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Agency Agreement Numbers:
(IDF&G)________________
(MT FWP)_________________
(WAF&W)________________
(WYG&F)________________
(BLM)________________
(NPS)________________
(USFWS)________________
(USGS)_________________
(USFS)__________________
INTERAGENCY GRIZZLY BEAR COMMITTEE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN
IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME
MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE
WYOMING GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
MONTANA, WYOMING & IDAHO STATE OFFICES
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
INTERMOUNTAIN AND PACIFIC WEST REGIONS
U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
REGIONS 1 AND 6
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
CENTRAL REGION
U. S. FOREST SERVICE
REGIONS 1, 2, 4, & 6
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made and entered into by and between the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MTFWP), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), Wyoming Game & Fish Department (WYGF), Bureau of Land Management State Offices in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho (BLM), National Park Service, Intermountain and Pacific West Regions (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regions 1 and 6 (USFWS), U.S. Geological Survey, Central Region (USGS) and U.S. Forest Service Regions 1, 2, 4 & 6 (USFS).
I. BACKGROUND
All Federal Agencies have responsibility and are directed by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to utilize their authorities, in cooperation with State and local agencies, to promote the conservation of endangered and threatened species. Listed in 1975, the threatened grizzly bear is one of these species. The Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan, issued initially in 1982 and revised in 1993, outlined several tasks to be implemented to bring the grizzly bear back to the point where protection under the ESA is no longer required. Considerable grizzly bear research, monitoring and management activities have been undertaken in past years by a myriad of agencies, institutions, and private individuals. In 1983, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) was established to help ensure recovery of viable grizzly bear populations and their habitats in the lower 48 states through interagency coordination of policy, planning, management, and research. The objectives of the IGBC are to:
A. Engage top level decision makers in a coordinated approach to recover grizzly bears through policy and procedures adopted by each member agency. The implementation of these procedures is assigned to each respective subcommittee,
B. Coordinate management and research actions of State and Federal Agencies related to the grizzly bear to ensure the best utilization of available resources and prevent duplication of effort,
C. Implement the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan to facilitate recovery of grizzly bears, and
D. Implement and oversee the management and research activities of recovered grizzly bear populations.
II. PURPOSE
This MOU is entered into for the purpose of documenting a framework of cooperation between the parties involved in the recovery of the grizzly bear in the lower 48 states through the efforts of the IGBC.
III. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFITS AND INTERESTS:
All parties share an interest in and would benefit from cooperating on research, monitoring, and management efforts throughout the range of the grizzly bear.
IV. EACH PARTY SHALL:
A. Cooperate with grizzly bear management objectives including but not limited to:
1. Efforts to conserve and manage the grizzly bear and its habitat in a manner that fosters population recovery,
2. Support the implementation of the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan,
3. Coordinate and bring into focus the many research and monitoring activities, and
4. Support the cooperative atmosphere of the IGBC.
B. Agree that the IGBC shall provide the overall guidance for approved projects as detailed in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan and associated management documents.
C. Provide for IGBC members availability at mutually agreeable times, for continuing consultation to discuss the conditions covered by this MOU and agree to actions essential to accomplish its objectives. Three IGBC meetings are scheduled each year. The Spring Meeting is a half-day meeting held at the North American Wildlife Conference. The location of this meeting changes every year. The Summer Meeting is a field retreat with a 2-3 day meeting located in one of the grizzly bear ecosystems. The responsibility to host the Summer Meeting is rotated through the ecosystems. The Winter meeting is a 2-3 day business meeting with the location decided by the members. At a minimum, the IGBC members (see Exhibit A for current members list) will participate in these three meetings annually for the purposes of:
1. Sharing information regarding any appropriate research, inventory, monitoring, management, educational, and other activities related to the grizzly bear.
2. Identifying projects the IGBC might wish to endorse.
3. Selecting projects to be endorsed. Such projects may include, but are not limited to, monitoring of grizzly bear populations; habitat inventory and mapping habitat enhancements; aerial surveys; management studies; preparation and distribution of reports; purchase of exhibits; and development or support for educational exhibits and programs and other items that might assist in recovering the grizzly bear.
4. Provide direction to subcommittees.
5. Voting on the positions of Chairman and Vice-Chairman, if necessary. The position of Chairman is rotated through the member organizations. State and Federal Agencies are alternated each term. The term of the Chairman lasts 2 years. The Chairman must be nominated by an IGBC member and the IGBC must vote to approve the nominee. The same process is used for the position of the Vice-Chairman.
6. Designating the lead agency for endorsed projects. Lead Agency will adhere to the following process for completion of approved IGBC projects:
a. Lead agency will complete a draft project work plan (see Exhibit B) which identifies the lead agency, project description, total cost of project (including overhead assessment of lead agency), funding/support to be contributed by each agency that elects to participate, any progress/completion reports to be furnished to the IGBC and a proposed draft instrument(s) for accomplishing the project with the participating agencies. Note: This MOU is not a fund allocation document. Any fund allocations between the parties to this MOU will be made through other instruments in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and proceedures. See related Provision V-C.
b. Lead agency will seek approval of the draft project work plan by the IGBC.
c. Lead agency will direct all activities as identified in the approved project work plan either within the agency, by contract, agreement or other instrument as identified in the project work plan.
d. Lead agency will provide report(s) to the IGBC regarding progress/completion of the project as prescribed in the approved plan.
7. Determining IGBC administrative operations funding and support to be contributed by each agency that elects to participate. This funding will be provided in accordance with Provision V-C.
V. IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED AND UNDERSTOOD BY AND BETWEEN THE PARTIES THAT:
A. The principal contacts for this MOU are the individual IGBC members listed in Exhibit A.
B. This MOU in no way restricts any of the parties from participating in similar activities with other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals.
C. This MOU is neither a fiscal nor a funds obligation document. Any endeavor involving reimbursement or contribution of funds between the parties to this MOU will be handled in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and procedures including those for Government procurement and printing. Such endeavors will be outlined in separate agreements that shall be made in writing by representatives of the parties and shall be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority. This MOU does not provide such authority. Specifically, this MOU does not establish authority for noncompetitive award to any party of any contract or other agreement. Any contract or agreement for training or other services must fully comply with all applicable requirements for competition.
D. Modifications within the scope of this MOU shall be made by the issuance of a modification executed by all members of IGBC prior to any changes being performed.
E. Any party may withdraw from this MOU by providing a written notice to all other parties at any time before the date of expiration.
F. If needed, in the interest of efficiency, this MOU will be distributed electronically for signature. Signatory officials should respond by mailing their dated original hard copy signature in the space provided to: Ellen Davis, IGBC Executive Assistant, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59807 (phone 406-329-3434). Once fully executed, an electronic copy of this MOU will be distributed to all signatory officials.
G. This MOU is executed as of the last date shown below and expires five years thereafter at which time it will be subject to review, renewal, or expiration.
The authority and format of this MOU have been reviewed and approved for signature by a Forest Service Agreements Coordinator.
___________/s/ Elaine Hillard______________ _____6/7/05__________
Agreements Coordinator Date
In witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this MOU as of the last date written below:
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