Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) memorializes an agreement between parties. In Colorado, such agreements are often negotiated by a local government and an oil and gas operator. The document may be called an MOU, a memorandum of agreement (MOA), operator agreement, or development agreement. In these documents (that we collectively call “MOUs”), the parties agree on how the oil and gas operator will develop and/or operate oil and gas facilities within the local jurisdiction and how the local government will interact with the operator.

Anatomy of an MOU MOUs and the processes used to develop them are as different as the communities, operators and issues that they address.  Yet they have commonalities as well.  Learn more

Database of MOUs The BMP Project hosts a database of Local Government / Operator MOUs within the BMP Project’s searchable bibliographic database.  Find MOU Documents

Database of MOU BMPs Best management practices (BMPs) from MOUs are catalogued in the BMP Project’s searchable BMP database.  Find BMPs

Stakeholder Assessment The BMP Project conducted interviews with stakeholders to identify the challenges and opportunities of developing and implementing MOUs.  Learn from Stakeholders

BMPs in CO MOUs BMP database searches can be used to identify and compare development practices among Colorado communities.  Search/Compare BMPs

Additional Resources This section provides links to various resources cited in the Stakeholder Assessment report or otherwise useful for those interested in MOUs.  Find Cases, Reports, and More

Funding and other support for the MOU project has been provided by: