to coordinate with the Arizona State Land Department and other state, local and tribal agencies to: ensure that the state and local communities are best prepared to respond to a fire disaster, including by streamlining the disaster fund eligibility processes, coordinating the delivery of health and human resources services by local, state and federal agencies and educating the public, (including specifically homeowners) about how best to prepare their property to prevent or reduce fire hazard and how best to respond to fire disaster. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Arizona. GOVERNOR Done at the Capitol in Phoenix on this Day of May in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three and of the independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventy. ATTEST: Secretary of State
