TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 16-316

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SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION

Earth Sciences

Memorandum of Understanding

between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

and POLAND

Signed at Warsaw March 16, 2016 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof

or authentication thereof.”
 POLAND

Scientific and Technological Cooperation: 

Earth Sciences

 Memorandum of understanding signed

 at Warsaw March 16, 2016;

 Entered into force March 16, 2016.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

BETWEEN 

THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

OF THE 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

OF 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

AND 

PL-04.0000 

THE POLISH GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE- NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE 

OF THE 

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT 

OF POLAND 

CONCERNING 

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION 

IN THE EARTH SCIENCES 

ARTICLE I. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES 

1. The U.S. Geological Survey ofthe Department of the Interior ofthe United States 

of America (hereinafter "USGS"), and the Polish Geological Institute-National Research 

Institute of the Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Poland (hereinafter "PGI") 

hereby agree to pursue scientific and technical cooperation in the Earth sciences in 

accordance with this Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter "Memorandum"). 

2. The purpose of this Memorandum is to provide a framework for the exchange of 

scientific and technical knowledge and the augmentation of scientific and technical 

knowledge between the USGS and the PGI (hereinafter "Party" or "Parties") with respect 

to the Earth sciences. 

3. This Memorandum is subject to and governed by the Agreement between the 

Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of 

Poland for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (hereinafter the "S&T Agreement") 

signed at Washington February 10, 2006. 

ARTICLE II. COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES 

1. Forms of cooperation under this Memorandum may consist of exchanges of 

technical information, visits, and cooperative research consistent with the ongoing 

programs of the Parties. Specific areas of cooperation may include, but are not limited to: 

A. Ecosystems; 

B. Climate variability and land-use changes; 

C. Energy, minerals, and environmental health; 
D. Natural hazards, risk and resilience assessments; 

E. Water resources; and 

F. Informatics and data integration. 

2. Activities under this Memorandum shall be undertaken in accordance with the 

applicable laws and regulations of each Party. 

3. The Parties shall encourage and facilitate, where appropriate, the development 

of direct contacts and cooperation among government agencies, universities, research 

centers, institutions, private sector companies, and other entities of the two Parties. 

4. Each Party may, with the consent of the other Party and to the extent permitted 

by the laws and policies of each Party's Government, invite other government entities or 

agencies of the United States and Poland, and other entities, including scientists, technical 

experts, governmental agencies, and institutions of third countries or international 

organizations, to participate in activities undertaken pursuant to this Memorandum, subject 

to such terms and conditions as the Parties may specify. 

ARTICLE III. AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES 

Cooperative activities under this Memorandum shall be subject to the availability of 

personnel, resources, and funds. This Memorandum shall not be construed to obligate the 

Parties to any particular expenditure or commitment of resources, funds, or personnel. 

ARTICLE IV. FEE AND TAX EXEMPTION 

1. In accordance with its laws and regulations, each Party shall work toward obtaining, 

on behalf of the other Party, relief from taxes, fees, customs duties, and other charges 

(excluding fees for specific services rendered) levied with respect to: 

A. All transfer, ownership, construction, renovation, or maintenance of facilities or 

property by or on behalf of the other Party to implement this Memorandum. 

B. The import, purchase, ownership, use, or disposition (including export) of goods 

and services by or on behalf of the other Party in support of activities under this 

Memorandum; and 

C. Personal property of personnel of the other Party or entities of that Party 

implementing provisions of this Memorandum. 

2. The Parties do not foresee the provision of foreign assistance under this 

Memorandum. If they decide otherwise with respect to a particular activity, the relevant 

Project Annex, as described in Article IX below, would need to be consistent with the 

requirements of laws of the United States and Poland that regulate activities related to 

foreign assistance. 
ARTICLE V. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

The protection and distribution of intellectual property created or furnished in the 

course of cooperative activities under this Memorandum shall be governed by the 

provisions of Annex A of the S&T Agreement. 

ARTICLE VI. DISCLAIMER 

Information transmitted by one Party to the other Party under this Memorandum shall 

be accurate to the best knowledge and belief of the transmitting Party, but the transmitting 

Party does not warrant the suitability of the information transmitted for any particular use 

or application by the receiving Party or by any third Party. 

ARTICLE VII. PLANNING AND REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES 

Each Party shall designate a principal representative who, at such times as are mutually 

agreed upon by the Parties, shall meet with the other Party's representative to review the 

activities under this Memorandum and develop proposals for future activities, as 

appropriate. 

ARTICLEVIII.DATAEXCHANGE 

The Parties acknowledge the value of exchange of Earth observation and related activities. 

The Parties agree to promote the open exchange of Earth observation and related data activities 

within their national structures in order to provide maximum social and scientific benefits of 

such data. 

ARTICLE IX. PROJECT ANNEXES 

Any activity carried out under this Memorandum shall be agreed upon in advance by 

the Parties in writing. Whenever more than the exchange of technical information or visits 

of individuals is planned, such activity shall be described in an agreed Project Annex to 

this Memorandum, which shall set forth, in terms appropriate to the activity, a work plan, 

staffing requirements, cost estimates, funding sources, and other undertakings, obligations, 

or conditions not included in this Memorandum. In case of any inconsistency between the 

terms of this Memorandum and the terms of a Project Annex, the terms of this 

Memorandum shall control. 

ARTICLE X. EN1RY INTO FORCE AND TERMINATION 

This Memorandum shall enter into force upon signature by both Parties and remain in 

force until terminated at any time by either Party. Either Party may terminate this 

Memorandum upon ninety (90) days' written notice through diplomatic channels, to the 

other Party, of its intention to terminate this Memorandum. Unless otherwise agreed, the 

termination of this Memorandum shall not affect the validity or duration of projects under 
this Memorandum that are initiated prior to such termination, and this Memorandum shall 

continue to apply to such projects until they are discontinued. 

Signed in Reston, Virginia, and Warsaw, Poland, in duplicate, in the English language. 

FOR THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 

Suzette . imball 

Director 

Date 

FOR THE POLISH GEOLOGICAL 

INSTITUTE- NATIONAL 

RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF THE 

MINISTRY OF THE 

ENVIRONMENT OF POLAND: 

Tot1AY1 

Nalecz Tomasz 

Deputy Director 

Date