MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
between the

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Corps of Engineers

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Reclamation
Fish and Wildlife Service
National Park Service

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

and the

WESTERN STATES TOURISM POLICY COUNCIL

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made and entered into by and between the Department of Agriculture: Forest Service (FS); Department of Defense: Army Corps of Engineers (COE); Department of the Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS); Department of Transportation: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereinafter referred to by their initials or collectively as "the agencies"; and the consortium of western states government tourism offices (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) collectively known as the Western States Tourism Policy Council (WSTPC), hereinafter referred to by their name or initials.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this MOU is to establish a general framework for cooperation between the FS, COE, BIA, BLM, BOR, FWS, NPS, FHWA, EPA and WSTPC. The agencies and the WSTPC propose to work together to coordinate and support the implementation of the National Tourism Strategy adopted by the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism and the recommendations from the Western Summit on Tourism and Public Lands. The agencies and the WSTPC desire to work together to achieve the common goals of advancing the domestic and international public's awareness of the travel and tourism opportunities on the public lands, and to encourage the responsible use of these travel and tourism opportunities in an environmentally sensitive manner to produce long-term economic, educational, and recreational benefits with an emphasis upon rural areas. The vitality of tourism is dependent upon a healthy environment. This collaborative effort is to encourage economic viability and enhance the quality of life in America through travel and tourism. The agencies and WSTPC shall cooperate with state, local, tribal, regional and private entities in support of the following:

Enhance the experience of visitors;

Support the long-term economic viability of the travel and tourism industry and communities which serve these visitors;

Protect, and where appropriate restore, the natural, environmental, cultural and historical resources which serve as the foundation for travel and tourism; and

Respect the needs and values of those people who live in the West.

II. APPLICABLE LAWS

All assistance provided under this MOU and subsequent interagency and WSTPC agreements shall be in accordance with U.S. laws and regulations. Unless otherwise provided by law, all contract work undertaken by the parties in furtherance of this MOU shall be performed in accordance with federal and state procurement and claims policies and procedures.

III. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTEREST AND MUTUAL BENEFITS

The cooperating agencies responsible for the management of the federal resources and lands are dedicated to wise management of the Nation's natural and cultural resources, and as such are responsible for increasing the public's knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of these resources and their management. Encouraging responsible travel and tourism on these lands is an appropriate way of furthering public knowledge, awareness and appreciation. Public awareness and the potential benefits derived there from extend beyond the United States' borders to the international community as well.

American Indian Nations present a rich and powerful heritage, infusing diverse cultures into the fabric of America, while inspiring visitors from throughout the world. The cooperating agencies respect and recognize the sovereignty of tribal nations and each tribe's approach to tourism development.

The mission of the Western States Tourism Policy Council is to foster and encourage a positive environment for travel and tourism by serving as a forum to identify, research, analyze, and advocate the travel and tourism related issues of public policy and opinion in the western United States.

Travel and tourism to federal lands provide significant, economic, educational, and recreational benefits for the United States in general and the rural communities in particular. Federal lands provide an important component of the travel and tourism opportunities which appeal to traveling United States citizens and international visitors.

The visitors and the rural areas of the United States can be better served by the cooperating organizations working together toward mutually developed objectives. These objectives contribute to the sustainability of local communities through the protection and management of America's public and heritage now and in the future.

IV. THE COOPERATING AGENCIES AGREE, AS AVAILABLE FUNDING ALLOWS, TO:

Work to develop and distribute information about the travel and tourism opportunities on the federally managed lands.

Provide assistance to travel and tourism organizations for use in planning, development, marketing and management of travel and tourism.

Organize, encourage, and participate in community activities that enhance understanding about the use of travel and tourism to diversify the economic base of the community.

Organize and conduct assessments and educational programs that enhance the ability of agencies to manage travel and tourism activities in balance with stewardship responsibilities.

Work together with federal, tribal, state, local, and regional organizations, public and private, to provide tourism opportunities in a coordinated manner.

Promote sustainable management practices to protect natural, environmental, historical and cultural resources.

V. WSTPC AGREES, AS AVAILABLE FUNDING ALLOWS, TO:

Provide assistance to the resource and land managing agencies and to the communities involved in travel and tourism projects.

Assist in the development and presentation of educational material and resource assessments related to travel and tourism and its use in rural development.

Help the agencies in defining what information is needed by the travel and tourism industry and how to best deliver the information.

Assist the agencies in their efforts to plan, develop, market and manage travel and tourism.

VI. IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED AND UNDERSTOOD BY AND BETWEEN THE COOPERATING AGENCIES:

They will cooperate In carrying out activities to facilitate development of sustainable projects supporting the recommendations in the National Tourism Strategy adopted by the White House Conference on Travel and Tourism and recommendation from the Western Summit on Tourism and Public Lands. Cooperators will meet three times a year, twice in Washington, DC and once in the West, to develop recommended actions and research for the coming fiscal year.

Specific work projects or activities that involve the transfer of funds, services, or

property between the parties to this MOU will require the execution of separate agreements or contracts, contingent upon the availability of funds as appropriated by Congress or the WSTPC. Each subsequent agreement or arrangement involving the transfer of funds, services, or property between the parties to this MOU must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations, including those statutes and regulations applicable to procurement activities, and must be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority.

This MOU in no way restricts the FS, COE, BIA, BLM, BOR, FWS, NPS,

FHWA, EPA and WSTPC from participating in similar activities or arrangements with other public or private agencies.

Nothing in this MOU shall obligate the cooperating agencies to expend appropriation(s) or to enter into any contract or other obligations.

This MOU may be modified or amended upon written request of any party and the concurrence of the others. Participation in this MOU may be terminated with 60-day written notice of any party.

Additional agencies may be added to this MOU with the concurrence of the present cooperators.

Unless terminated under the terms of VI. this MOU will remain in full force and in effect until September 30, 2003.

VII. PRINCIPAL CONTACTS

To provide for consistent and effective communication between the cooperators, each of the cooperators shall appoint a representative to discuss and consider activities that may be pursued under this MOU. The following persons will be the principal contacts for their respective agencies for the purposes of this agreement at the time of execution.

Federal Interagency Team on Public Lands Tourism

Western States Tourism Policy Council
Officers

Thomas G. Tait, Chair, Western States Tourism Policy Council
Executive Director, Nevada Commission on Tourism

John Poimiroo, Vice Chair & Secretary, Western States Tourism Policy Council
Deputy Secretary, California Division of Tourism

Robin Pollard, Treasurer, Western States Tourism Policy Council
Director, Washington Division of Tourism

Western States Tourism Policy Council
Directors

Todd Davidson, Executive Director, Oregon Tourism Commission

Richard H. Egged, Deputy Director, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic
Development & Tourism

John Garcia, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Department of Tourism

Tom Garrett, Director, Alaska Division of Tourism

Mark McDermott, Director, Arizona Office of Tourism

Dean Reeder, Director, Utah Travel Council

VIII. SIGNATORIES

Original signed by
Dan Glickman, Secretary, Department of Agriculture

Original signed by
Bruce Babbitt, Secretary, Department of the Interior

Original signed by
Rodney Slater, Secretary, Department of Transportation

Original signed by
Carol Browner, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

Original signed by
Ada Deer, Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs

Original signed by
Lt. General Joe N. Ballard, Commander, U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers

Original signed by
Pat Shea, Director, Bureau of Land Management

Original signed by
Eluid Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation

Original signed by
Jamie Clark, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Original signed by
Robert Stanton, Director, National Park Service

Original signed by
Mike Dombeck, Chief, U.S.D.A. Forest Service

Original signed by
Gloria J. Jeff, Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration

Original signed by
Thomas G. Tait, Chair, Western States Tourism Policy Council, Executive Director,
Nevada Commission on Tourism

Original signed by
John Pomeroy, Vice Chair and Secretary, Western States Tourism Policy Council
Deputy Secretary, California Trade & Commerce Agency, Division of Tourism

Original signed by
Robin Pollard, Treasurer, Western States Tourism Policy Council
Director, Washington Division of Tourism

Original signed by
Todd Davidson, Executive Director, Oregon Tourism Commission

Original signed by
Richard H. Egged, Deputy Director, Hawaid Department of Business, Economic
Development & Tourism

Original signed by
John Garcia, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico, Department of Tourism

Original signed by
Tom Garret, Director, Alaska Division of Tourism

Original signed by
Mark McDermott, Director, Arizona Office of Tourism

Original signed by
Dean Reader, Director, Utah Travel Council

This document was prepared by Wild Wilderness. To learn more about ongoing industry-backed congressional efforts to motorize, commercialize, and privatize America's public lands, contact:

Scott Silver, Executive Director,
248 NW Wilmington Avenue,  Bend  OR 97701
Phone (541) 385-5261    E-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org