[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 13748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7241]


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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 April 20, 2002, 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 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

DATES: The meeting will be held on April 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Silver Baron ``D'' meeting 
room on the mezzanine level at the Silver Legacy Casino/Resort, 407 
North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada.
    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, PO Box 34718, Washington, DC 20043-4713, or electronically 
to the Committee's website at http://countypayments.gov/comments.html. 
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 possible.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randle G. Phillips, Executive 
Director, Forest Counties Payments Committee, (202) 208-6574 or 
[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 
occuring on Federal lands which are Federal responsibilities; and 
monitor payments and implementation of The Secure Rural Schools and 
Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393).
    At the April 20 meeting in Reno, 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 of 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 
Public Law 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: March 19, 2002.
Scott D. Conroy,
Acting Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 02-7241 Filed 3-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P