This MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) is hereby made and entered into by and between the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Coconino National Forest, hereinafter referred to as Forest Service, and the Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership, Inc., previously known as the Grand Canyon Forest Partnership, Inc., hereinafter referred to as GFFP.

A. PURPOSE:

The purpose of this agreement is to provide a framework for continuing the cooperation between the Forest Service and the GFFP to demonstrate new forest management approaches that improve and restore ecosystem health of the ponderosa pine forest ecosystem in the Flagstaff Urban-Wildland Interface Area. The objectives of this cooperation are to:

Develop, test, and demonstrate approaches to forest ecosystem restoration that are environmentally sound, economically sustainable, and socially acceptable,

Involve multiple and diverse interests and viewpoints at the local level to identify, analyze, and reach consensus on practical and workable solutions to critical forest ecosystem health problems in the region,

Monitor and document the ecological impacts, effects, and tradeoffs of different restoration forestry techniques,

Monitor and document the economic and social impacts and tradeoffs of different restoration forestry techniques, including the development of new uses and products associated with small diameter trees, and

Share lessons learned and workable solutions to critical forest ecosystem health problems with multiple and diverse interests at the local, area, and national levels.

The area of focus for this agreement is the Flagstaff Urban-Wildland Interface Area, an overall area of approximately 100,000 acres of land administered by the Coconino National Forest. Within the overall project area, several demonstration projects were completed during the past 5 years. The Forest Service and the GFFP will continue to work together on additional restoration demonstration projects within the Flagstaff Urban-Wildland Interface Area.

B. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT AND INTERESTS:

The Forest Service

The Forest Service is responsible for managing natural resources in the National Forests, including the Coconino National Forest. Long-term disruption of the natural fire regime, loss of old growth trees, huge increases in the number of smaller trees, extensive road construction, grazing, and introduction of non-native species have resulted in growing landscape homogeneity and have created serious threats to biological diversity and forest ecosystem health in Northern Arizona and, in turn, to the human communities located near or dependent upon these forest ecosystems. As a result, the Coconino National Forest has, in many areas, a forest structure that adversely affects the ecological health of the Forest’s ecosystems and creates conditions conducive to the outbreak of severe and uncontrollable forest fires. Such forest wildfires are extremely difficult to suppress and place an extraordinary risk of injury to persons seeking to control them. These wildfires also jeopardize the environmental, economic, social, and spiritual values for which the National Forest system is managed.

The Coconino National Forest interfaces at numerous points with significant urban and suburban development in the greater Flagstaff area. This urban-wildland interface creates the potential for significant damage to property and loss of life in the event of a severe and uncontrollable forest fire. These same conditions occur in other National Forests throughout the western United States.

The Forest Service recognizes the broad public interest in, and the benefit from, forest restoration and hazardous fuels reduction activities, including development, testing, and demonstration of restoration forestry and consensus building approaches, and recognizes the need to bring diverse resources to bear in these efforts.

The Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (GFFP)

GFFP is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of Arizona with an elected Board of Directors selected from diverse entities in the community. GFFP is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the forest ecosystems within the greater Flagstaff area, including the Coconino National Forest. As such, the GFFP recognizes the broad public interest in, and the benefit from, the restoration and hazardous fuels reduction activities, including development, testing, and demonstration of restoration forestry and consensus building approaches, and recognizes the need to bring private resources to bear in these efforts. The GFFP works with a broad-based Partnership Advisory Board, consisting of national, state, and local public and private organizations with an interest in restoration of forest ecosystem health, hazardous fuels reduction, and creation of restoration-based economic opportunities. Through this Board, and by working with the Coconino National Forest, the GFFP has available the expertise, advice, and resources of multiple partners with recognized expertise in restoration forestry, hazardous fuels reduction, and related issues. All meetings of this Partnership Advisory Board are open to the public.

Mutual Benefit

The Forest Service and the GFFP recognize the continuing need to develop and demonstrate potential restoration forestry management approaches that can improve the ecological health and reduce hazardous fuels in the Flagstaff Urban-Wildland Interface Area and that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound. Through these demonstration projects, the Forest Service and the GFFP can build consensus about restoration forestry and forest management among a wide range of interested parties at the local, area, and national level. These restoration approaches and the results of the consensus building may later be applied to similar situations in other National Forests and communities.

C. FOREST SERVICE SHALL:

1. In cooperation with the GFFP, examine the current ecological conditions on the selected landscapes, and work with the GFFP to facilitate broad community discussions to involve the public in developing desired future conditions for the selected area. Develop a broad range of prescriptions for the stewardship and restoration of the selected landscape, drawing heavily on public input and, with further public input, develop a proposed action.

2. Manage the NEPA process in compliance with all applicable federal laws and State statutes and consistent with the Coconino National Forest Land Management Plan. Conduct the environmental analysis and other processes necessary to complete NEPA requirements, including scoping, alternative development, biological and archaeological consultations, Project Record keeping, environmental documentation and decision documentation at the necessary level, and public comment and appeal periods. The Forest Service retains sole responsibility for making decisions with regard to the analysis.

3. Work with GFFP to implement restoration projects and prescriptions on the ground, to test, develop, and demonstrate different approaches and techniques for implementation, and to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the treatment as required in the NEPA decision document.

4. Use all allowable Stewardship Contract authorities and contract oversight requirements to dispose of trees, portions of trees, and forest products removed from the Coconino National Forest to carry out restoration activities, including development, testing, and demonstration of potential restoration forestry management approaches that improve the ecological health in the Coconino National Forest.

D. GFFP SHALL:

1. In cooperation with the Forest Service, facilitate broad community discussions to involve the public in developing desired future conditions for the selected area and, with public input, develop a broad range of prescriptions for the stewardship and restoration of the selected landscape.

2. Work with the Forest Service to facilitate public involvement and understanding throughout the environmental assessment and project development process. Provide assistance, where possible, to the Forest Service throughout the NEPA process.

3. Work with the Forest Service to determine the areas where work is needed to implement the restoration forestry prescriptions on the ground, to test, develop, and demonstrate different approaches and techniques for implementation, and to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the treatments as required in the NEPA decision document. Contribute resources and expertise to assist in accomplishing the approved restoration and monitoring activities.

4. Provide public education, information, and support for Forest Service restoration projects through GFFP sponsored forums and field trips, and press releases concerning specific projects and forest restoration activities in general.

5. Assure the GFFP and its agents, contractors and subcontractors comply with all the terms and conditions of this MOU and any subsequent Forest Service implementing instruments, such as contracts, Cooperative Agreements, or Domestic Grants, issued to GFFP to carry out restoration activities, including development, testing, and demonstrating potential restoration forestry management approaches that improve the ecological health in the Coconino National Forest.

E. IT IS MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES THAT:

1. Press Releases. The Forest Service and the GFFP will coordinate on any press releases and other public statements concerning this MOU and any implementing instruments.

2. Annual Review Of Restoration Activities. The Forest Service and the GFFP will conduct and document a formal annual review of the restoration activities implemented under this agreement, and make modifications as appropriate and mutually agreed. Identify projects for the following year during the annual review based on anticipated completion of environmental analysis and public involvement, as well as available funding.

3. Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA). Any information furnished to the Forest Service under this instrument is subject to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

4. Participation In Similar Activities. This instrument in no way restricts the Forest Service or GFFP from participating in similar activities with other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals.

5. Commencement/Expiration/Termination. This MOU takes effect upon the signatures of the Forest Service and GFFP, and shall remain in effect for 5 years from the date of execution. This MOU may be amended upon written request of either the Forest Service or GFFP, and subsequent bilateral execution. Either the Forest Service or GFFP may terminate this MOU with a 60-day written notice to the other party.

6. Responsibilities Of Parties. The Forest Service and the GFFP and their respective agencies and office will handle their own activities and utilize their own resources, including the expenditure of their own funds, in pursuing these objectives. Each party will carry out its separate activities in a coordinated and mutually beneficial manner.

7. Resource Needs. The Forest Service and the GFFP will pursue the resources necessary to meet the objectives of this MOU, including implementation, testing, and monitoring forest restoration projects.

8. Principal Contacts. The principal contacts for this instrument are:

Forest Service Contacts	GFFP Contacts
Heather Green, Forest Liaison	Steve Gatewood, Program Director
Coconino National Forest	Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership
2323 E. Greenlaw Lane	1300 S. Milton Rd., Suite 218
Flagstaff, AZ  86004	Flagstaff, AZ  86001
Phone: 928.527.3420	Phone: 928.226-0644
FAX: 928.527.3620	FAX: 928.779.7123
E-Mail: hgreen@fs.fed.us	E-Mail: Steve Gatewood

 

Elizabeth Blake, G&A Specialist	Tom Kolb, President
Coconino National Forest	Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership
2323 E. Greenlaw Lane	1300 S. Milton Rd., Suite 218
Flagstaff, AZ  86004	Flagstaff, AZ  86001
Phone: 928.527.3561	Phone: 928.523.7491
FAX: 928.527.3620	FAX:  928.523.1080
E-Mail: eblake@fs.fed.us	E-Mail: Tom.Kolb@nau.edu

9. Non-Fund Obligating Document. Nothing in this MOU shall obligate either the Forest Service or GFFP to obligate or transfer any funds. Specific work projects or activities that involve the transfer of funds, services, or property among the various agencies and offices of the Forest Service and GFFP will require execution of separate agreements and be contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. Such activities must be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority. This MOU does not provide such authority. Negotiation, execution, and administration of each such agreement must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations.

10. Establishment Of Responsibility. This MOU is not intended to, and does not create, any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any person.

11. Authorized Representatives: By signature below, the GFFP certifies that the individuals listed in this document as representatives of the GFFP are authorized to act in their respective areas for matters related to this agreement.

THE PARTIES HERETO have executed this instrument.

GREATER FLAGSTAFF FORESTS		USDA FOREST SERVICE
PARTNERSHIP, INC.		COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST

9/12/03			9/15/03
THOMAS KOLB	DATE		NORA B. RASURE	DATE
President, Board of Directors			Forest Supervisor

The authority and format of this instrument has been reviewed and approved for signature.
9/15/03
ELIZABATH A.BLAKE	DATE
NF, G&A Specialist