Cooperating Agencies

Complex projects often must comply with regulations from several federal, tribal, state, and local authorities.  These authorities have different missions, areas of responsibilities, and areas of expertise.  Inviting these different agencies to participate as cooperating agencies allows the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to more accurately encompass all of the needs.  According to A Desk Guide to Cooperating Agency Relationships (2005), Cooperating Agencies help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) achieve several objectives:

• gain early and consistent involvement of Cooperating Agency partners
• incorporate local knowledge of economic, social, and environmental conditions, as well as state and local land use requirements
• address intergovernmental issues
• avoid duplication of effort
• enhance local credibility of the planning review process
• encourage Cooperating Agency support for planning decisions
• build relationships of trust and cooperation

By accepting Cooperating Agency status, the agencies accept obligations to contribute staff to the EIS team and develop analyses for which they have particular expertise.  Although the EIS is ultimately a BLM document, the BLM agrees to use the analyses, proposals, and comments of the Cooperating Agencies to the maximum extent possible.

Cooperating Agencies for the Lincoln County Land Act Groundwater Development and Utility Right-of-Way Project EIS:

• Nevada Department of Wildlife
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service