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The Annual Gathering of Tribes and the Rainbow Family Tribe have the Constitutional Right to Peaceably Assemble
Communications:
To facilitate communications on these land use issues, a request is being made for FS Resource People to come daily to Cooperations (near INFO) at noon,
Fire Plan and Emergency Evacuation Plan:
Cooking/Heating fires ONLY are to be lit, with water and fire tools at hand.
Fire Watch will patrol entire camp.
Fireworks are STRONGLY discouraged.
An Emergency Evacuation Plan is being disseminated It is being developed between Kent Foster and Gatherers.
Medical and Health:
Health and Safety issues are worked out with Gatherers and all Medical Personnel shall be allowed ingress and egress, including for Medi-Vac evacuations.
Helicopter Medi-Vac landing zones have been designated, and shall be cleared for landings, as needed.
Peace-Keeping:
Peace-Keeping is provided by Gatherers at the site. When needed, appropriate law enforcement officers will be contacted.
Volunteer Peace-Keeping is being done on the outer roads and in town whenever possible.
For Peace-Keeping purposes, communications is essential. More cooperation with local authorities on traffic patterns and local situations would be appreciated.
A request is being made for Law Enforcement Officer Patrols to be removed of reduced. If a law enforcement problem occurs it will be discussed with Gatherers.
If law enforcement assistance is required, it will be requested by Gatherers.
Traffic:
On roads fire lanes will be left open. Traffic will he handled between Gatherers and Resource and Public Safety Personnel.
Clean-up and Site Rehabilitation:
Clean-up and restoration is continuous throughout the Gathering. Garbage is being recycled and removed. Further naturalization and restoration planning will be worked out between on-site clean-up crews and FS Resource Personnel.
"We are Gathering: We don't burn the forest down and we will clean it ALL up when we are through."
This Operations and Maintenance plan has been developed to mitigate potential resource impacts associated with the 2007 Gathering of the Rainbow Family of Living Light. 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 council will maintain a volunteer liaison crew for administrative agreement matters and resource concerns between the Forest Service and the Tribal Council. Daily meetings should occur to address concerns that arise.
Health and Safety:
1. 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.
2. Biological Hazards generated at the CALM tent will be disposed of at an appropriate medical waste disposal facility. No biological waste may be buried/remain on the site.
3. Drinking water should be filtered/ boiled and treated. Daily water testing for total coliform, and fecal ecoli should be performed as County or State requirements dictate.
4. 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:
b. 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.
6. An emergency helicopter landing zone will be identified to accommodate emergency evacuation of Flight For Life needs.
7. The Dixon Ridge Road (FR- 1463) will remain open for vehicle travel at all times.
Resource Protection:
1. Parking areas will be agreed upon by the Forest Service. The Rainbow Family will provide crews to organize, direct, and provide security for the parking area(s). Site specific needs will be addressed on location to provide for shuttle, supply, route closures, etc. 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.
2. 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.)
3. Collection of edible and medicinal plants and plant parts should be done in a sustainable manner, with no more than half of products in a given area removed. Digging of any plants is prohibited. Removal of any part of ginseng, southern lady slipper or ovate-leaf catchfly is prohibited.
4. There will be no camping within 100 feet of running water.
5. 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. They should be covered at all times with 4 mil polyethylene or similar material.
6. The Rainbow Family 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.
7. Avoid excavating or digging out around drinking water sources. Use temporary collection techniques (such as rocks, logs, or tarps) to collect drinking water at the source.
8. Entrance into any cave is prohibited.
9. Log or rock crossings over creeks/streams will be constructed as to minimize impacts to the banks.
10. Local travel management restrictions will be adhered to and followed at all times.
11. Campfires will be attended to at all times. It is recommended that a shovel and at least one - one gallon container of water be placed at each campfire location. Community fires are mandatory - individual fires will not be permitted.
12. 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, etc. Smoking would only be allowed within vehicles.
13. Only dead and down firewood may be used. No cutting of green vegetation will be allowed without prior approval of the Forest Service.
14. No campsites or improvements will be constructed in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness.
Site Rehabilitation:
1. All parking areas, Bus Village, trails, and areas of concentrated use will mulched with native material. Water-bars will be constructed as need to minimize surface erosion.
2. 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.
3. All trash will be removed and disposed of at a recognized sanitary landfill, or contracts may be made with local trash hauling companies.
4. 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.
5. Any user created trails will be obliterated. 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.
6. All water lines and collection improvements will be removed from the gathering site.
7. All vehicles abandoned by gathering members or their guests will be removed from National Forest System lands at no cost to the Forest Service.
8. 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.
9. Gathering participants need to take all their pets with them when departing the gathering.
10. Site specific needs will be identified at a walk through with rainbow family representatives and the Forest Service after July 4.
General:
1. Copies of the Operating Plan will be posted at the gathering information center, and at other suitable locations.
2. The Rainbow Family will establish contact with local agencies, businesses, and organizations to arrange services and supplies, as needed.
3. The Rainbow Family will be responsible for emergency medical coordination and evacuation with area medical facilities.