MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE IN1!ERIOR, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUIU:, AND UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ON BLM FOREST MANAGEMENT IN WESTERN OREGON I. Purpose
The Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of
Commerce (hereinafter together referred to as "the Federal Agencies") enter into this
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formally recognize their role and interests in
western Oregon forests and to establish a framework to carry out recommendations in the
Western Oregon Task Force Final Report, dated July 22, 2010 (Report), including those
that seek to increase collaboration, review science and data, improve consultation, and
manage for sustainability. This MOU facilitates Federal cooperation and coordination on
the management of forests managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), assists
the Federal Agencies in reaching a common understanding of the vision of Federal
forests under the Northwest Forest Plan, and makes a commitment- by the Federal
Agencies to support one another within each Agency's specific mission.
This MOU and the associated actions will help lay the foundation for the BLM's future
land-use planning efforts for the Oregon and California Lands Act of 1937 (O&C Act)
lands and can inform U.S. Forest Service (FS) activities. Other bureaus within the
Federal Agencies that play an important role in western Oregon forest management
include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Nationa~ Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
II. III.
Statutory Authorities
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. §1701 et seq.)
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.c. § 1531 et seq.)
National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. § 1600 et seq.)
Scope and Objectives
The Federal Agencies agree that it is a regional priority to bring greater certainty and
stability to the management of BLM forests in western Oregon by increasing efforts to
- collaborate with one another, with stakeholders, and with the publi~. The Federal
Agencies recognize their respective roles in forest management and agree to lead by
example in creating an atmosphere that is constructive, cooperativ~, and effective in
achieving their respective agency missions.
1
of lands
Act lands are one
component of
by the
private
and
that working together to chart a
taxpayers by avo~ding divisive and
To advance
the
their
in! this MOU to
an
Interagency Executive Steering
(Section IV) to coordi~ate
cooperate at
regional and State
to accomplish the specific
idetJ.tified below as well as
review recommendations in the Report and participate where appropriate.
A. Collaborating with Stakeholders, Governmental
o
will initiate a collaborative process
a
the
and
current
conservation strategies
management under the Northwest Forest Plan for BLM
western
and to examine what approaches or
are working
what may
to change to help inform future BLM land use
plans.
o
BLM will meet with to discuss the
shared
Reviewing
o
Federal Agencies will convene an
attorney! and technical
group
BLM, FWS,
NMFS to consider!updating procedures
to meet statutory Section 7
'-'1U....,11'." at
land use plah level, taking
consideration
legal pn;:ced.eI1t
o
will
7 streamlining prc)Ce,aUI necessary improvements for project
consultations in western forests managed by the
or
LJH'''<UJ.J-5'''i
D. Managing for Sustainability
o
BLM
the
will
and announce an annual
of work
based on projected
T......"'''''_''A''... planned program of
to
support
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IV.
Implementation and
The
will
of the
ot his
Agencies, as needeq, to r ..u,pu!
convene
toward
with the
B.
is
Interagency Executive COmITlltb;)e deemed necessary and appropriate to ",,,",",,,".VJ."-U
actions. a contract or
process (III A) vvithin
BLM will meet
MOD.
signing
F. (III A) within
will enter into a contract or agreement
""1'-"U"" review (III
within
(90) days
TheFWS
plan (III
H.
Coquille
with a third-pfrty
(90) day$
complete
focused revision
December 31,2010.
(30)
to
of the
a third-party entity to
MOD.
the northern spptted owl recovery
Federal
will convene an interagency attorney
to consider updating procedures (III C) to meet Section
land use plan
within
(90) days
signing
expert
requirements at
MOD.
","""",,CUU,","-l
I.
3
project level consultations in western Oregon
within sixty (60) (III C) days
signing
J. The
and FS will
,",V\JLULHU
andFS
and announce a program
1"ederal
will seek to
the use
within thirty (30) days of the ~a~~~"<5 of this MOU.
V. D)
work annually.
coll<:tboratives
D)
Funding
The agreed upon will be subject to will cover own costs except cases where such
.tenns of
activity.
"',"",,"V.U.L,.,
VI. Administration
The
Agencies
that
This MOU
expands nor
Parties by applicable law or '-1'S,..ua.lv.u", 'U",~y,U'" preliminary
"'-'1.1.0'-,,,_ or
other matter requiring
in a manner consistent Any information furnished to
Freedom Infonnation
D. H.LU'-U\.
under this
and
is subject to
no admitted to
or part either directly or indirectly. E. Modifications to
public or
G. H. noway
agencies, organizations, and
the Federal
with
the MOU, in whole or in part, by a 30­
date of
B){ agreement of the
be extended.
MOU is
a
nor a funds obligation docmnent.
endeavor or
of anything value involving reimbursement or contr~bution
the
to this MOU
handled accordancelwith al-l~JH\..,a'-'J''-' laws,
regulations,
procedures, including those for
prpcurement and
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I
printing. Such endeavors will be outlined in separate agreemehts that shall be made
in writing by representatives of the parties and shall be indepeilidently authorized by
appropriate statutory authority. This MOU does not provide silich authority.
~;~~~~~:;;y~;:y~~%!~e;r:~~::~;;~~~~;01~/~~~~~~tOl~~~~i;~:;~; to the
trainin~ ~r other services must fully comply with all applicabl, requirements for
competItIOn.
1. This MOU is not intended to create, and does not create, any right, benefit, or trust
responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by or against
any person, party, the United States, its agencies or officers, or any participant.
VII. Contacts
All notices, communications and coordination shall involve, at a minimum, the following
individuals or their successors and/or designees as follows :
A.
B.
C.
For the United States Department of the Interior: Ken Salazar, Secretary
For the United States Department of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack, Secretary
For the United States Department of Commerce: Gary Locke, Secretary
VIII. Effective Date
This MOU is executed as of the date of the last signature, and it will terminate five years from that
date unless extended or terminated at an earlier date as provided in section VI above.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
~r S~
SEP 29 2010
Date:
Secretary of the Interior
DEP ARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Date:
TYro Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture
I
'
Date:
Gary Locke
Secretary of Co
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