The Barbed Wire - December 30, 2015

December 30, 2015
RCRC Chair Takes a Look Back…
Golden State Finance Authority Provides $150,000 to Calaveras County to Assist Victims of Butte Fire
FEMA 2015 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Noticed
Wild and Scenic Rivers
Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Text Updated
BULLETIN BOARD
KEEPING UP

RCRC Chair Takes a Look Back…

2015 proved to be another busy year for California’s rural counties.  As Chair of the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), I am proud of the successes we’ve seen, the progress we’ve made, and the lessons we’ve learned this year.  Read More…

Golden State Finance Authority Provides $150,000 to Calaveras County to Assist Victims of Butte Fire

Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) announced today providing $150,000 to Calaveras County to further efforts to provide safe and sanitary interim housing to individuals and families displaced from their primary residence by the Butte Fire.  The Butte Fire destroyed nearly 500 residences and nearly 400 other structures when it burned more than 70,000 acres in September 2015.  One hundred percent of the GSFA funds will be used for these direct assistance purposes.  Read More…

FEMA 2015 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Noticed

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a notice describing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria.  The AFG Program makes grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations, and state fire training academies (SFTAs) for the purpose of enhancing the abilities of first responders to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as the first-responder personnel.  

In addition, a minimum of 10 percent of available funds are required to be expended for Fire Prevention and Safety grants (FP&S), to be made directly to local fire departments and to local, regional, state, or national entities recognized for their expertise in the fields of fire prevention and firefighter safety research and development.

The $306,000,000 funds appropriated for FY 2015 will be made available for AFG awards and will be available for obligation and award until September 30, 2016. 

Full details on the notice can be accessed here.

Wild and Scenic Rivers

The U.S. Forest Service has made available the Wild and Scenic Rivers inventory, eligibility and classification findings for the Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra National Forests.  The inventory, evaluation, and classification process and findings have been compiled into one draft Wild and Scenic Evaluation document which will be published as an appendix in the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) being developed for the forest plan revisions.  The U.S. Forest Service Wild and Scenic webpage can be accessed here.

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Text Updated

An updated version of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) as amended in 2015, and effective as of January 01, 2016, can be accessed here.

BULLETIN BOARD

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Annual Report Released

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Rural Housing Service Soliciting Pre-Applications Under Housing Preservation Grant Program

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State Water Board Proposes Changes to 2015 Urban Water Conservation Emergency Regulation

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Fiscal Year 2015-16 Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program Grant Application Forms and Supporting Materials Posted

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KEEPING UP

Scott Kernan Appointed Secretary at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

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Jeff McGuire Appointed Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of General Services

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Sherri Gastinell Appointed Deputy Secretary of Administrative Services at the California Department of Veterans Affairs

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Cindy Messer Appointed Assistant Chief Deputy Director at the California Department of Water Resources

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