1998 Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Biological Opinions and 2003 (Jarbidge) Bull Trout Biological Opinion Line Manager Certification Report for 2015 DD: 05/02/2016

Program Area:  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) applies to all lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that are subject to the 1998 Salmon, Steelhead, and Bull Trout Biological Opinions and the 2003 (Jarbidge) Bull Trout Biological Opinion.  
Purpose:  The purpose of this IM is to transmit and fulfill requirements of the memorandum signed by the BLM Idaho Deputy State Director for Resource Services and other members of the Columbia Basin Deputy Team and request Line Managers to complete the annual certification report(s).

Policy/Action:  Attached are 5 documents regarding the referenced Biological Opinions.  Please complete the annual Line Manager Certification Report found in Attachment 2 which provides 
a mechanism for documenting the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the BLM administrative units implementation and compliance with PACFISH and INFISH Standards and Guidelines, and the terms and conditions as described in the 1998 National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Biological Opinions and the 2003 USFWS (Jarbidge) Bull Trout Biological Opinion.  This information will assist identifying priority issues needing resolution, certify compliance with the legal requirements  of the 1998 and 2003 Opinions, more efficiently address Freedom of Information Act requests, and ensure the durability of PACFISH, INFISH and the 1998 and 2003 Opinions until replaced through plan revisions.  The Coeur d’Alene Resource Management Plan (RMP) (2007) and Cottonwood RMP (2009) contain aquatic strategies with completed consultations so it is not necessary for these field units to complete a report.  The Jarbidge RMP with its own aquatic strategy was completed in 2015 and the biological opinion was issued on July 28, 2015, so the Jarbidge Field Office will only need to complete the report for the portion of 2015 up to July 28, 2015.  The Completed and signed reports are to be emailed to Scott Hoefer, Fisheries Biologist (shoefer@blm.gov) by May 2, 2016.

Timeframe:  The due date for completion of the Line Manager Certification Report is May 2, 2016. 

Background:  The attached memorandum provides the background for this request.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  None.

Coordination:  This action has been coordinated with the USFS, the USFWS, and the NMFS.

Contact:  Questions should be referred to Scott Hoefer, Fisheries Biologist, and (208) 373-3819.

Boise District with Union:  Management is reminded to notify and satisfy any bargaining requirements prior to implementation.