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DNR Helicopter Use and Cost Proposed Final Report

DNR Helicopter Use and Cost Proposed Final Report. Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee January 5, 2011 John Bowden, JLARC Staff. Study Mandate. In 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget (ESSB 6444), JLARC was directed to conduct a review with the primary question being:

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DNR Helicopter Use and Cost Proposed Final Report

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  1. DNR Helicopter Use and Cost Proposed Final Report Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee January 5, 2011 John Bowden, JLARC Staff

  2. Study Mandate In 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget (ESSB 6444), JLARC was directed to conduct a review with the primary question being: Is it more advantageous to the state for DNR to operate its own helicopters for wildland fire suppression or to enter into exclusive use contracts with private vendors? It costs less for DNR to operate its own helicopters. Report p. 25 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  3. DNR is Responsible for Suppressing Wildland Fires Across the State • DNR fights wildland fires on 12.7 million acres of state, private, and tribal forest lands • In the 2009 fire season: • DNR crews fought 1,044 fires • 95% of fires were kept to less than 10 acres • Average cost of fires under 10 acres is $3,100 • Average cost of fires more than 100 acres is $884,000 • Fire suppression expenditures totaled $30.1 million of which nearly $2.2 million was for DNR operated helicopters Report p. 3 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  4. Helicopters Are Used to Aid in Suppressing Wildland Fires Helicopters are used to: • Drop water and fire retardant on fires; • Deliver firefighting crews and supplies in difficult areas to access; and • Observe and direct other resources to where they are most needed. Report p. 3 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  5. Options in Helicopter Types and Arrangements • Three different types of helicopters (light, medium, and heavy) with different payload and passenger capacities and different costs • Four arrangements for helicopters: Availability guaranteed • 1. Operate own • 2. Exclusive use contract • 3. Call-when-needed Availability not guaranteed • 4. Interagency agreement Report pp. 7-8, 10 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  6. DNR Arrangements and Expenditures for Helicopters in 2009 • DNR operates and maintains nine medium helicopters at a cost of $2.2 million • Includes one helicopter leased from Chelan Fire District #1 for $186,000 • DNR uses call-when-needed agreements • DNR paid $278,000 to private vendors • DNR has interagency agreements • DNR paid $300,000 to USFS (and USFS paid $200,000 to DNR) Report p. 11 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  7. DNR Helicopter Costs Are Less Than Exclusive Use Costs Option 2009 Estimated Costs DNR Operating Own Helicopters 9 medium helicopters $2.2 million (actual) Exclusive Use – Option A 6 medium helicopters for 120 days $4.6 - $5.4 million • Exclusive Use – Option B • 6 medium helicopters for 60-180 days $4.1 - $5.0 million • Exclusive Use – Option C • 4 medium helicopters for 90-180 days • 2 light helicopters for 60 days $3.8 - $4.5 million Report pp. 18-19 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  8. Washington Arrangements and Costs Compared to Other States How Acquired State Avg Total Cost per Flight Hr Washington $2,750 Operate Own California $2,483 Operate Own Montana Operate Own $2,820 Idaho $5,500 Exclusive Use Oregon $6,696 Exclusive Use Report p. 14 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  9. Cost Difference Due to DNR Receiving FEPP Helicopters • Federal Excess Personal Property program (FEPP) provides surplus military helicopters to states through the US Forest Service for fire fighting purposes • DNR paid $1 for an indefinite lease and half a million dollars for refurbishing and properly equipping each helicopter • Private vendor would pay $3.5-5.5 million for the same helicopter Report p. 21 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  10. Other Considerations • Washington does not own the helicopters and cannot sell them or recover any of its investment if it disposes of them. • It would be costly to switch to exclusive use contracts and then later reverse that decision. • JLARC did not find any private vendor helicopters located in Washington rated to carry firefighting crews and only 3 rated to deliver water and supplies. Report pp. 21-22 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  11. DNR’s Fleet of Nine Helicopters Might Be Larger than Needed Number of Days Multiple Helicopters Flew Missions Number of Aircraft Flying/Day 2 6 9 0 17 6 8 14 5 2 13 12 19 3 18 12 11 15 17 8 28 27 27 (DNR’s fire season is roughly 100 days/year) 17 15 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Year Source: JLARC analysis of DNR data. Report p. 23 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  12. Recommendation DNR should conduct an analysis of how many helicopters should be in its fleet and how many helicopters must be maintained for immediate deployment and report to JLARC and the fiscal and natural resources committees of the Legislature by June 2011. DNR and OFM Concur Report p. 24 DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

  13. Contact Information John Bowden 360-786-5298 John.Bowden@leg.wa.gov www.jlarc.leg.wa.gov DNR Helicopter Use and Cost

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