[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 57701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28752]



[[Page 57701]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Counties Payments Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Counties Payments Committee has scheduled a meeting 
on November 29, 2001, to discuss how it will provide Congress with the 
information specified in Section 320 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Interior 
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. In order to develop its 
recommendations to Congress, the Committee would like to hear from both 
elected officials and the general public. The meeting will consist of a 
public input session from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.

DATES: The meeting will be held on November 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Wyndham Hotel, 2910 Yale SE, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106.
    Those who cannot be present may submit written responses to the 
questions listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in this notice to 
Randle G. Phillips, Executive Director, Forest Counties Payments 
Committee, P.O. Box 34718, Washington, DC 20043-4713, (202) 208-6574 or 
electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randle G. Phillips, Executive 
Director, Forest Counties Payments Committee, (202) 208-6574; or via e-
mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 320 of the 2001 Interior and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act (Pub L. 106-389) authorizes the payments to 
States and counties from monies derived from receipts collected on 
Federal lands. These payments are to be used for the benefit of public 
education and other public purposes. The Act also created a Forest 
Counties Payments Committee to gather input from the public and elected 
officials to help develop recommendations to Congress on a long-term 
solution for making payments to eligible States and counties in which 
Federal lands are situated. The Committee will evaluate the methods and 
use of these payments. The Committee will also consider the impact on 
eligible States and counties of revenues from the historic multiple use 
of Federal lands; evaluate the economic, environmental, and social 
benefits which accrue to counties containing Federal lands; evaluate 
the expenditures by counties on activities occurring on Federal lands 
which are Federal responsibilities; and monitor payments and 
implementation of the Act.
    At the November 29 meeting in Albuquerque, the Committee asks that 
respondents provide information that is responsive to the following 
questions:
    1. Do counties receive their fair share of federal revenue-sharing 
payments made to eligible States?
    2. What difficulties exist in complying with, and managing all of 
the federal revenue-sharing payments programs? Are some more difficult 
than others?
    3. What economic, social, and environmental costs do counties incur 
as a result of the presence of public lands within their boundaries?
    4. What economic, social, and environmental benefits do counties 
realize as a result of public lands within their boundaries?
    5. What are the economic and social effects from changes in 
revenues generated from public lands over the past 15 years, as a 
result of changes in management on public lands in your State or 
county?
    6. What actions has your State or county taken to mitigate any 
impacts associated with declining economic conditions, or revenue-
sharing payments?
    7. What effects, both positive and negative, have taken place with 
education and highway programs that are attributable to the management 
of public lands within your State or county?
    8. What relationship, if any, should exist between federal revenue-
sharing programs, and management activities on public lands?
    9. What alternatives exist to provide equitable revenue-sharing to 
States and counties and promote ``sustainable forestry''?
    10. What has been your experience regarding implementation of Pub 
L. 106-291, The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination 
Act?

    Dated: November 9, 2001.
Timothy DeCoster,
Acting Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 01-28752 Filed 11-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P