Interagency Agreement Regarding Shared Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Authority

The Service and NMFS developed an agreement to guide collaborative implementation of our shared authority under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA). The authorities of the FWCA were extended to NOAA by Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 that created their agency. The agreement acknowledges that this shared authority includes section 2(e) of the FWCA that provides for the transfer of funds to carry out investigation and reporting activities. The agreement describes communication and disclosure requirements between the agencies and principles for partnering under the FWCA where the Service and NMFS work closely on water resource projects.