Coordination Government to Government

The Five "W's" and "H" of Coordination 1. Who must Coordinate? 2. What is Coordination? 3. When do you Coordinate? 4. Where is Coordination found in Federal Law? 5. Why is it Necessary? 6. How is it different from Cooperating Agency?

1. Who Must "Coordinate?" Congress requires the Federal Agencies to Coordinate with local governments. The duty is on them to ensure the criteria for coordination has been met. It is a Government-to-Government relationship for the purpose of resolving conflicts and ensuring the federal planning process does not harm the local health, safety and welfare of the people.

COORDINATION RELATIONSHIP Local GovernmentsFederal Agencies Protect Health, Safety, Welfare of People Execute Federal Law Equal, Not Subordinate

2. What is "Coordination?" Process created by Congress to ensure consistency of federal plans and activities with local government plans and policies. The definition of coordination is "equal, not subordinate."

The Criteria for Coordination is: 1. Keep apprised of local plans; 2. Give consideration to Local plans; 3. Assist in resolving inconsistencies between federal and local plans; 4. Provide meaningful involvement of local governments; 5. Make federal plans consistent with local plans to the extent practicable under federal law.

3. When do you "Coordinate?" Answer: Always Coordination is required for all planning, inventory and management activities in FLPMA. NFMA requires that as a part of the resource management plan program, these be developed, maintained and revised in coordination with local governments. NEPA requires the study be coordinated with local governments. You Coordinate CONTINUOUSLY.

4. Where is "Coordination" Found in the Law Coordination is found as a requirement for federal agencies in most Natural Resource Federal Laws such as: * National Forest Management Act (NFMA) * National Environmental Management Act (NEPA) * Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA)

5. Why is Coordination Necessary? Coordination is the only process where the federal agencies must do more than just listen and take our comments. They have a duty to resolve conflicts between local and federal plans and work to change their plans to be consistent with ours. It is the only process where we can insist that our questions and concerns be addressed. It is the only process we have to directly intervene in issues for the purpose of protecting our people.

6. How is Coordination Different from Cooperating Agency? 1.Cooperating Agency is only available during a NEPA process. * You can coordinate continuously! 2.To be a Cooperating Agency you must be invited by the Lead Agency. * Coordination is Required of Federal Agencies! 3.Cooperating Agency meetings are confidential, closed to the public. * Coordination is transparent. All meetings open to the Public!

Ensure Local Needs Are Met Coordinate Continuously

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