[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68041-68042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27120]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of Energy and 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regarding Implementation of Executive 
Order 13186, Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect Migratory 
Birds

AGENCY: Office of Health, Safety and Security, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is informing the public of the 
availability of its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The purpose of the MOU is to 
strengthen migratory bird conservation through enhanced collaboration 
between DOE and the FWS, in coordination with state, tribal, and local 
governments. The MOU identifies specific areas in which cooperation 
between DOE and the FWS will substantially contribute to the 
conservation and management of migratory birds and their habitats.

ADDRESSES: The MOU is available at http://energy.gov/hss/downloads/memorandum-understanding-responsibilities-federal-agencies-protect-migratory-birds.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Powers, Office of Sustainability 
Support, Office of Health, Safety, and Security, at 
[email protected] or 202-586-7301 or Josh Silverman, Director, 
Office of Sustainability Support, Office of Health, Safety, and 
Security, at [email protected] or 202-586-6535.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This MOU is pursuant to the Migratory Bird 
Treaty Act (MBTA) and Executive Order (EO) 13186. The MBTA is the 
domestic law that affirms the United States' commitment to four 
international conventions (with Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Russia) for 
the protection of a shared migratory bird resource. Each of the 
conventions protect selected species of birds that are common to both 
countries (i.e., they occur in both countries at some point during 
their annual life cycle). The MBTA protects migratory birds by 
governing the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and 
importation of such birds, their eggs, parts, or nests.
    E.O. 13186, Responsibilities of Federal Agencies to Protect 
Migratory Birds, signed on January 10, 2001, directs Federal agencies 
to take certain actions to further implement the MBTA and promote the 
conservation of migratory bird populations. E.O. 13186 outlines Federal 
agency responsibilities

[[Page 68042]]

and establishes an interagency Council for the Conservation of 
Migratory Birds to oversee the implementation of this Order. It 
requires agencies to avoid or minimize the adverse impact of their 
actions on migratory birds and ensure that environmental analyses under 
the National Environmental Policy Act evaluate the effects of proposed 
Federal actions on such species.
    DOE and FWS entered into the first MOU on migratory bird protection 
in 2006. This updated MOU, signed September 12, 2013, took effect upon 
signature of DOE and FWS and remains in effect for five years. Section 
F.9 of the MOU directs DOE to advise the public of this MOU through a 
notice published in the Federal Register.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on November 1, 2013.
Andrew C. Lawrence,
Director, Office of Environmental Protection, Sustainability Support 
and Corporate Safety Analysis, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2013-27120 Filed 11-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P