Early Project Coordination. 1. Early in the planning and NEPA stages of a Federal-aid-eligible highway project on BLM- managed lands, FHWA will send written notification of the project to all affected BLM Field Offices, with a copy to ADOT EEG: (1) inviting BLM to participate as a cooperating agency, (2) requesting that BLM identify known issues and concerns relating to protection of valid existing rights and resources on BLM-managed lands potentially affected by the project, and (3) requesting a determination whether the proposed project is in conformance with BLM land use plans.
2. BLM will provide a written response to FHWA, with a copy to ADOT EEG, in a timely manner, usually within 30 days after receipt of the notification, which:
a. acknowledges receipt of the notification;
b. verifies whether or not the proposal is in conformance with BLM land use plans;
c. states whether or not BLM will be a “cooperating agency with special expertise” or, in the case where a land use plan amendment is required, a “cooperating agency with jurisdiction;”
d. provides readily available information on wildlife, wildlife habitat, areas where threatened or endangered plant or animal species are known to occur, information on special status or sensitive species of plants or animals, special fencing needs, grazing, cultural resources, valid existing rights, etc.;
e. identifies any known unique or special conditions, based on knowledge of existing resources, including any anticipated special protective measures, which may be necessary;
f. provides the name, phone number and email address of the designated point of contact (BLM Project Manager); and
g. identifies the BLM Serial Number assigned to the project.
3. When more than one BLM Field Office will be affected by the proposed project, the BLM State Director will designate a Lead Office that will then assign a Project Manager. The BLM Project Manager will send written notification to FHWA, with a copy to ADOT, identifying which office is the BLM Lead Office.
4. The BLM Project Manager will coordinate with all other BLM Field Offices affected by the project and will provide consolidated responses to ADOT and FHWA on issues affecting BLM-managed lands throughout the life of the project.
5. The BLM Serial Number, the FHWA Project Number, and the ADOT TRACS Number(s) or Material Site Number will be referenced on all future correspondence relating to the project, whether correspondence is by formal letter, email, or fax transmittal. 11 MOU No. AZ-931-0309
Early Project Coordination a. Early in the development of a project, ADOT will establish contact with the BLM Field Office responsible for managing the affected public lands to arrange a pre-application meeting so that potential constraints may be identified and processing of an application tentatively scheduled. The objective of the pre-application meeting, which may be held in the office or on site, is to expedite application processing by fostering a mutual understanding of the process and the needs of both ADOT and BLM.
b. When more than one BLM Field Office will be affected by the proposed project, the BLM State Director will designate a Lead Office that will then assign a Project Manager. The BLM Project Manager will send written notification to ADOT identifying which office is the BLM Lead Office.
c. The BLM Project Manager will coordinate with all other BLM Field Offices affected by the project and provide consolidated responses to ADOT on issues affecting BLM- managed land throughout the life of the project.
Early Project Coordination. Early in the development of a project, ADOT will establish contact with the BLM Field Office responsible for managing the affected public lands to arrange a pre- application meeting so that potential constraints may be identified and processing of a request tentatively scheduled. The objective of the pre-application meeting, which may be held in the office or on site, is to expedite processing by fostering a mutual understanding of the process and the needs of both ADOT and BLM. D-45 27 MOU No. AZ-931-0309
