Federal Agencies Work Group Meeting Minutes, March 13, 2000

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM
FEDERAL AGENCIES WORK GROUP

MARCH 13, 2000, MEETING SUMMARY

LOCATION:
Lake Champlain Office - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Essex Junction, Vermont

ATTENDEES:

•  Erik Beck, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England Region, 617/918-1606, Beck.erik@epa.gov

•  Paul Brewster, U.S. Forest Service, Green Mountain National Forest, 802/747-6704, pbrewster@fs.fed.us

•  Clayton Grove, U.S. Forest Service, Green Mountain National Forest, 802/747-6740, cgrove/r9_gmfl@fs.fed.us

•  Jurij Homziak, Sea Grant, University of Vermont, 802/656-0682, jhomziak@nature.snr.uvm.edu

•  Fran Keeler, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vermont, 802/951-6795. Fran.Keeler@vt.usda.gov

•  Mark Malchoff, Sea Grant, SUNY Plattsburgh, New York, 518-564-3038, mhm4@cornell.edu

•  Grady Moore (by phone), U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, New York, 518/285-5600, lgmoore@usgs.gov

•  Brian Mrazik, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, New Hampshire/Vermont, 603/226-7807, bmrazik@usgs.gov

•  Donna Parrish, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, University of Vermont, 802/656-2693, donna.parrish@uvm.edu

•  Dave Tilton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lake Champlain Office, 802/951-6313, dave_tilton@fws.gov

AGENDA:

2:00 pm - Introductions, convene meeting - confirm agenda
2:10 pm - Update on Lake Champlain Basin Program
2:30 pm - Discuss intentions/how we will use a Memorandum of Understanding
3:00 pm - Review draft MOU. Agree to changes and who will make them.
3:45 pm - Schedule follow-up/completion of MOU.
3:55 pm - Schedule next meeting, as appropriate.
4:00 pm - Adjourn

SUMMARY:

The meeting primarily focused on revising the 11/24/99 draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the agencies involved in the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Participants felt the MOU and the Federal partnership will facilitate mutual support between the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Federal agencies.

Each clause of the draft MOU was reviewed and revised, where necessary. Four “Whereas” statements, which provided details about the operation of the Lake Champlain Steering Committee and its subcommittees, will be moved to an appendix to the MOU. Participants agreed to develop new agency paragraphs of approximately 200 words for use in the “Statement of mutual goals and responsibilities.” These new paragraphs will be forwarded to Dave Tilton by March 20, to be attached to the MOU as an appendix. All revisions will be incorporated into another draft by Dave Tilton and e-mailed back to participants by March 27.

Participants agreed to investigate whether additional branches/divisions associated with their agencies might need direct representation in the MOU. For example, private forestry functions of the U.S. Forest Service may have a significant role in the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Similarly, the Farm Services Agency in U.S. Department of Agriculture may need to be involved. Participants also agreed to investigate the appropriate signature level for the MOU.

Participants determined there was no need to schedule another meeting until late in 2000. There may be a need to coordinate a conference call to arrange for signatures on the MOU this spring.

NEXT STEPS:

1. Agency representatives will forward ~200-word agency descriptions to Dave Tilton by March 20 for incorporation into another draft to be e-mailed back to all by March 27.

2. Sea Grant representatives will investigate whether an official from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may want to sign the MOU.

3. Agency representatives will determine the appropriate signature level for the MOU.

4. Absent members will be contacted via e-mail.

5. A follow-up conference call will be scheduled, as appropriate, to make arrangements for signing the MOU.