Procedures Replacing Intra-Department Memoranda of Understanding for Department Of Interior Bureaus Working as Cooperating Agencies
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
July 10, 2018
In Reply Refer To:
1790 (210) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 07/23/2018
Information Bulletin No. 2018-065
To: State Directors
From: Assistant Director, Resources and Planning
Subject: Procedures Replacing Intra-Department Memoranda of Understanding for Department Of Interior Bureaus Working as Cooperating Agencies
On June 11, 2018, Deputy Secretary Bernhardt signed Standardized Intra-Department Procedures Replacing Individual Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) for Bureaus Working as Cooperating Agencies (attachment). Accordingly, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) shall discontinue the signing of individual MOUs when entering into cooperating agency relationships with other Department of Interior bureaus under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and instead rely on the agreements detailed in the Deputy Secretary’s Memorandum. The BLM may still use MOUs that were in place prior to June 11, 2018.
Background
NEPA directs lead agencies conducting environmental reviews to include other Federal or State agencies with jurisdiction as cooperating agencies during a NEPA analysis. Agencies historically formalize this relationship through a MOU to clarify each agency's roles and responsibilities. The aforementioned Deputy Secretary’s Memorandum replaces the Intra-Department MOU process with standardized guidance for efficient NEPA review and Bureau collaboration. The Memorandum provides instruction regarding determination of lead agencies; dispute resolution; NEPA timelines, schedules, and document page count; communication between cooperating agencies; and concurrent reviews. These standardized processes will help to streamline the NEPA process by reducing the need to coordinate individual MOUs and by establishing consistent expectations regarding roles and responsibilities.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Kristin Bail Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director Division of IT Policy and Planning,WO-870
Resources and Planning
1 Attachment