Represent

Lobbying
Lobbying by Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc

Lobbying Relationship

Client

Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc

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Lobbying firm

Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Science)

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H.R.____ (DeFazio): Opposed bill that would effectively privatize our federal forest lands by creating legally binding fiduciary trusts for the sole purpose of providing revenues to counties. The result would be industrialized clearcuts across the landscape as this would be the most efficient way to meet obligations to maximize revenues. Industrialization of public lands will damage watersheds and pollute drinking water, putting our western water supply at risk, as over 50% of fresh water supplies in the West come from federal forests. Intensive logging and other extractive practices dumps sediment into rivers, that can increase costs for local water utilities, cause erosion and can alter the timing of water availability. (H.R. ___, DeFazio) would sidestep or limit the application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or the Clean Water Act. Bureau of Land Management O&C Lands: In general educated and lobbied for proposals to uphold the Northwest Forest Plan, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act protections and for ecologically sound forest management. S. _________ (Wyden) To restore forest landscapes, protect old growth forests, and manage national forests in the eastside forests of the State of Oregon, and for other purposes. Lobbied for passage of this bill.

Duration: January 1, 2010 to May 17, 2013

General Issues: Natural Resources, Agriculture, Real Estate/Land Use/Conservation

Spending: about $103,482 (But it's complicated. Here's why.)

Agencies lobbied since 2010: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Senate, House of Representatives, Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Interior - Dept of (DOI), Office of Management & Budget (OMB), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), White House Office, Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Interior, Dept of (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), House of Representatives, Senate

Bills mentioned

S.10: Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013

Sponsor: Harry Reid (D-Nev.)

H.R.1294: Self-Sufficient Community Lands Act

Sponsor: Raúl Labrador (R-Idaho)

H.R.818: Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention Act

Sponsor: Scott Tipton (R-Colo.)

H.R.1345: Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act of 2013

Sponsor: Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.)

S.3240: Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012

Sponsor: Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)

H.R.2852: Action Plan for Public Lands and Education Act of 2011

Sponsor: Rob Bishop (R-Utah)

H.R.2582: Homeowners' Defense Act of 2011

Sponsor: Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.)

H.R.3599: County Payments Reauthorization Act of 2011

Sponsor: Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)

S.1692: County Payments Reauthorization Act of 2011

Sponsor: Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)

H.R.4019: Federal Forests County Revenue, Schools, and Jobs Act of 2012

Sponsor: Doc Hastings (R-Wash.)

H.R.2578: Conservation and Economic Growth Act

Sponsor: Jeffrey Denham (R-Calif.)

S.221: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the health...

Sponsor: Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

S.1344: Arizona Wallow Fire Recovery and Monitoring Act

Sponsor: Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)

S.2895: Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection, and Jobs Act...

Sponsor: Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)

S.2798: National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act of 2010

Sponsor: Mark Udall (D-Colo.)

H.R.5192: Forest Ecosystem Recovery and Protection Act

Sponsor: Cynthia M. Lummis (R-Wyo.)

Show All Mentioned Bills

Lobbyists

Lobbyists named here were listed on a filing related to this lobbying engagement. They may not be working on it now. Occasionally, a single lobbyist whose name is spelled two different ways on filings may be represented twice here.

Lobbyist	Covered positions?
Randi Spivak	VP Government Affairs
DOMINICK DELLA SALA	n/a
CINDY DEACON WILLIAMS	n/a
Randi Spivak Ms.	n/a

Disclosures Filed

Once a lobbying engagement begins, the lobbyist or firm is required to file updates four times a year. Those updates sometimes change which lobbyists are involved or add new issues being discussed. When lobbyists stop working for a client, the firm is also supposed to file a report disclosing the end of the relationship.

0th Quarter, 2006

Registration

2nd Quarter, 2013

Q2 Report

In Q2, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Science) lobbied for Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc. The report was filed on May 21, 2013. Original Filing: 300567606.xml

Lobbying Issues

H.R.____ (DeFazio): Opposed bill that would effectively privatize our federal forest lands by creating legally binding fiduciary trusts for the sole purpose of providing revenues to counties. The result would be industrialized clearcuts across the landscape as this would be the most efficient way to meet obligations to maximize revenues. Industrialization of public lands will damage watersheds and pollute drinking water, putting our western water supply at risk, as over 50% of fresh water supplies in the West come from federal forests. Intensive logging and other extractive practices dumps sediment into rivers, that can increase costs for local water utilities, cause erosion and can alter the timing of water availability. (H.R. ___, DeFazio) would sidestep or limit the application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or the Clean Water Act. Bureau of Land Management O&C Lands: In general educated and lobbied for proposals to uphold the Northwest Forest Plan, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act protections and for ecologically sound forest management. S. _________ (Wyden) To restore forest landscapes, protect old growth forests, and manage national forests in the eastside forests of the State of Oregon, and for other purposes. Lobbied for passage of this bill.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

2nd Quarter, 2013

Termination

2nd Quarter, 2013

Amendment

Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Science) amended a lobbying report for representation of Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc in Q22013 on May 21, 2013. Original Filing: 300567610.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

2nd Quarter, 2013

Amendment

2nd Quarter, 2013

Amendment

Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Science) amended a lobbying report for in-house lobbying in Q22013 on May 21, 2013 Original Filing: 300567642.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

1st Quarter, 2013

Q1 Report

In Q1, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Science) lobbied for Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc, earning $10,000. The report was filed on May 21, 2013. Original Filing: 300567605.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S. 10): Opposed to section 8203 which dramatically increases the areas of our National Forest System that can be treated with hazardous fuel reduction projects using HFRAs minimal and expedited environmental review, public participation, administrative appeal process, and judicial review provisions. The provision also fails to require compliance with HFRAs critically important safeguards that protect ecologically sensitive areas, such as old growth stands and designated wilderness. This provision authorizes and incentivizes projects in remote backcountry areas of our national forests, thereby diverting increasingly scarce resources away from forest-adjacent communities (otherwise known as the wildland-urban interface area or WUI) and potentially increasing fire risk for such communities. Opposed these three bills which strive to reinstate the discredited system of logging to generate revenue for counties. This mechanism was eliminated over a decade ago with the creation of the Secure Rural Schools program. H.R. 1294, (Labrador), H.R.____ (Hastings) and H.R.____ (DeFazio), would effectively privatize our federal forest lands by creating legally binding fiduciary trusts for the sole purpose of providing revenues to counties. The result would be industrialized clearcuts across the landscape as this would be the most efficient way to meet the mandated intensive logging targets (at least 50% of the Federal Forest Reserves (Hastings) or obligations to maximize revenues. Industrialization of public lands will damage watersheds and pollute drinking water, putting our western water supply at risk, as over 50% of fresh water supplies in the West come from federal forests. Intensive logging and other extractive practices dumps sediment into rivers, that can increase costs for local water utilities, cause erosion and can alter the timing of water availability. (H.R. ___, DeFazio) would sidestep or limit the application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or the Clean Water Act. H.R. 1294, Self-Sufficient Community Lands Act of 2013 (Labrador) H.R. ____, Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act (Hastings) H.R. ____, O&C Trust, Conservation, and Jobs Act (DeFazio, Walden, Schrader) Opposed the following two bills which provide vast new authorities that eviscerate longstanding common sense protections. These bills would open up bigger areas of our national forests and public lands to be logged and developed for virtually any purpose-in many cases regardless of whether such projects effectively address fire, insects, or other threats. H.R. 818, (Tipton), allows clearcutting without proper environmental analysis. - H.R. 818, Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention Act (Tipton) - H.R. 1345, Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act of 2013 (Gosar) Northwest Forest Plan: Advocated to maintain protections under the Northwest Forest Plan. Northern Spotted Owl: Engaged in critical habitat determination for the northern spotted owl. Marbled Murrelet: Advocated for protection of marbled murrelet habitat. Advocated for using watershed restoration and avoided costs methodology to protect clean water mandates for federal lands.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

1st Quarter, 2013

Amendment

Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Science) amended a lobbying report for representation of Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc in Q12013 on May 21, 2013. Original Filing: 300567607.xml

Lobbying Issues

S. _________ (Wyden) To restore forest landscapes, protect old growth forests, and manage national forests in the eastside forests of the State of Oregon, and for other purposes. Lobbied for passage of this bill. Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S. 10): Opposed to section 8203 which dramatically increases the areas of our National Forest System that can be treated with hazardous fuel reduction projects using HFRAs minimal and expedited environmental review, public participation, administrative appeal process, and judicial review provisions. The provision also fails to require compliance with HFRAs critically important safeguards that protect ecologically sensitive areas, such as old growth stands and designated wilderness. This provision authorizes and incentivizes projects in remote backcountry areas of our national forests, thereby diverting increasingly scarce resources away from forest-adjacent communities (otherwise known as the wildland-urban interface area or WUI) and potentially increasing fire risk for such communities. Opposed these three bills which strive to reinstate the discredited system of logging to generate revenue for counties. This mechanism was eliminated over a decade ago with the creation of the Secure Rural Schools program. H.R. 1294, (Labrador), H.R.____ (Hastings) and H.R.____ (DeFazio), would effectively privatize our federal forest lands by creating legally binding fiduciary trusts for the sole purpose of providing revenues to counties. The result would be industrialized clearcuts across the landscape as this would be the most efficient way to meet the mandated intensive logging targets (at least 50% of the Federal Forest Reserves (Hastings) or obligations to maximize revenues. Industrialization of public lands will damage watersheds and pollute drinking water, putting our western water supply at risk, as over 50% of fresh water supplies in the West come from federal forests. Intensive logging and other extractive practices dumps sediment into rivers, that can increase costs for local water utilities, cause erosion and can alter the timing of water availability. (H.R. ___, DeFazio) would sidestep or limit the application of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or the Clean Water Act. H.R. 1294, Self-Sufficient Community Lands Act of 2013 (Labrador) H.R. ____, Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act (Hastings) H.R. ____, O&C Trust, Conservation, and Jobs Act (DeFazio, Walden, Schrader) Opposed the following two bills which provide vast new authorities that eviscerate longstanding common sense protections. These bills would open up bigger areas of our national forests and public lands to be logged and developed for virtually any purpose-in many cases regardless of whether such projects effectively address fire, insects, or other threats. H.R. 818, (Tipton), allows clearcutting without proper environmental analysis. - H.R. 818, Healthy Forest Management and Wildfire Prevention Act (Tipton) - H.R. 1345, Catastrophic Wildfire Prevention Act of 2013 (Gosar) Northwest Forest Plan: Advocated to maintain protections under the Northwest Forest Plan. Northern Spotted Owl: Engaged in critical habitat determination for the northern spotted owl. Marbled Murrelet: Advocated for protection of marbled murrelet habitat. Advocated for using watershed restoration and avoided costs methodology to protect clean water mandates for federal lands.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

1st Quarter, 2013

Amendment

Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Science) amended a lobbying report for in-house lobbying in Q12013 on May 21, 2013 Original Filing: 300567641.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

2nd Quarter, 2012

Q2 Report

In Q2, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on July 20, 2012. Original Filing: 300498731.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

1st Quarter, 2012

Q1 Report

In Q1, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on July 12, 2012. Original Filing: 300482706.xml

Lobbying Issues

O&C Trust, Conservation, and Jobs Act (discussion draft): Geos Institute opposes this proposal that would effectively privatize and necessitate clearcutting on ~1.5 million acres of publicly owned O&C land. Federal environmental laws would be waived and these public lands would be managed under the Oregon Forest Practices Act (OFPA) which has inadequate protection standards, this bill would degrade water quality, harm imperiled salmon and threatened wildlife. H.R.4019 : Federal Forests County Revenue, Schools, and Jobs Act of 2012: Geos Institute opposes this bill as it would liquidate national public assets to meet local government operating costs by giving local county commissioners unprecedented legal leverage to compel increased logging, mining, grazing, and oil and gas exploitation on national forest lands-irrespective of local environmental impacts or costs to taxpayers nationwide. Environmental laws would be effectively repealed including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Forest Management Act. National Forest Management Act Revised Planning Rule: advocated to strengthen protection for species viability, water and watershed protection and science based planning. The Conservation and Economic Growth Act (HR 2578): Geos Institute opposed this act as it contained many anti-environmental provisions that would undo decades of land protection measures and override many important laws. One particularly damaging measure is Title III, the Southeast Alaska Native Land Entitlement Finalization and Jobs Protection Act that would privatize ~65,000 acres (equivalent of more than 100 square miles) of public lands in the Tongass National Forest.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

4th Quarter, 2011

Q4 Report

In Q4, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on July 12, 2012. Original Filing: 300482705.xml

Lobbying Issues

HR 2852, Action Plan for Public Lands and Education Act of 2011. Geos Institute opposed this bill as it proposed to enact a giant transfer of wealth from U.S. taxpayers to the states, which is not in the public interest. In total, H.R. 2582 would require the federal government to transfer approximately 30 million acres of federal public land to the States, with Alaska receiving over 8.4 million acres. National Forest County Revenue, Schools, and Jobs Act of 2011 (discussion draft): Geos Institute opposed this legislative proposal as it would liquidate national public assets to meet local government operating costs by giving local county commissioners unprecedented legal leverage to compel increased logging, mining, grazing, and oil and gas exploitation on national forest lands-irrespective of local environmental impacts or costs to taxpayers nationwide. Environmental laws would be effectively repealed including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Forest Management Act. H.R.3599 : County Payments Reauthorization Act of 2011. Geos Institute supported the extension of county payments. S.1692 : County Payments Reauthorization Act of 2011. Geos Institute supported the extension of county payments.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

3rd Quarter, 2011

Q3 Report

In Q3, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on July 10, 2012. Original Filing: 300481702.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

2nd Quarter, 2011

Q2 Report

In Q2, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on July 10, 2012. Original Filing: 300481697.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

1st Quarter, 2011

Q1 Report

In Q1, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on July 6, 2012. Original Filing: 300481077.xml

Lobbying Issues

1. House Interior Appropriations: Opposed anti-environmental riders. 2. Senate Interior Appropriations: Opposed 45% cut in Legacy Trails and Roads program funding. 3. National Carbon Trust Proposal: Advocated for the creation of a forest carbon trust, that would protect naturally dense existing forest carbon stores to avoid GHG emissions through logging. 4. National Forest Management Act Regulations Revisions: Lobbied Congress for inclusion of best available science provisions, strong wildlife viability provisions and watershed restoration provisions. 5. Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act 2011 (S.221). In January 2011, Senator Wyden reintroduced his 2009 bill of the same name. Geos Institute advocated in support of this bill. 6. Senate Clean Energy Standard: Endorsed & developed Sustainable Biomass Principles

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

4th Quarter, 2010

Q4 Report

In Q4, Geos Institute (formerly National Center for Conservation Sc had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on Jan. 28, 2011. Original Filing: 300356312.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

3rd Quarter, 2010

Q3 Report

In Q3, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on Dec. 15, 2010. Original Filing: 300333743.xml

Lobbying Issues

S. 2895 Oregon Eastside Forest, Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act. Worked on all sections in the bill. Purpose of the legislation is to conserve and restore old growth forests, aquatic and riparian resources in six National Forests on the Eastside of Oregon. National Forests Planning Rule: All aspects especially, forest and watershed restoration, adaptation and mitigation. Forest conservation and carbon strategies. mitigation strategies. Forest Policy as it relates to carbon sequestration and storage on federal lands. Bureau of Land Management Western Oregon Plan Revision. All aspects, especially protection of older forests and endangered species issues. S. 2798 National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act. All sections. Advocated for science based solutions for insect infestation.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

2nd Quarter, 2010

Q2 Report

In Q2, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on Aug. 2, 2010. Original Filing: 300305902.xml

Lobbying Issues

S. 2895 Oregon Eastside Forest, Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act. Worked on all sections in the bill. Purpose of the legislation is to conserve and restore old growth forests, aquatic and riparian resources in six National Forests on the Eastside of Oregon. National Forests Planning Rule: All aspects especially, forest and watershed restoration, adaptation and mitigation strategies. Forest Policy as it relates to carbon sequestration and storage on federal lands. Bureau of Land Management Western Oregon Plan Revision. All aspects, especially protection of older forests and endangered species issues. S. 2798 National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act. All sections. Advocated for science based solutions for insect infestation. H.R. 5192 The Forest Ecosystem Recovery and Protection Act. All sections. Advocated for science based solutions for insect infestation.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

1st Quarter, 2010

Q1 Report

In Q1, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on Aug. 2, 2010. Original Filing: 300305957.xml

Lobbying Issues

S. 2895 Oregon Eastside Forest, Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act. Worked on all sections in the bill. Purpose of the legislation is to conserve and restore old growth forests, aquatic and riparian resources in six National Forests on the Eastside of Oregon. National Forests Planning Rule: All aspects especially, forest and watershed restoration, adaptation and mitigation strategies. Forest Policy as it relates to carbon sequestration and storage on federal lands. Bureau of Land Management Western Oregon Plan Revision. All aspects, especially protection of older forests and endangered species issues. S. 2798 National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act. All sections. Advocated for science based solutions for insect infestation.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

4th Quarter, 2009

Q4 Report

In Q4, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on Aug. 3, 2010. Original Filing: 300306009.xml

Lobbying Issues

S. 2895 Oregon Eastside Forest, Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act. Worked on all sections in the bill. Purpose of the legislation is to conserve and restore old growth forests, aquatic and riparian resources in six National Forests on the Eastside of Oregon. Policy for federal forests related to climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies with a focus on forest carbon cycling and carbon storage and sequestration. Bureau of Land Management Western Oregon Plan Revision. All aspects, especially protection of older forests and endangered species issues. 2001 National Forest Roadless Rule S. 2798 National Forest Insect and Disease Emergency Act. All sections. Advocated for science based solutions for insect infestation.

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

3rd Quarter, 2009

Q3 Report

In Q3, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy had in-house lobbyists. The report was filed on Aug. 5, 2010. Original Filing: 300306476.xml

Lobbying Issues

Agencies Lobbied

Type of Issue

Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate

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Disclosures Filed