[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 49903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19467]


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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 will meet in 
Rhinelander, WI, on August 23, 2002. The purpose of the meeting is to 
receive comments from elected officials and the general public on the 
recommendations the committee must make to Congress as specified in 
Section 320 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Interior and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act. The meeting will consist of a public input session 
from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

DATES: The Rhinelander, WI, meeting will be held on August 23, 2002. 
Persons who are interested in providing comments to the committee have 
until August 31, 2002, to submit their written comments. Comments 
received after this date will be considered to the extent possible.

ADDRESSES: The August 23 meeting will be held at the Rhinelander High 
School Auditorium, 665 Coolidge Avenue, Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Those 
who cannot be present may submit written responses to the questions 
listed in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in this notice to Randle G. 
Phillips, Executive Director, Forest Counties Payments Committee, P.O. 
Box 34718, Washington, DC 20043-4713, or electronically on the 
committee's website 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. To formulate its 
recommendations to Congress, 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 the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393).

Questions for Comment

    The Forest Counties Payments Committee asks that elected officials 
and others who wish to comment, either by mail or in person at the 
Rhinelander, WI, meeting, 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 
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: July 25, 2002.
Elizabeth Estill,
Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 02-19467 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P