Project Number: 6235-11210-007-84
Project Type: Memorandum of Understanding

Start Date: Feb 01, 2010
End Date: Jan 31, 2015

Objective:
This MOA defines the responsibilities of the Supervisory Scientist, Jornada Experimental Range, and Commander, WSMR, for the cooperative use of that parcel of land that has been withdrawn from the public domain for use by both the Department of the Army (for military purposes) and the Department of Agriculture (for use as an experimental station). This parcel of land is hereinafter referred to as the Co-use Area.

Approach:
a. Approximately 80,000 acres of land, originally withdrawn from the public domain for the use of the Department of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the Co-use Area) was subsequently withdrawn for military purposes by Public Land Order (PLO) 833. The withdrawal of public lands contained in PLO 833, "takes precedence over but does not otherwise affect" prior withdrawals of the property for use as an agricultural experimental station. b. The JER is an Agricultural Research Service Field Station. Its mission is to develop new knowledge of ecosystem processes as a basis for management and remediation of desert rangelands. c. WSMR's mission is to provide quality test, evaluation, research, and other technical services to the Army and Department of Defense Acquisition programs. d. In the performance of its mission, WSMR has used the Co-use Area as a safety fan area for conducting its testing mission and to assess land condition through periodic ecological monitoring at specific points to provide data to understand cumulative impacts at other ecological environments within the administrative boundaries of WSMR. WSMR has no current plans to use this parcel for other purposes. However, WSMR reserves the right to change the nature of its use of the Co-use Area if necessary to meet mission requirements. Any change will be effected only after consultation with ARS and appropriate amendments to this or subsequent MOAs. e. The parties agree that the primary mission of WSMR must be the overriding consideration in planning and executing any and all programs in the Co-use Area, but that WSMR will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize interference with the JER's mission.