here is a electronic copy of the last version of the operation plan for the
wyoming gathering.
the operation plan was never consensed to but is a good jumping off point.
PDF Version
or
Word version
Unfortunately, neither of those links work for me. My PDF reader
says the first is not valid Postscript, while the server seemed to
be down when I tried to get the Word doc. Maybe you will have better
luck.
Fortunately, somebody translated for us. – Webmaster
Here's the text only version for those who loathe running a second
application to read text only content:
PS: I personally don't approve of the following OP plan as it includes
WAY too many details, if we open the door to be regulated, what is to
stop it? And IMHO an OPS plan should include the gov't's obligations
as much as it includes ours.
There's also many minor details we could spend weeks talking about.
I suggest following the KISS method (keep it simple, stupid) for
drafting any of these docs.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PLAN
2008 RAINBOW GATHERING
30 June 2008
This Operations and Maintenance plan has been developed to mitigate
potential resource impacts associated with the 2008 Rainbow
Gathering. This Plan has been developed in lieu of a permit for
Non-Commercial Group Uses. It is designed to follow the Standards and
Guidelines of the appropriate Forest Plan, and the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR's) applicable to National Forest Service System
Lands. Copies of existing Forest- Wide and local closure orders will
be included as part of this Plan.
These closure orders will be enforced by the Forest Service. The
Rainbow Gathering will maintain a volunteer liaison crew (which can
and will change on a daily basis) for administrative agreement matters
and resource concerns between the Forest Service and the gathering
participants. The Forest Service will attempt to ensure daily meetings
occur to address concerns that arise.
HEALTH and SAFETY
- Individuals are responsible for their own health & safety.
- CALM will identify the vehicles to be used for emergencies to the
Forest Service. These vehicles will be allowed to egress quickly
without unnecessary delays. Calm will be notified of any non life
threatening illness discovered by FS personnel at the
gathering. People have the right to refuse medical assistance by any
entity.
- The proper health agencies and the Forest Service will be
notified of any contagious outbreaks.
- Biological Hazards generated at the CALM tent will be disposed of
at an appropriate medical waste disposal facility. No biological
hazardous waste may be buried/remain on the site.
- Trash will be removed from the site in accordance with
State/County sanitation requirements. Only paper and wood trash will
be burned, if allowed by State or County regulations. The assigned
vehicle for trash removal is 028LNC Arkansas.
- Drinking water should be filtered or boiled or treated. Daily
water testing for total coliform and fecal e-coli should be performed
as County or State requirements dictate.
- The gathering will maintain at least one functioning latrine per
100 people. The treatment of human waste is dependant upon numerous
factors. Therefore, to assure the health and safety of visitors to
the gathering, the following actions should be followed:
- Portable toilets should be utilized when feasible. The toilets
will be pumped and cleaned as needed.
- As an alternative to portable toilets, Slit trenches or earth
pit privies may be used. The trenches or privies must meet
State or County requirements.
- Slit trenches should be constructed on upland sites. They
should be located at least 300 feet from surface waters and
down slope from any drinking water sources. Trenches should be
approximately 12 inches wide and of an adequate length for the
anticipated number of people. Buckets of lime or wood ash
shall be available at all trench or privy sites. Trenches or
pits shall be closed when they fill to within 15 inches of the
surface. Disinfectant hand wash should be provided at each
location.
- Kitchen washing procedures are recommended to be a three bucket
system. The first bucket should be a hot soapy wash, the second a
clear hot rinse, and the third a lukewarm chlorine rinse (two ounces
of chlorine bleach per five gallons of water). Dishes should be
allowed to air dry. A hand washing station is recommended for each
kitchen area.
- An emergency helicopter landing zone will be identified to
accommodate emergency evacuation of Flight For Life needs. This area
has been defined as the Dutch Joe Guard Station.
RESOURCE PROTECTION
- Parking areas will be agreed upon by the Forest Service. The
Shanti Sena will provide crews to organize, direct, and provide
security for the gathering. Site specific needs will be addressed on
location to provide for shuttle, supply, route closures, etc.
It is suggested that all vehicles be parked facing out to facilitate
and expedite egress
from the gathering. Vehicles parked in areas specifically closed for
parking, or parked
in a manner that interferes with the ingress/egress of emergency
vehicles will be
towed at the owner's expense. A live-in area (Bus Village) will also
be agreed upon
by the Forest Service. The BLM has identified areas of closure for
parking and they
will be posted and flagged. Vehicles found within the closure areas
will be towed.
Administrative Parking areas will be identified by the Forest Service.
These areas
will be large enough to accommodate five vehicles. These areas will be
signed and
marked. If the area markings are removed, anything stored in that area may be
moved, and any vehicles parked in that area may be towed. It is the
responsibility of
the gathering individuals to insure those areas remain accessible to
the Forest Service.
Repeat offenses will be investigated by Forest Service Law Enforcement
personnel.
- Sensitive areas (wetlands, sensitive species, archeological
sites, etc.) will be flagged by the Forest Service. Individuals at the
gathering are responsible for not camping or congregating within these
areas, and for not removing items from these areas (plants, items over
50 years old like bottles, cans, etc.)
- Collection of edible and medicinal plants and plant parts should
be done in a sustainable manner, with no more than 30% of
products in a given area removed.
- There will be no camping within 100 feet of running water (or
applicable Forest Plan Standard/Guideline).
- Gray water and compost pits from Kitchens should be at least 300
feet from running water and should not be located in areas that
contain riparian vegetation. It is recommended that they be covered
at all times with 4 mil polyethylene or similar material.
- Individuals at the gathering will monitor all activities to
ensure that soap, disinfectants, medical waste, or any other foreign
material will not be introduced into lakes, streams, or other surface
waters.
- Minimal excavating or digging out around drinking water sources.
Use temporary collection techniques (such as rocks, logs, or tarps,
etc.) to collect drinking water at the source.
- Log crossings over creeks/streams will be constructed as to
minimize impacts to the banks.
- Local travel management restrictions will be adhered to and
followed at all times.
- Campfires will be attended to at all times. It is recommended
that a shovel and at least one – three to five gallon
container of water be placed at each campfire location.
Community fires are mandatory – individual fires will not
be permitted. It is suggested that the fire pits not exceed a 12
foot diameter and that all top soil be stored and covered for
protection.
- If local drought conditions dictate, an "Open Fire Closure" may
be issued. If it is, no open fires will be allowed. All cooking
and warming will have to be accomplished with camp stoves fueled
by propane, white gas, or permitted kitchens, etc. Smoking would
only be allowed within vehicles or permitted areas.
- Only dead and down firewood may be used. No cutting of green
vegetation will be allowed without prior approval of the Forest
Service.
ANIMALS
- Animals must be under control at all times. Verbal controls are
not considered "under control" if the animal does not respond
to verbal commands.
- Harassment of wildlife or livestock will not be tolerated.
- Individuals at the gathering will work with local ranchers to
ensure their livestock can pass through the area to their summer
allotments.
NUDITY
- Certain areas of the gathering will be identified as "No Nudity"
areas within view of the main road (Rd 850).
COMMUNICATION
- Access will be granted for the purpose of locating communication
equipment as long
as it meets travel management rules.
SITE REHIBILITATION
- All parking areas, Bus Village, trails, and areas of concentrated
use will be scarified to a depth of 2-4 inches unless deemed
unnecessary by the F.S. and gathers and will be seeded with a native
seed mix approved by the Forest Service. Seeding will be accomplished
by August 1 following the gathering.
- Slit trenches and latrines will be filled and covered with the
native material originally removed from the pit and mounded with
excess material to allow for settling. Any surface waste will removed
from the area.
- All trash will be removed, recycled, or disposed of at a
recognized sanitary landfill, or contracts may be made with local
trash hauling companies.
- All man made structures not previously existing at the gathering
location (bridges,
swings, lean-to's, ovens, "art") will be dismantled, removed, or
scattered to achieve a
natural appearance.
- Any user created trails will be returned to as a natural state as
possible. Existing trails
will be returned to a width specified by the Forest Service, with the
appropriate water
controls to avoid concentrations of water and to prevent gully formation.
- All water lines will be removed from the gathering site.
- All vehicles abandoned will be removed from National Forest
System lands at the cost of the owners.
- Fire pits will be filled with native material originally removed
and mounded with excess material to allow for settling. Rocks will be
scattered to give a natural appearance to the landscape.
- Site specific needs will be identified at a walk through with
rainbow volunteer's and
the Forest Service after July 4.
- There will be a Site Rehabilitation Plan addressing concerns and
will be completed by July 6.
GENERAL
- Copies of the Operating Plan will be posted at the gathering
information center, and
at other suitable locations.
- The Rainbow gathering individuals will establish contact with local agencies,
businesses, and organizations to arrange services and supplies, as needed.
- The Rainbow gathering individuals will be responsible for emergency medical
coordination and evacuation with area medical facilities.
FOREST SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES
- I.C.
- Planning Chief
- Operations
- Special Uses/Resources
- Information
- Health and Safety
- District Ranger.
This page is standard validated HTML 4.0. (date 2008-07-22)
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