[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 5087]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2586]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Counties Payments Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Counties Payments Committee is required to 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 requests 
comments from the general public.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by April 30, 2002 to be 
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to Randle G. Phillips, 
Executive Director, Forest Counties Payments Committee, PO Box 34718, 
Washington, DC 20043-4713, (202) 208-6574 or electronically to the 
Committee's web site at http://countypayments.gov/comments.html.

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. 106-291) created the Forest 
Counties Payments Committee to make recommendations to Congress on a 
long-term solution for making Federal payments to eligible States and 
counties in which Federal lands are situated. The Committee will 
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 Pub L. 106-393, ``Secure Rural 
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000.''
    The Committee asks that respondents provide information in response 
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 to promote ``sustainable forestry?''
    10. What has been your experience regarding implementation of Pub 
L. 106-393, The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination 
Act?
    11. What changes in law, policies and procedures, and the 
management of public land have contributed to changes in revenue 
derived from the multiple-use management of these lands?
    12. What changes in law, policies and procedures, and the 
management of public land are needed in order to restore the revenues 
derived from the multiple-use management of these lands?

    Dated: January 29, 2002.
Elizabeth Estill,
Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 02-2586 Filed 2-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P