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Memoranda of Understanding

This is a photo of a winding section of the Natchez Trace Parkway. There are no cars on the road. It's a sunny day with dense forests on each side of the road beyond grassy shoulders.
Natchez Trace Parkway. Source: FHWA Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division

The memoranda of understanding (MOUs) here are agreements between transportation agencies and Controlling Agencies that describe the common line of action the parties will take when pursuing a FLT.

National MOUs
MOU between FHWA and Bureau of Land Management This is a 1982 interagency agreement between BLM and FHWA that provides procedures by which the Secretary of Transportation acting through FHWA may appropriate public lands for highway rights-of-way and sources of materials for the Federal-aid Highway System.
MOU between FHWA and USFS This 1998 MOU provides procedures for Federal-aid highways authorized by a DOT easement and amends processing procedures for Forest highways.
State-specific MOUs with Bureau of Land Management
MOU between Arizona DOT and BLM The MOU outlines policies and procedures for Arizona DOT, FHWA Arizona Division, and Arizona BLM to establish and improve cooperative working relationships for implementing the BLM/FHWA Interagency Agreement Number AA-851-IA2-40 of July 27, 1982.
MOU Concerning: Operating Procedures for Processing Federal-aid Highway Rights-of-Way This MOU establishes updated operating procedures between the BLM, FHWA, and the Wyoming DOT for processing of Federal-aid Highway rights-of-way. Specific items covered in this agreement include planning, design, and environmental assessment; appropriation, material sites; and construction and maintenance of Federal-aid highway right-of-way projects.
State-specific MOUs with U.S. Forest Service
MOU to Perfect Title along Segments of Existing Highways on Forest Service Lands in the State of California (See Exhibit 6) This 2001 MOU and 2012 Amendment 1 between Caltrans and USFS that establishes a process for its parties to follow to perfect title along previously unrecorded segments of highway existing on USFS lands in California.
MOU for Signage and Permits to Establish Procedures for Coordinating Activities related to State Highway across Lands Administered by the USDA Forest Service in the State of California This is a 1989 MOU and 1990 amendments. The MOU requires each Caltrans district to designate a coordinator who will represent the agency in discussions with local Forest Supervisors.
Forest Highway Statewide Agreement for the Administration of the Forest Highway Program in the State of South Carolina Cooperative Agreement between South Carolina DOT, FHWA and USFS that sets forth the general terms, conditions, and procedures for the cooperative planning, programming, surveying, designing, construction, and maintaining of Forest Highways in the state.
MOA for the Survey and Recordation of Federal Easements of New Hampshire DOT Roads on the White Mountain National Forest in Grafton, Carroll, and Coos Counties, NH MOA between the USFS White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire DOT, and FHWA Eastern Federal Highway Division to establish the roles, responsibilities, funding, and procedures related to the execution of Federal Easements of New Hampshire DOT roads on the White Mountain National Forest to NHDOT. The FE covers Interstate 93, US Route 302, and US Route 3, and NH Route 16located in Grafton, Carroll and Coos Counties, New Hampshire.
MOU on Procedures Related to State Highways over National Forest Lands in Utah MOU between Utah DOT and USFS that establishes procedures for coordinating the location, construction, maintenance, signing, access, protection and conservation of environment, control of pollution, and other matters related to State Highway use and occupancy of National Forest lands.
MOU on Procedures Related to Highways over National Forest Lands in Vermont January 1978 MOU between the State of Vermont Transportation Board and USFS that establishes procedures for coordinating the location, construction, maintenance, signing, access, protection and conservation of environment, control of pollution, and other matters related to State Highway use and occupancy of National Forest lands.
MOU on Forest Highways Over National Forest Lands in Washington July 2002 MOU between Washington DOT and the USFS Pacific Northwest Region, that documents the cooperation of the parties on transportation activities of mutual interest involving highways on, or accessing, lands that USFS manages.
MOU on State Highways Over National Forest Lands in Oregon (18-MU-11062751-045) 2018 MOU between Oregon DOT and USFS Pacific Northwest Region that documents the steps necessary to coordinate transportation activities of mutual interest between Oregon DOT and the USFS involving highway highways on, or accessing, lands that USFS manages.
MOU for Wyoming DOT Facilities on National Forest System Lands May 2005 MOU between Wyoming DOT and USFS that provides procedural guidance specific to project planning and design, environmental processing, Federal land appropriation, construction, and operation and maintenance of transportation facilities on USFS lands in Wyoming.
State-specific MOUs with Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service
MOU Related to Activities Affecting the State Transportation System, National USFS Lands, and BLM National System of Public Lands in the State of Colorado 2016 MOU between Colorado DOT, BLM, and the USFS that establishes procedures for coordinating activities affecting the State transportation system and lands that the USFS and BLM administer within Colorado.
MOU for Processing Federal Land Easements in Idaho MOU between FHWA Idaho Division, Idaho Transportation Department, USFS, and BLM that provides procedural guidance specific to project Planning & Design, Environmental Processing, Federal Land Appropriation, Construction, and Operation and Maintenance of transportation facilities on National Forest System lands and BLM Public Lands in the State of Idaho.
Other State-specific MOUs
MOU among the Department of the Army and FHWA and VDOT and County of Fairfax, VA for the Design and Construction of Transportation Improvements on Fort Belvoir and U.S. Route 1 This agreement outlines what its parties agree to do regarding the design and construction of transportation improvements in Fairfax County, VA.
Updated: 3/1/2023
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