This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is made and entered into by and among the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Indian Health Service (IHS); Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), the Department of Agriculture: Forest Service (FS) and Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP); the Department of the Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Park Service (NPS); the Department of the Army (DA): Army Corps of Engineers (COE) hereinafter referred to as the cooperating agencies or by their name or initials.
The purpose of this MOU is to establish a general framework for cooperation between the OPHS, CDC, IHS, FS, CNPP, BIA, BLM, BOR, FWS, NPS, and COE. The cooperating agencies propose to work together to promote uses and benefits of the Nation's public lands and water resources to enhance the physical and psychological health and well being of the American people. This collaborative effort is being undertaken to help promote healthy lifestyles through sound nutrition, physical activity, and recreation in America's great outdoors.
The cooperating agencies responsible for the management of the Federal resources, lands, and waters are dedicated to the wise management of the Nation's natural and cultural resources, and as such are responsible for increasing the public's knowledge, awareness, use, enjoyment, and appreciation of these lands and resources and their management. The cooperating agencies also provide technical assistance to help ensure the sustainable development and use of non-Federal lands.
The Office of Public Health and Science and CDC within DHHS, and the CNPP, USDA, promote physical activity to improve health and reduce chronic diseases. The year 2000 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued jointly by DHHS and USDA, and the 1996 Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, recommend that all Americans accumulate a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity most days of the week, preferably daily. The OPHS seeks to promote physical activity through implementation of Healthy People 2010 goals for the nation. The CDC seeks to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior through built and natural environmental change that may include the development and promotion of community infrastructure, such as trails, bikeways, sidewalks, and parks to increase physical activity. The CNPP seeks to promote physical activity in conjunction with healthy eating through consumer-oriented promotion projects.
American Indian Nations present a rich and powerful heritage, infusing diverse cultures into the fabric of America. The cooperating agencies respect and recognize the sovereignty of Tribal Nations and each Tribe's approach to enhance the physical and psychological health and well being of American Indians.
Advance the concept of "Active Community Environments," particularly in terms of the role of natural environments and the improvement of the health and well being of Americans.
Review the condition and design of recreational facilities and try to modify them as appropriate to increase the public's active use.
Raise public awareness of the role and benefits of physical activity in maintaining good physical and mental health, and raise public awareness of recommendations for health from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.
Provide information on the many places on America's public lands and waters where natural environments and recreation opportunities exist for the public's active use.
Develop new and/or strengthen existing coalitions at community, State, regional, and/or national levels in both the public and private sectors to bring together respective constituents of the cooperating agencies in planning, establishing, maintaining, promoting, and using recreational areas and facilities for physical activity.
Identify and employ opportunities to share information, educate, and cross-train staffs and constituencies regarding the knowledge base, methods, goals, and collaborative activities of each of the cooperating agencies.
Develop joint products and/or programs that foster public awareness and behavioral changes to increase physical activity. Where appropriate, joint products and/or programs will focus on the needs of urban and underserved populations, especially those living near to public lands and waters. Additionally, facilities and programs may be developed with a focus on preventing or reducing obesity, as well as assisting persons in maintaining a physically active lifestyle.
Identify and jointly conduct research and evaluations on lifestyles and the use of recreation areas, programs, and products aimed at promoting physical activity, especially on the Nation's public lands and waters.
In addition, the Cooperating Agencies will continue to explore existing mutual efforts such as those listed below to assist in meeting the objectives of this MOU to increase the physical activity of the American public by:
Promoting volunteer events such as National Public Lands Day, National Fishing and Boating Week, National Trails Day, Great Outdoors Week, and others as volunteer opportunities benefiting natural and cultural landscapes and benefiting people through physical activity in the out-of-doors;
Promoting physical activity and outdoor recreation at Wonderful Outdoor World campouts, as well as recommendations for health from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.
Using Urban Tree House projects to promote a lifestyle that is healthy and environmentally friendly;
Using mature adult volunteers to enable them to maintain an active lifestyle;
Using cooperating agencies' research and social science capability to identify who is or is not active, what their lifestyles look like, and the barriers to increasing their physical activity;
Reviewing and modifying heritage, Watchable Wildlife, and other programs as appropriate to accommodate the physical activity of all participants;
As appropriate, working with the US Department of Transportation to encourage using its funding programs to support projects which promote walking, bicycling, recreational trails, and recreational boating;
As appropriate, engaging other agencies or programs within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of the Army in the projects, activities, policies, and efforts being mutually accomplished by the cooperating agencies of this MOU.
They will cooperate in implementing activities to facilitate the development of projects and policies such as those recommended in the 1996 Surgeon General's report on Physical Activity and Health. Cooperative efforts will also reinforce and enhance the importance of physical and psychological health and well being of the American people, as noted in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and other scientific sources. The cooperating agencies will meet at least twice a year to develop recommended actions and research projects for the coming fiscal year.
Specific work projects or activities that involve the transfer of funds, services, or property among the parties to this MOU will require the execution of separate agreements or contracts, contingent upon the availability of funds from the cooperating agencies or as appropriated by Congress. Each subsequent agreement or arrangement involving the transfer of funds, services, or property between the parties to this MOU must comply with all applicable statutes and regulations, including those statutes and regulations applicable to procurement activities, and must be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority.
This MOU in no way restricts the OPHS, CDC, IHS, FS, CNPP, BIA, BLM, BOR, FWS, NPS, and COE from participating in similar activities or arrangements with other public, private, or nonprofit entities.
Any information furnished to the cooperating agencies under this MOU is subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
Nothing in this MOU shall obligate the cooperating agencies to expend appropriations or to enter into any contract with other obligations.
Additional Federal agencies may be added to this MOU with the oral concurrence of the cooperating agencies at the time of the proposed addition. A written record of the oral consent of the cooperators will be created and maintained by the cooperating agencies. The addition of the new cooperating agencies will be effected by attaching to the MOU the written consent of the heads of the new cooperating agencies.
Participation in this MOU may be terminated with a 60-day written notice of any party. Unless terminated under the stated terms, this MOU will become effective upon signature and will remain in full force until June 2006.
To provide for consistent and effective communication among the cooperators, each of the cooperators shall appoint a representative to the Working Group who will prepare an annual agency work plan, agree to agreed upon tasks, and consider new activities, as appropriate, that may be pursued under this MOU. Appointed representatives will:
Prepare an annual agency accomplishment and evaluation report for the Working Group;
Participate in scheduled meetings and conference calls;
Participate in the annual strategic meeting with agency leadership to identify demonstration projects; and,
Develop a marketing and communication strategy for disseminating accomplishments and information internally and externally.
The following person(s) will be the principal contact(s) for their respective agencies for the purposes of this agreement and the MOU Working Group at the time of execution. However, the principal contact for the agreement is: Kristen Nelson, USDA Forest Service, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources, 201 14th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250, telephone 202-205-1406, or email kristennelson@fs.fed.us.
Federal Interagency Working Group on Nature-based Physical Activity:
David Buchner, M.D., M.P.A/John Librett, Phd., M.P.A.
Centers for Disease Control, HHS
Leo Nolan
Indian Health Service, HHS
Susan J. Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A.
U.S. Assistant Surgeon General and Rear Admiral
Office of Public Health and Science, HHS
David Holland/Kristen Nelson
Forest Service, USDA
John Webster
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, USDA
Ed Hall
Bureau of Indian Affairs, DOI
Michelle Dawson-Powell
Bureau of Land Management, DOI
Mollie Buckey
Bureau of Reclamation, DOI
Dan Ashe/Debbie McCrensky
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, DOI
Tom Ross/Dick Ring
National Park Service, DOI
Darrell Lewis/George Tabb
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DA
Christopher Douwes
Federal Highway Administration
This agreement is approved for fiscal year 02 and may continue through fiscal year 06, subject to availability of funds each year.
This agreement is entered into under the following authorities:
HHS Agencies:
CDC: The Economy Act
USDA Agencies:
Forest Service - Organic Administration Act of 1897 (16 U.S.C. 473-475, 477-482, 551)
National Trails Systems Act October 2, 1968 (PL 90-543, 82 STAT. 919)
Volunteers in the National Forest of 1972 (PL92-300, 88 STAT 147)
DOI Agencies:
BLM - Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of October 21, 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701-1782)
BOR - Reclamation Act, Jue 17, 1902, as amended, 43 USC Chapter 12, Sec. 371 et seq.
FWS - Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. s 742f(1988); Refuge Recreation Act, 16 U.S.C. s 460k-2 (1988); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1980, 16 U.S.C. s2901 et seq (1988); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. s661 (1988), and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, 16 U.S.C. s 668 dd-ee.
NPS -The National Trails System Act of October 2, 1968, P..L. 90-543, as Amended; The Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act of May 28, 1963, P.L. 88-29.
DOD Agencies:
Army Corps of Engineers - General Authority 16 U.S.C., Chapter 1, Subchapter LXVI.
Travel under this agreement is subject to allowances authorized in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations, the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, and/or the Foreign Service Regulations.
If equipment is procured in order to provide services, the agency conducting the procurement will retain title to the equipment.
Pursuant to Section IV of this MOU, the U.S. Department of Transportation agrees to be a cooperating agency in HealthierUS to work with other cooperating agencies in accordance with the MOU finalized June 19, 2002. The Legal Authority for this cooperation is 49 U.S.C. 301.
