The Blues Intergovernmental Council (BIC) is the result of extensive dialogues over a period of eight months in 2019 between the county commissioners from eastern Oregon and the USDA Forest Service (USFS). NPCC served as facilitator for those dialogues and currently manages and facilitates the BIC process. The purpose of the BIC as defined in the draft operating charter is to “serve as an overarching entity for planning and guidance around land management issues related to the Blue Mountain Forests (consisting of the Wallowa-Whitman, Malheur, and Umatilla Forests), including but not limited to the forest plan revisions.” County commissioners from eastern Oregon and the USFS are serving as its initial conveners and believe that working together through the BIC will expedite and support the implementation of effective, sustainable management strategies on the ground that will advance environmental health and socio-economic goals for local communities dependent on the Blue Mountains. The BIC envisions that their work together will provide a new way for intergovernmental action to be part of the solution while respecting each entity’s laws, regulations, policies, and authorities.
Contact
For more information contact NPCC at (503) 725-9092 or npccdesk@pdx.edu.
Upcoming Meetings
Next Full BIC Meeting
Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 10 am - 3:00 pm
Umatilla County Sheriff's Office
4700 NW Pioneer Place
Pendleton, OR 97801
BIC Public Engagement Session
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Umatilla County Sheriff's Office
4700 NW Pioneer Place
Pendleton, OR 97801
BIC Participants
Federal agencies: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), Rural Development (RD), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), US Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Fish and Wildlife (USFW), US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Tribal governments: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, Burns Paiute Tribe
State government: Oregon State Governor’s Office, Washington State Governor’s Office, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), Washington State Department of Natural Resources (WA-DNR)
County government: all affected Oregon and Washington counties
State elected representatives and senators participate upon request from the BIC.
Statement from Susan Roberts (co-convener)
To the communities surrounding the Blue Mountains National Forests:
The Blues Intergovernmental Council (BIC) supports the USDA Forest Service’s plans to reinitiate Forest Plan Revision for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. The work completed by the BIC over the past two years has established key foundations that will be crucial components of an improved Forest Plan Revision process by reflecting local values, incorporating input, and providing robust opportunities for meaningful engagement. Read the full statement (PDF)
NEWS
Susan Roberts Editorial, Other Views: A Solid Foundation to Move Forward with Forest Plan Revision, The Observer
Press Release: BIC Phase 1 Accomplishments and Support (PDF)
"BIC Completes Desired Conditions for Blue Mountain Forest Management Plan" - www.BlueMountainEagle.com
BIC Phase 1 Accomplishments, Press Release (PDF)
BIC Approved Agreements and Work Products
BIC Desired Conditions
BIC Operating Principles - Final Version (PDF)
BIC Framework and Timeline for Creating a Forest Plan (PDF)
BIC Assessment Draft (PDF)
BIC Socioeconomic Subcommittee - Risk Opportunity Index Report May 2022 (PDF)
Resources and Background
BIC Resources
BIC Background Materials
USDA Forest Service Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision Planning Website
Meeting Materials
2022
September 27, 2022, Meeting Materials
May 31, 2022, Meeting Materials
March 28, 2022, Meeting Materials
January 25, 2022, Meeting Materials
2021
November 2, 2021, Meeting Materials
June 4, 2021, Meeting Materials
April 30, 2021, Meeting Materials
March 26, 2021, Meeting Materials
February 26, 2021, Meeting Materials
January 26, 2021, Meeting Materials
2020
December 2020, Meeting Materials
November 24, 2020, Meeting Materials
October 27, 2020, Meeting Materials
October 19, 2020, Meeting Materials
August 25, 2020, Meeting Materials
May 26, 2020, Meeting Materials
April 28, 2020, Meeting Materials
The March 2020 BIC meeting was cancelled due to the COVID virus
February 25, 2020, Meeting Materials
January 28, 2020, Meeting Materials
2019
December 20, 2019, Meeting Materials
November 22, 2019, Meeting Materials