Implementation of Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Addressing the Management of Grasshoppers and Mormon Cr

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240-0036
http://www.blm.gov

November 24, 2015

In Reply Refer

1790 (220) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 11/24/2016

Information Bulletin No.  2016-016

To:                   All State Offices

From:               Assistant Director, Resources and Planning

Subject:           Implementation of Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Addressing the Management of Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets                                                   

The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)  provides guidelines regarding the management of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets (GH&MC) on lands under BLM stewardship.

Consistent with the MOU, the following policies/actions apply to the suppression of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets on BLM-administered lands.

Critical components include:

1. The APHIS has the responsibility to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act for actions it may implement on BLM-administered lands.
2. Any environmental assessment that APHIS may prepare does not authorize any actions on the part of the BLM.
3. A pesticide use proposal will be prepared by either party and approved by the BLM prior to implementation of APHIS treatments.  A pesticide use report will be submitted to the BLM upon completion of the project.
4. The BLM does not provide any approvals for other APHIS actions on BLM-administered lands.
5. The BLM’s role in the GH&MC APHIS’ suppression effort is limited to providing background information, such as description of the land, identification of sensitive areas, locations of threatened and endangered species, and other resource issues. 

In addition, when feasible and available the BLM will assist by providing personnel, transportation, temporary office space, temporary storage of equipment and supplies, and other suppression-related activities.

The GH&MC periodically damage cultivated crops and range plants throughout much of the West.  These destructive outbreaks occur on rangelands of all ownership including public lands administered by the BLM.  The BLM is responsible for the protection and management of lands placed under its stewardship, yet the management of GH&MC is under the authority of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS.

As a result of a cooperative effort between APHIS and the BLM, a MOU was signed October 15, 2015 (Attachment 1).  

Coordination included representatives of the Forest, Rangeland, Riparian, and Plant Conservation Division (WO-220) and GH&MC program representatives in the state offices.

Any questions should be directed to Gina Ramos, Senior Weed Specialist, gramos@blm.gov or by telephone at 202-912-7226.

Signed by:                                                       Authenticated by:

Michael H. Tupper                                          Robert M. Williams

Acting, Assistant Director                              Division of IRM Governance,WO-860

Resources and Planning

1 Attachment

      1 - Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (7pp)