U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
 
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
April 30, 2009
 
In Reply Refer To:
4790 (220) P
 
EMS TRANSMISSION 05/07/2009
Instruction Memorandum No. 2009-116
Expires: 9/30/2010
 
To:          All State Directors
 
From:     Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning
 
Subject: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
               and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Addressing the
               Management of Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets BLM (#WO-220-2009-06)
 
Program Area: Grasshopper and Mormon Cricket Control Program
 
Purpose: The purpose of this instruction memorandum (IM) is to give direction regarding the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between the BLM and the APHIS that provides guidelines regarding the management of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets on lands under BLM stewardship.
 
Policy/Action: Consistent with the MOU the following policies/actions apply to the suppression of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets on BLM administered lands.
 
Critical components include: 
  1. The APHIS has the responsibility to comply with NEPA for actions it may implement on BLM administered lands.
  2. Any Environmental Assessment that APHIS may prepare does not constitute authorization for any actions on the part of the BLM.
  3. The BLM’s role in the grasshopper and Mormon cricket suppression effort that APHIS undertakes is limited to providing background information, such as description of the land, identification of sensitive areas, locations of T&E species, and other resource issues. In addition, the BLM, when feasible and available, will assist by providing personnel, transportation, temporary office space, temporary storage of equipment and supplies, and other suppression related activities.
  4. A Pesticide Use Proposal may be prepared by either party but must be approved by the BLM prior to implementation of APHIS treatments. A Pesticide Use Report will be submitted to the BLM upon completion of the project. 
Background: Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets (GH&MC) periodically damage cultivated crops and range plants throughout much of the West. These destructive outbreaks occur on rangelands of all ownership including public lands administered by the BLM. The BLM is responsible for the protection and management of lands placed under its stewardship, yet the management of GH&MC is under the authority of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
 
As a result of a cooperative effort between APHIS and the BLM, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in February (Attachment 1).  
 
Budget Impact: The effect on the budget will be reduced cost as a result of working under the guidelines presented in this MOU.
 
Manuals Affected: No Manual or Handbook sections are affected.
 
Coordination: This document was coordinated with representatives of the WO 220 division
and GH&MC program representatives in the State offices.
 
Contact: Questions regarding this memorandum should be directed to Gina Ramos, Senior Weed Specialist at (202) 452-5084.
 
 
Signed by:                                                                 Authenticated by:
Dwight Fielder                                                           Robert M. Williams
Acting, Assistant Director                                          Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Renewable Resources and Planning
 
 
1 - Attachment
 
 
 
 

 
Last updated: 10-20-2009