“A NEW THP SYSTEM” California Natural Resources Agency Update on Rollout of On-Line Timber Harvest Permitting System (CalTREES) — Sacramento Webinar Workshop on October 15, More to Come
ACL is watching the “roll out” of CAL TREES — an “all electronic on-line THP program” developed by the California Natural Resources Agency, CALFIRE and others, to begin its “Initial Stage” on October 1, 2018, with a “roll out” period heading towards January 1, 2019. A “webinar workshop” will be held on October 15, 2018 in Sacramento to assist in training. Additional training, trainers, and training videos are expected.
Here is the message from Russell Henly of the California Natural Resources Agency:
BEGIN:
Dear Persons Interested in the AB1492 Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Program:
I am pleased to provide this update on the rollout of the new, on-line timber harvest permitting system (CalTREES), which begins its initial stage on October 1. Training materials and opportunities are forthcoming, including a workshop scheduled for October 15. We will be releasing additional information over the coming weeks.
Timber harvest permitting in California is moving into a new era with the launch of the California Timber Regulation and Environmental Evaluation System (CalTREES) by CAL FIRE and the AB 1492 Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Program. This on-line system will streamline the submission and review processes for timber harvesting documents. The system will feature easy-to-use forms, error checking, and real-time reporting and analytics. Registered Professional Foresters, Licensed Timber Operators, and landowners will have the option to electronically submit, track, and update timber harvesting documents on-line via CalTREES. The public will have access to CalTREES to search for timber harvesting documents and related data and to submit comments electronically during plan comment periods.
Following delays due to extreme fire activity, CalTREES is now scheduled to be rolled out on October 1, 2018 to CAL FIRE employees and other State Agencies, such as State and Regional Water Boards, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and California Geological Survey. Beginning in November 2018, Demonstration State Forest staff will have access to CalTREES to submit harvest documents electronically, and public stakeholders will have access to CalTREES to review all types of timber harvesting documents. In late 2018 or early 2019, plan preparers will be able to submit plans via CalTREES, and public stakeholders will be able to submit comments and request notification of plan filings.
During the conversion to CalTREES, all files in the THP Library ftp://thp.fire.ca.gov/THPLibrary/ will be migrated to CalTREES and be accessible in November 2018. At that time, the FTP-site-based THP Library will no longer be updated with new documents. The THP Library will remain operational until December 31, 2018 to view historical documents, after which time all information will only be accessible via CalTREES.
The CalTREES project team is dedicated to ensuring new users have the tools and support they need during the onboarding process. Users will receive: (1) training led by a CalTREES Trainer; (2) an extensive training manual with step-by-step instructions; (3) on-going access to training videos; and (4) opportunities to practice and receive guided instruction in group sessions. Contact Dan.Craig@fire.ca.gov if you or your organization would like to host a group training session for permittees or public stakeholders. More information on CalTREES will be available on the CalTREES website (soon to be announced). For additional questions regarding CalTREES, email CalTREES.Support@fire.ca.gov.
A public workshop and webinar has been scheduled for 1-3 PM on October 15 to provide a CalTREES training opportunity with a focus on public stakeholders. The workshop will take place in the auditorium of the Resources Building, 1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento. Webinar sign-on information will be provided later.
The Natural Resources Agency and the other members of the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Program are excited to be taking these steps to provide a sophisticated, on-line system for more efficient timber harvest permitting processes for permittees, agencies, and the public.
Sincerely,
Russell K. Henly
Assistant Secretary of Forest Resources Management
California Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
russ.henly@resources.ca.gov
916-651-3139 (office)