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Polk County commissioners approve MOU to consolidate BLM cooperating‑agency representation
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Summary
On March 10 the Polk County Board of Commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding authorizing the Association of Oregon and California to serve as a consolidated cooperating agency with the Bureau of Land Management for forthcoming resource management plan revisions; the board added Commissioner Pope as a formal contact and emphasized that the MOU does not authorize old‑growth harvests.
Polk County commissioners voted March 10 to approve a memorandum of understanding that designates the Association of Oregon and California (AOCC) to act as a consolidated cooperating agency with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in revisions to regional Resource Management Plans.
Commissioner Pope told the board the MOU would allow the AOCC to represent multiple O&C (O and C) counties in the BLM’s process to revise the 2016 Northwestern and Coastal Oregon and Southwestern Oregon Resource Management Plans and their environmental impact statements. Pope said the arrangement is meant to consolidate technical engagement while preserving each county’s authority.
The Chair emphasized that the MOU "is not a sort of permission slip to harvest old growth timber," and noted public concern about an area identified in the meeting as Valley of the Giants and an associated ACEC (area of critical environmental concern). The Chair said the BLM provided an email and an online portal for public comment but did not read the specific email address into the record.
A meeting participant who said they were speaking on behalf of someone named Lyle voiced support for the MOU and urged formal protections for Valley of the Giants, adding that the agreement as presented "does not endanger this."
After discussion the Chair moved to approve the memorandum of understanding with an amendment to add Commissioner Pope as a cooperating‑agency contact on the record; Commissioner Pope seconded. The board took a voice vote, members said "aye," and the motion carried.
The memorandum covers participation in BLM planning for the 2016 RMP revisions and associated environmental review; the board did not place additional conditions on the MOU during the meeting. The meeting concluded with no additional nonlisted items and an adjournment.
Next steps: the MOU will be on the public record with Commissioner Pope listed as a cooperating‑agency contact and the AOCC expected to engage in BLM plan‑revision processes; the record for submitting public comments was described but the meeting did not publish the specific email address or portal link.
