From: Subject: FR Doc 08-229 Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:16:08 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-229.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc 08-229 
[Federal Register: January 23, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 15)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 3922-3923]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ja08-23]                        =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 Final Agreement.

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SUMMARY: The Mt. Hood National Forest (Forest) in coordination with the=20
City of Portland Water Bureau (City) has prepared 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 replaces the 1979=20
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This new Agreement provides the=20
revised administrative direction and agreements needed to structure the=20
parties' roles, responsibilities, business processes, and working=20
relationships for the coming decades. The Agreement was approved on=20
December 17, 2007. A copy of the Final Agreement is available on the=20
following 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 under projects =
& plans, or http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.htm=
l&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.portlandonline.com/water/. =
Hard copies=20
 copies=20
of the Final Agreement may be obtained by contacting the contact person=20
listed below.

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-mail: 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 new agreement replaces the 1979 MOU, aligns practice with existing=20
legislation, and provides the revised administrative direction and=20
agreements needed to structure the parties' roles, responsibilities,=20
business processes, and working relationships for the 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

[[Page 3923]]

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 prepared this new Agreement between the City and the Forest=20
Service to identify preferred administrative arrangements for their=20
joint management of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit. The purpose=20
and 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 was approved on December 17, 2007. In=20
completing the Agreement, the Forest and the City responded to comments=20
received during the comment period and also jointly prepared a Report=20
to the Community. This Report discussed the history and background of=20
discussions that led to the new agreement. This Report is also=20
available on both of the Web sites listed above. The Agency officials=20
are Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest for the=20
Forest 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: January 2, 2008.
Gary L. Larsen,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 08-229 Filed 1-22-08; 8:45 am]

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