Memorandums of Understanding with the Access Fund and the Recreational Aviation Foundation

IB 2015-061
Information Bulletin

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240http://www.blm.govJuly 1, 2015In Reply Refer To:(8300/250) PEMS TRANSMISSION 07/07/2015Information Bulletin 2015-061To:                   All Field Office OfficialsFrom:               Deputy Assistant Director, Resources and PlanningSubject:           Memorandums of Understanding with the Access Fund and the Recreational Aviation FoundationThis Information Bulletin promulgates the two recently signed national Memorandums of Understanding (MOU).  Both MOUs became effective upon their signing.

  1. U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management and the Access Fund BLM MOU-WO-250-2015-02.

This MOU continues development and expansion of a framework for cooperation between the Access Fund (AF) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at the national, state and local levels on mutually beneficial programs, projects, training, climbing, and other recreation activities on BLM-administered lands.The AF represents the interests of rock climbers and mountaineers in the United States by advocating on behalf of the climbing community, establishing climbing stewardship practices, promoting volunteerism, and helping to establish appropriate land-use management on Federal and non-Federal lands.Under this MOU, BLM field staff personnel are encouraged to identify appropriate opportunities for cooperation with AF on projects, funding opportunities, educational information, and activities in support of keeping BLM lands available for climbing and other related recreational activities.      2.   U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management and the Recreational Aviation Foundation BLM MOU-WO-250-2015-01.This MOU develops and expands a framework for collaboration between the BLM and the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) relating to the responsible use of recreational airstrips on BLM-administered lands.The RAF is a national nonprofit organization, established in 2003 by a group of pilots, who became concerned that recreational back-country airstrips were disappearing through neglect and lack of understanding about the access and recreational opportunities they provide. The RAF works through its nationwide network of pilots to collaborate on public use of backcountry airstrips.As part of this framework, RAF will partner with the BLM in a crowd-sourced data pilot project through the collection of linear and tabular data on existing back-country airstrips. Once assembled, this data will be provided to the field to assist in travel and transportation management planning efforts.Please review both MOUs and, when applicable, collaborate with the two organizations to increase access opportunities and responsible public recreational use.  Both MOUs were developed to help facilitate programs aimed at collaborative management and volunteerism, and guiding responsible recreational use on BLM-administered lands.If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Morgan at 202-912-7412 regarding the AF MOU, and Dennis Byrd at 202-912-7252 regarding the RAF MOU.Signed by:                                                       Authenticated by:Michael H. Tupper                                         Robert M. WilliamsDeputy Assistant Director                              Division of IRM Governance, WO-860Resources and Planning2 Attachments      1 - U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management and the Access Fund Memorandum of Understanding, BLM MOU-WO-250-2015-02, (5 pp)      2 - U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management and the Recreational Aviation Foundation Memorandum of Understanding, BLM MOU-WO-250-2015-01, (6 pp)