From: Subject: FR Doc 07-717 Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 18:01:16 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-717.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 FR Doc 07-717 
[Federal Register: February 16, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 32)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 7599-7600]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16fe07-32]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Agreement, Multnomah County,=20
OR

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Agreement.

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SUMMARY: The Mt. Hood National Forest (Forest) in coordination with the=20
City of Portland Water Bureau (City) is preparing a new Bull Run=20
Watershed Management Unit Agreement pursuant to Public Law 95-200,=20
Section 2(d). This Agreement will guide and be applicable to all=20
occupancy, use, and management of the Bull Run Watershed Management=20
Unit by the City and the Forest. This Agreement will replace the=20
existing 1979 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The new Agreement will=20
provide the revised administrative direction and agreements needed to=20
structure the parties' roles, responsibilities, business processes and=20
working relationships for the coming decades. Consideration and=20
approval of the Agreement is scheduled for June 2007. The Forest and=20
the City invite written comments on the content and scope of the=20
Agreement. A copy of the draft Agreement is available on the following=20
Internet Web sites, http:=
//frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&=
log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood or =
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html=
&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.potlandonline.com/water/.
 Hard copies of the draft Agreement may be=20
be=20

DATES: Comments concerning the content and scope of analysis should be=20
postmarked by April 16, 2007. Two Public meetings are scheduled. The=20
meeting dates are:
    1. March 20, 2007, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Portland, OR.
    2. March 21, 2007, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sandy, OR.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning the=20
Agreement to Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest,=20
16400 Champion Way, Sandy, Oregon 97055-7248. Comment may also be=20
emailed to: comments-pacif=
icnorthwest-mthood@fs.fed.us. Include your=20
name and mailing address with your comments so documents pertaining to=20
this Agreement may be mailed to you. The meeting location are:
    1. Portland--Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center--Billy Frank Jr.=20
Conference Center, 721 NW., 9th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209.
    2. Sandy--Mt Hood National Forest Headquarters, 16400 Champion Way,=20
Sandy, OR 97030.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the Agreement or=20
requests for copies should be directed to Rick Acosta, Mt. Hood=20
National Forest, Public Affairs Officer, 16400 Champion Way, Sandy,=20
Oregon, 97055-7248, (e-mal: racosta@fs.fed.us), or phone: =
503-668-1791,=20
or Terry Black, City of Portland Water Bureau, Outreach Specialist,=20
1120 SW., 5th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, (e-mail: 
Terry.Black@ci.portland.or.us), or phone: 503-823-1168.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bull Run watershed, located in the Mt.=20
Hood National Forest, is the largest and oldest of the several water=20
supplies serving the Portland metropolitan area. Its role in the=20
region's past, present and future, along with its unprecedented level=20
of water quality, make it a high priority for both the City and the=20
Forest Service to take the steps necessary to ensure its continuing=20
quality, productivity and protection.
    As the City and the Forest Service began to look closely at the=20
administrative and policy frameworks that guided their interactions=20
they noted that much of that framework dated from the late 1970s and=20
arose from the direction provided in the 1977 Bull Run Management Act=20
(Pub. L. 95-200). As little of that framework had been updated over=20
time, its applicability to current issues and needs is limited. Thus,=20
this Agreement replaces the existing 1979 MOU, aligns practice with=20
existing legislation, and provides the revised administrative direction=20
and agreements needed to structure the parties' roles,=20
responsibilities, business process and working relationships for the=20
coming decades.
    The City and the Forest Service, along with community interests in=20
the greater Portland metropolitan area, have had a long and sometimes=20
contentious history of working together to protect and manage the=20
valuable ecological and water resources of the Bull Run watershed. But=20
with the coming of the 21st century, the issues and conflicts in policy=20
and direction that held attention for the last fifty years have all but=20
disappeared. Now, the parties are turning to the future, responding to=20
new fiscal realities, and working together to frame the structures,=20
processes, roles and responsibilities that will allow them to act=20
effectively as joint stewards of this valuable regional and national=20
resource, in concert with citizens who increasingly desire to redeem=20
their responsibilities in stewardship of their lands.
    Officials from the City of Portland and the Mount Hood National=20
Forest are

[[Page 7600]]

proposing a new Agreement between the City and the Forest Service to=20
identify preferred administrative arrangements for their joint=20
management of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit. The purpose and=20
hope of the Agreement is to document a new and more relevant=20
relationship between the City and the Forest Service for the long-term=20
stewardship of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit that is built on=20
a firm foundation of citizen involvement.
    The final Agreement is scheduled to be available in June 2007. In=20
completing the Agreement, the Forest and the City will respond to=20
comments received during the comment period. The Agency officials are=20
Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest for the Forest=20
Service, and the City official is Randy Leonard, Commissioner-in-
Charge, City of Portland Water Bureau for the City of Portland.
    (Authority: Sec. 2, Pub. L. 95-200, 91 Stat. 1425 (16 U.S.C. 482b)

    Dated: February 12, 2007.
Gary L. Larsen,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-717 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]

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