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Memorandum
of Understanding
for
THE NATIONAL WILDFIRE COORDINATING GROUP
among the
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service
and the
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
and the
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Fire Administration
and the
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FORESTERS,
and the
THE INTERTRIBAL TIMBER COUNCIL.
BLM No. – FA-MOU08-0001 USDA FS No. – 07-MU-11130206-073 NPS No. – F9560080001 FWS No. – 93252-7-MOU-004 BIA No. – 2007-K00441-MOU-004 USFA No. – N/A ITC No. – N/A NASF No. – N/A
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made by and entered into among the following entities:
- Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs—all agencies of the United States Department of the Interior, hereinafter collectively referred to as “DOI agencies;”
- United States Forest Service hereinafter referred to as “Forest Service,” an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture;
- United States Fire Administration of the United States Department of Homeland Security, hereinafter referred to as “USFA;”
- Intertribal Timber Council hereinafter referred to as “ITC”; and
- National Association of State Foresters hereinafter referred to as “NASF,” a non-profit organization whose members are the Directors of the state forestry agencies of participating states, U.S. territories and former territories, and the District of Columbia.
These entities share the common goal of effective and efficient wildland fire management. They recognize that each organization’s mission can be better accomplished through cooperative efforts and through the sharing of talents, information, and resources. A charter will be implemented which guides the operations of the participants in meeting their common goals.
The Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior entered into Memoranda of Understanding—dated, respectively, January 28, 1943, and February 21, 1963—to provide adequate wildfire management and protection to the lands under their respective jurisdictions.
In addition, the bureau and agency directors for the land management agencies for the above Secretaries, which includes the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service, also entered into an Interagency Agreement for Fire Management that is rewritten every five years and commonly referred to as “the Master Fire Management Agreement.” This agreement provides a basis for cooperation among the agencies on all aspects of wildland fire management and as authorized in non-fire emergencies.
- PURPOSE.
The purpose of this MOU is to create a framework for the ongoing work of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, hereinafter referred to as “NWCG,” as a national group whose function is to provide national leadership and establish, implement, maintain and communicate policy, standards, guidelines, and qualifications for wildland fire program management and support the National Incident Management System.
NWCG provides a forum in which issues both short and long term involving standards and program implementation can be coordinated, discussed and resolved. Serves as a clearing house and provides a forum for discussion of short and long-term wildland fire management issues and initiates actions to improve coordination and integration of state, tribal, and federal wildland fire programs while recognizing individual agency missions.
- AUTHORITY.
The signatory entities are authorized to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding under their respective authorities:
- Reciprocal Fire Protection Act of May 27, 1955, 42 U.S.C. § 1856a (2000);
- the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. § 1701, et seq. (2000);
- National Park Service Organic Act of August 1916, 16 U.S.C. § 1, et seq. (2000);
- National Wildlife Refuge Administrations Act of June 27, 1998, 16 U.S.C. § 668dd (2000);
- Disaster Relief Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. § 1521 (2000);
- National Indian Forest Resources Management Act of 1990, 25 U.S.C. § 3101 (2000);
- Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, 16 U.S.C. § 2101, et seq. (2000);
- Public Law 93-498, 93rd Congress, S.1769, October 29, 1974.
This Memorandum of Understanding upon full execution supersedes the existing MOU signed by Secretary of Agriculture, Earl Butz, and Secretary of the Interior, Thomas Kleppe, dated March 16, 1976, which originally established the NWCG.
- MEMBERSHIP.
NWCG membership consists of representatives from governmental agencies, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Intertribal Timber Council with national responsibilities for wildland fire management.
- IT IS MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED BY AND AMONG THE PARTIES THAT:
- RESOLUTION OF DISAGREEMENT.
Should disagreement arise regarding the interpretation of the provisions of this MOU, or amendments and/or revisions thereto, that cannot be resolved at the operating level, each party shall state the area(s) of disagreement in writing and present them to the other party for consideration. If agreement on interpretation is not reached within thirty (30) days, the parties shall forward the written statements of the disagreement to the Wildland Fire Leadership Council, which may make a non-binding recommendation to the parties to resolve the disagreement.
- APPROVALS:
