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OWFC Overview |
The OWFC manages and oversees the Department’s wildland fire management programs
and policies. This includes:
• The Office is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the Department’s
implementation of the National Fire Plan (www.fireplan.gov), 2001 Federal
Wildland Fire Management Policy, the Healthy Forests Initiative, and evolving
legislated mandates.
• The Office reviews and coordinates the Budget allocations and
appropriations requests for Wildland Fire Management in concert with the
agencies and Office of Budget.
• Coordinating the Departments wildland fire management program policy,
strategic planning and performance measures with the USDA Forest Service, other
federal agencies, state governments and other stakeholders.
• Developing, implementing, and coordinating the Department’s wildland fire
management policy and programs including policies for firefighter safety, fuel
treatments to reduce hazards and restore ecosystems, biomass utilization, smoke
management, emergency stabilization and rehabilitation, suppression, rural fire
and community assistance, and education.
• Responsible for providing Departmental guidance, policy, and oversight in
accordance with Congressional mandates and Government Accountability Office
(GAO) audit recommendations to the Wildland Fire Management agencies.
• OWFC is the Wildland Fire Management liaison with Congressional members,
GAO, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other Federal political
appointees.
• Coordinates with NFAEB providing a forum for discussion of short and long
term fire issues and initiates action for fire and aviation programs while
recognizing individual agency missions.
• Advising and consulting with Departmental officials to resolve program
issues dealing with the wildland fire management program.
• Representing the Department in meetings with external agencies including
the USDA Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, GAO, and other government and non-government agencies and
organizations involved in the development, coordination, evaluation, and
oversight of policies, strategies and plans related to the safe and effective
management of the wildland fire program.
• Monitoring and evaluating bureau fire management programs for consistency
and compliance with policies, standards, and regulations.
• Developing and managing Departmental systems (i.e., National Fire Plan
Operations and Reporting System (NFPORS)) for reporting, analysis of fire
statistics and costs, and dissemination of statistics.
• Coordinating the development and publication of the Department’s Annual
Performance Report and the Action and Financial Plan for the wildland fire
management program.
• Coordinating the development, presentation, and justification of the
wildland fire management budget requests to the Secretary, the Office of
Management and Budget, and Congress.
• Working with DOI bureaus to determine wildland fire management program
budget allocations.
• Working in partnership with the Forest Service to manage the interagency
web site for the National Fire Plan.
• Providing staff support to the Wildland Fire Leadership Council (for
additional information, go to: www.fireplan.gov -- Wildland Fire Leadership
Council).
• Coordinating Department-wide budget and financial management initiatives
within the wildland fire management program.
• Coordinating wildland fire management information technology system
development and operations with the participating bureaus, the Chief Information
Officer, and the Forest Service.
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