This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into between the National Organization of Black County Officials, (NOBCO), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, (Forest Service).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this MOU is to firmly establish a framework for the Forest Service and NOBCO to work collaboratively on initiatives that mutually benefit each organization's missions and objectives. The Forest Service and NOBCO will endeavor to create and maintain open lines of communication between Forest Service organizational units, black county officials and their counterparts at the national and regional levels.

STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTERESTS AND BENEFITS

Forest Service

The USDA Forest Service has legal responsibility for managing the Nation's 191 million acres of National Forest. The phrase, Caring for the Land and Serving People, captures the Forest Service mission. As set forth in law, the Forest Service mission is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of the American people. The Forest Service has responsibilities for maintaining federal lands to ensure a sustainable condition to continue to supply renewable resources to future generations.

The Forest Service also has responsibility for increasing the knowledge, awareness and appreciation of the Nation's natural resources for all Americans. The agency advocates outreach efforts to reach traditionally under-served and low-income communities. As an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service shares responsibilities under the National Performance Review mandate to "ensure a sustainable economy and a sustainable environment through ecosystem management."

National Organization of Black County Officials

The National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) is a 501 (c) 3 corporation, established in 1984, representing a coalition of black elected and appointed officials within county government for all 50 states. The NOBCO corporation has its roots in the National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) which was founded in 1975 as a membership association to bring focus on the nation's African American communities, our issues and their resolution by providing direct assistance to black county officials.

NOBCO provides services as an information clearinghouse for organizational concerns and provides a program and project structure to educate, train and assist government officials and community members. NOBCO provides education and training to black county officials, others in government, representatives from community based organizations and agencies and concerned citizens. Current program areas of focus include, but are not limited to, economic and community development and environmental justice issues. NOBCO serves more than 2,500 black elected and appointed county officials in 50 states. Black county officials share responsibility for the promotion and maintenance of our Nation's public and private forests. As local decision-makers, the policies that black county officials enact can either support or detract from a community's attempts to create a sustainable economy and sustainable environment.

NOBCO shares the common goals to conserve, protect, restore and improve America's natural resources, provide products in the marketplace now and in the future, and eradicate barriers to equitable program delivery.

AGREEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK COUNTY OFFICIALS AGREES TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS.

Working closely with the Forest Service and other cooperators, NOBCO will provide training and information to black county officials on a wide array of natural resource issues, including conservation practices and sustainable development. Opportunities for this training exist during the NOBCO Annual Economic Development Conference and at other NOBCO functions during the course of the year. NOBCO is particularly interested in the opportunity to provide information about natural resource management and training opportunities to county-level officials and others at the state and local levels of government. Two areas of immediate concern to the NOBCO service counties are the need to balance economic development efforts with natural resource conservation efforts, and the urgent demands to address the issue of rural poverty in minority and low-income communities.

Working with our constituents and network of affiliates, including the National Policy Institute, an umbrella organization composed of several organizations, including the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the National Caucus of Black School Board Members, and the National Conference of Black Mayors and other influential national organizations, NOBCO will determine specifically what technical information may be of value to our service counties, and help the Forest Service and other affiliated organizations to make this information available, or to help provide training and other technical assistance.

Provide the Forest Service with information about and access to the Nation's cadre of black elected and appointed county officials. The intent of this informational exchange is to solicit opinions and expertise from the county officials regarding the development and implementation of Forest Service policies, regulations and initiatives and some program development opportunities.

NABCO will provide administrative and facilities support for the Forest Service as mutually agreed.

NOBCO will participate with the Forest Service in the development of an Annual Plan of Work for the Liaison Officer assigned to work with the NOBCO organization, in accordance with Amendment A.

THE USDA FOREST SERVICE AGREES TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS.

Begin preliminary activities and document preparation to provide Forest Service support to NABCO/NOBCO. Duties will be focused on the accomplishment of the tasks identified within this agreement.

Provide, on a regular basis, legislative and programmatic information to NOBCO for inclusion in the publications, County Compass and County to County. The Forest Service will also provide information for the Weekly Member Update. Copies of these publications will be provided to the Forest Service to facilitate a clear and timely exchange of information.

Develop and maintain through NOBCO open communications linkages with the National Policy Institute (NPI). NPI is an umbrella association composed of several organizations, including the National Association of Black County Officials, the National Caucus of Black School Board Members, and the National Conference of Black Mayors and other influential national organizations.

Work to develop and maintain a partnership between Forest Service and NOBCO in an array of issues relative to sustainable forestry and sustainable communities.

Provide expertise, guidance and current information about natural resource management issues and information to the NOBCO leadership and associates.

Facilitate an ongoing dialog between the Forest Service and NOBCO about natural resource and sustainability issues of interest to local communities and their elected officials.

Foster rural community assistance in areas dependent upon natural resources, with special emphasis toward minority and low-income communities.

Serve as a facilitator and a source of knowledge and information about issues involving forest related resources that have potential effects on the counties represented by black county officials associated with NOBCO.

Maintain a leadership role as the entity responsible for providing information about Forest Service programs, initiatives and policies on a wide array of issues of interest to locally elected officials.

Invite NOBCO representation at national conferences and meetings the Forest Service organizes to help both parties accomplish the goals stated in this MOU, and to continue to build and strengthen our collaborative relationships with NOBCO.

Advocate Forest Service goals and objectives with black county officials associated with NOBCO and the organization's other affiliates. Maintain an emphasis and focus on traditionally underserved and low-income Americans.

THE FOLLOWING IS MUTUALLY AGREED TO AND UNDERSTOOD BY BOTH PARTIES.

This instrument is neither a fiscal nor a funds obligation document. Any endeavor involving reimbursement or contribution of funds between the parties to this instrument will be handled in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and procedures including those for Government procurement and printing. Such endeavors will be outlined in separate agreements that shall be made in writing by representatives of the parties and shall be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority. This instrument does not provide such authority. Specifically, this instrument does not establish authority for noncompetitive award to the Cooperator of any contract or other agreement. Any contract or agreement for training or other services must fully comply with all applicable requirements for competition.

This document does not infringe on Forest Service or NOBCO decisions to participate in similar agreements or arrangements with other public or private agencies, organizations or individuals.

Separate action agendas on specific issues are to be detailed in appended documents. Action agendas will include descriptions of desired deliverables and roles and responsibilities of involved parties.

Any programs or cooperative efforts, including efforts involving the USDA Forest Service and state forestry organizations, conducted under this memorandum of understanding, will be in compliance in regard to nondiscrimination as contained in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. This act provides that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, age, sex, disability, religion, political beliefs, martial or familial status, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied any benefit of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving State or Federal financial assistance from any Federal or State Agency.

DURATION OF THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

This Memorandum of Understanding will become effective when signed by both parties and will continue in effect until terminated or modified at any time by mutual consent of the parties hereto, or may be terminated by any single party by providing 60 days notice in writing to the other party.

SIGNATURES

Signed this 24th of August, 1998

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