Memorandum of Understanding
Wildland Fire Leadership Council
Mission
Goals
§ Development of common data elements and common reporting
systems to
support performance
management accountability;
§ Development of common procedures for the seamless delivery of an effective
fuels hazard reduction
program;
§ Coordination of efforts to use wildland fire and other tools to
maintain and
restore ecosystem health;
§ Development of common procedures for mitigating wildfire
hazards in the
wildland urban interface;
§ Integration of federal fire, land and resource programs to implement the
National Fire Plan and the
Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy;
§ Consideration of appropriate methods and strategies for utilizing biomass
removal to support the
goals of the National Fire Plan; and
§ Coordinated and consistent direction and monitoring of field unit performance.
Organization
The Council will elect a chair. The chair will rotate between Departments annually. The Council will meet at least quarterly to monitor progress on implementation of the National Fire Plan and the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy.
If the Council cannot reach agreement or consensus on an issue, a memorandum will be transmitted to the Deputy Secretaries, and subsequently, if necessary, to the Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior for review and resolution consistent with applicable provisions of law.
The actions and obligations of the agencies and bureaus under this Memorandum of Understanding are subject to the availability of appropriations. Each party will carry out its activities in a coordinated and mutually beneficial manner. Both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior will manage their own activities and utilize their own resources including the expenditure of their own funds, in pursuing these objectives. This Memorandum of Understanding takes effect upon the signature of both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior and shall remain in effect for five (5) years from the date of execution. This Memorandum of Understanding may be extended or amended upon written request of either the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior and the subsequent written concurrence of the other. Either the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior may terminate this Memorandum of Understanding with a 60-day written notice to the other.
Collaboration
Approval
Gale A. Norton | Ann M. Veneman |
Secretary | Secretary |
Department of the Interior | Department of Agriculture |
Dated: ______________ | Dated: _______________ |