FR 2021-01476

Summary of the Document

The document is an Executive Order (EO 13976) issued by the President of the United States to establish the Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee, also referred to as the "Wildland Fire Subcabinet." Its primary purpose is to improve coordination among federal agencies involved in managing wildland fires. The order highlights a need to address shortcomings in policy leadership, accountability, and interagency coordination within wildland fire management. The newly formed subcabinet aims to streamline efforts across various federal departments, reduce duplication of efforts, and boost cooperative initiatives with state, local, and tribal entities.

Significant Issues and Concerns

There are several issues and concerns associated with this executive order:

1. Potential Costs and Oversight: While the order establishes a new committee, it does not specify the anticipated costs associated with its operation. Without clear budget oversight, there is a risk of inefficient or wasteful spending.

2. Defining Duplication: The document speaks of eliminating "unnecessary duplication," yet it lacks a precise definition of what constitutes such duplication. This lack of clarity could lead to uneven or ineffective consolidation of resources.

3. Broad Language: Duties and responsibilities described in the order, particularly around coordinating federal engagement with various government entities, are broad. This vagueness leaves room for varied interpretation, which could affect the committee's efficiency and overall impact.

4. Accountability and Consequences: The document mandates an extensive strategic planning process for the subcabinet to develop performance measures and integrate new technologies. However, it does not outline specific mechanisms for accountability or potential consequences if the strategic goals are not achieved.

5. Ambiguous Resource Commitment: Terms like "balanced commitment of resources" are not clearly defined, potentially leading to subjective interpretations that could bias the allocation of resources based on differing priorities.

6. Evaluative Oversight: There is no reference to a specific body or mechanism to evaluate how effectively the Wildland Fire Subcabinet meets its objectives, which could result in a lack of accountability.

Impact on the Public

For the general public, this executive order could have broad implications in terms of wildfire preparedness and response efficiency. Enhanced coordination at the federal level might mean better-managed wildfire risks, potentially reducing the threat to life, property, and community infrastructure. The public may witness improved disaster response times and more effective use of government resources.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Federal Agencies: Agencies involved could experience increased workloads as they work toward better integration and coordination. They may also need to reevaluate existing processes to align with the new strategies proposed by the subcabinet.

State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Effective federal coordination with state, local, and tribal entities could lead to more robust and collaborative responses to wildland fires. However, these entities might also bear additional responsibilities as part of this coordination.

Wildland Firefighters: The focus on workforce development and firefighter retention could have beneficial long-term impacts for those in the profession, offering them more training opportunities and improved career stability.

Utility Companies and Infrastructure Operators: By fostering collaboration with utility companies, the order might encourage the development and deployment of new technologies for better managing wildfire risks, indirectly impacting economic sectors reliant on these utilities.

In summary, while the Executive Order aims to improve wildland fire management and poses potential benefits, its lack of specificity in key areas raises concerns about implementation effectiveness and accountability.

The Executive Order on establishing the Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee, also known as the Wildland Fire Subcabinet, references several financial aspects related to wildland fire management. However, there is a lack of explicit financial allocations or appropriations mentioned directly in the order. The document primarily focuses on policy coordination and strategic planning, with some implications for financial management.

Summary of Financial and Spending References

The order sets forth a strategic plan aimed at improving preparedness resources, initial attack response, extended attack and large-fire support, post-wildfire rehabilitation, and hazardous fuels management on a cross-boundary, landscape scale. It addresses the need for enhanced performance measures beyond traditional metrics like acres burned, dollars spent, and gallons of retardant dropped. The emphasis is on strategic use of resources, including human capital, equipment, and aircraft, which inherently suggests attention to the financial implications of these operations.

Relationship to Identified Issues

One notable issue is the establishment of a new committee, the Wildland Fire Subcabinet, without clearly defining anticipated costs. This planning poses potential risks of wasteful spending if there is no structure in place to monitor expenditures. The strategic focus on financial efficiency aims to ensure that spending is directed towards high-risk projects rather than being dissipated on less critical initiatives. However, without defined allocations, there can be subjective interpretations of what constitutes a priority, potentially leading to mismanagement of funds.

Additionally, the document speaks broadly about reducing unnecessary duplication across existing councils and working groups. While this presents an opportunity to streamline spending, the lack of a precise definition for "unnecessary duplication" may create challenges in identifying and eliminating redundant expenses.

Furthermore, the order includes the development of a coordinated budget strategy. Yet, it does not specify a process for assessing effectiveness or accountability measures, which could result in unclear financial direction or misallocation of resources.

Finally, while the document mentions that the Department of Agriculture will provide administrative support within existing appropriations, this could strain current budgets if existing funds are insufficient to cover the new responsibilities.

In conclusion, while the Executive Order aims to bring financial discipline to wildland fire management, the lack of explicit financial plans and accountability mechanisms raises concerns about potential inefficiencies and the strategic use of funds. It highlights the need for further clarity and oversight to ensure financial resources are allocated effectively and responsibly.