UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE STATE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING, ESTABLISHING, AND/OR CONDUCTING DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, ADHERING TO STATE AND FEDERAL PROCEDURES, ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS WITHIN THE PISGAH AND NANTAHALA NATIONAL FORESTS. THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT, DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES MAY ALSO OCCUR ON STATE AND PRIVATE LANDS WITHIN THE SAME WATERSHEDS AS THE NATIONAL FORESTS WHEN THERE IS A SHARED MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE AND/OR A CLEAR BENEFIT TO THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCES WITHIN THE NATIONAL FORESTS. ANY MAJOR FEDERAL ACTION (DEFINED IN THE 2023 FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT THAT AMENDED NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT) WILL ADHERE TO NECESSARY FEDERAL LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE TO REDUCE RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, BENEFIT LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND RESTORE RECREATIONAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THE FOREST SERVICE AND STATE WILL PARTNER TO PLAN AND

Summary

UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE STATE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING, ESTABLISHING, AND/OR CONDUCTING DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES, ADHERING TO STATE AND FEDERAL PROCEDURES, ON NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS WITHIN THE PISGAH AND NANTAHALA NATIONAL FORESTS. THROUGH THIS AGREEMENT, DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES MAY ALSO OCCUR ON STATE AND PRIVATE LANDS WITHIN THE SAME WATERSHEDS AS THE NATIONAL FORESTS WHEN THERE IS A SHARED MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE AND/OR A CLEAR BENEFIT TO THE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCES WITHIN THE NATIONAL FORESTS. ANY MAJOR FEDERAL ACTION (DEFINED IN THE 2023 FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT THAT AMENDED NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT) WILL ADHERE TO NECESSARY FEDERAL LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND POLICIES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE TO REDUCE RISK TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, BENEFIT LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND RESTORE RECREATIONAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES. TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS THE FOREST SERVICE AND STATE WILL PARTNER TO PLAN AND