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YF <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: December 4, 2000 <br />Action Age da <br />Item No. n -- <br />SUBJECT: Forest Service Contract fior Fiscal Year 2000-01 <br />DEPARTMENT: Budget /Planning PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Agreement for Protection, Development <br />and Improvement of Forest Land in <br />Orange County <br />Memorandum of Understanding <br />10/26/00 District Forester Letter <br />Future Considerations and Cooperation <br />Forest Practice Guidelines <br />Ac#ivity Report <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Donna Dean, Budget Director 245-2151 <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 245- <br />2592 <br />Brad Bowlin Forest Ran er 732-8152 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To approve the annual agreement between Orange County and the North Carolina <br />Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for protection, development, <br />reforestation, management and improvement of forest lands located in the County. <br />BACKGROUND: This agreement, made under authority of Sections 113-54 and 113-59 of the <br />North Carolina General Statutes, provides for continuation of active protection of Orange <br />County forestlands by the NC Forest Service. <br />Responsibilities of the Forest Service and County Forest Ranger include: <br />• controlling forest fires in the County, <br />• detecting and extinguishing fires that break out, <br />• investigating the origin of forest, woodland and field fires, <br />• enforcing State forest fire laws, <br />• taking preventative measures, educational and otherwise, as necessary, to prevent <br />forest fires, <br />• developing and improving forestlands through reforestation, promotion and practice of <br />Forest Management practices, and <br />• protecting forestlands from insects and diseases. <br />Staff from the County and the Forest Service have conferred regularly in recent months <br />regarding areas of collaboration and cooperation that can help bath parties advance their <br />mutual interests in protecting and preserving forestland and the environment, consistent with <br />applicable State and County laws and regulations. The District Forester has written a letter, <br />after consulting with staff of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, that <br />outlines some of the additional steps that DENR believes are authorized under existing State <br />laws and regulations. Staff has prepared a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that <br />