Difference between revisions of "JPAs, MOUs, and MOA's in California's Central Coast Region"

Revision as of 10:33, 11 March 2021

An environmental topic, summarized by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.

This page is still in an early stage of development.

Definitions

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 

An MOU is an agreement between government agencies, at the federal, state, and local level, with an intent to collaborate, cooperate, and share information in areas of common regulation and supervision ^[1]. MOUs can also be formed with academic institutions and other entities like non-profit organizations. MOUs are non-binding agreements that are often entered to describe broad concepts of common understanding, goals, and cooperative planning between parties ^[2]. MOUs can be categorized into three overarching groups: Academic MOUs, Domestic MOUs, and Non-Profit and other MOUs.

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) 

An MOA is different than a MOU because it describes in detail any specific responsibilities and actions needed to be taken by each party involved in order to accomplish a set goal ^[3]. Both MOUs and MOAs are required to follow the mission of the federal agency involved as well as federal law, regulation, and funding limitations. MOUs and MOAs also do not trump the need for separate contracts, documents, and agreements to meet the goals of the respective parties involved. MOUs and MOAs are not to be used a the sole authority to meet a goal or acquire goods and services.

Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) 

Some JPAs are cooperative agreements between existing agencies and others create separate institutions that are known as joint powers agencies ^[4]. JPAs are established to work on a common problem between two or more parties, fund projects, or act as representative body to different activities ^[5]. JPAs can be formed between federal institutions, state departments, counties, cities, school districts, development agencies and other joint power institutions. JPAs can also be formed across state lines. JPAs are currently formed for groundwater management, infrastructure development, habitat conservation, mental health facilities construction, etc ^[6].

Examples

MOUs and MOAs

• MOU associated with Oil Region National Heritage Area
• MOUS associated with Great Basin National Heritage Area
• Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior of the United States of America and the Secretariat of Urban Development and Ecology on Cooperation in Management and Protection of National Parks and Other Protected Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites, Mexico City and Washington,
• BLM, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Botanic Garden, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and USDA Agricultural Research Service
• BLM one that Duncan found : [1]

JPAs

• Laguna Grande Regional Park Joint Powers Agency
• Canyon Del Rey Watershed Joint Powers Agency
• Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority (MPRWA)
• Deep Water Desal

Less relevant ones

• Mission Trails Regional Occupational Program

Process of establishing MOUs/MOAs

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