2. 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?
3. 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.
5. 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."
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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)
9. 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.
10. 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!
