[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 14574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7159]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 58 / Wednesday, March 26, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 14574]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Provincial Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to renew Federal Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the 
Department of the Interior, intends to renew the Provincial Advisory 
Committees (PACs) for the 12 provinces in California, Oregon, and 
Washington. This renewal is in response to the continued need for the 
PACs to provide advice on coordinating the implementation of the Record 
of Decision of April 13, 1994, for Management of Habitat for Late-
Successional and Old-Growth Forest Related Species Within the Range of 
the Northern Spotted Owl. The PACs also provide advice and 
recommendations to promote integration and coordination of forest 
management activities between Federal and non-Federal entities.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the April 13, 1994, Record of Decision can be 
obtained electronically at http://www.reo.gov/library/reports/newsandga.pdf. Paper copies can be obtained from the Office of 
Strategic Planning, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, OR 97208.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geraldine Bower, Planning Specialist, 
Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff, Forest Service, USDA (202) 
205-1022.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is hereby given that the Department of 
Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of the Interior, 
intends to renew the Provincial Advisory Committees (PACs), which will 
advise the Provincial Interagency Executive Committee (PIEC). The 
purpose of the PIEC is to facilitate the coordinated implementation of 
the Record of Decision (ROD) of April 13, 1994, for Management of 
Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-Growth Forest Related Species 
Within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl. The PIEC consists of 
representatives of some or all of the following Federal agencies: 
Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. 
Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, Environmental 
Protection Agency, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    Ecosystem management at the province level requires improved 
coordination among governmental entities responsible for land 
management decisions and the public those agencies serve. Each PAC will 
provide advice and recommendations regarding implementation to promote 
integration and coordination of forest management activities between 
Federal and non-Federal entities. Each PAC will provide advice 
regarding implementation of a comprehensive ecosystem management 
strategy for Federal land within a province (provinces are defined in 
the ROD at E19).
    The chair of each PAC will alternate annually between 
representatives of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land 
Management. When the Bureau of Land Management is not represented on 
the PIEC, the Forest Service representative will serve as chair. The 
chair, or a designated agency employee, will serve as the Designated 
Federal Officer under sections 10(e) and (f) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). Any vacancies on the committee will be 
filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    A meeting notice will be published in the Federal Register within 
15 to 45 days before a scheduled meeting date. All meetings are 
generally open to the public and may include a ``public forum'' that 
may offer 5-10 minutes for participants to present comments to the 
advisory committee. Alternates may choose not to be active during this 
session on the agenda. The chair of the given committee ultimately 
makes the decision whether to offer time on the agenda for the public 
to speak to the general body.
    Renewal of the PACs does not require an amendment of Bureau of Land 
Management or Forest Service planning documents because the renewal 
does not affect the standards and guidelines or land allocations. The 
Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service will provide further 
notice, as needed, for additional actions or adjustments when 
implementing interagency coordination, public involvement, and other 
aspects of the ROD.
    Equal opportunity practices will be followed in all appointments to 
the advisory committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the PACs 
have taken into account the needs of diverse groups served by the 
Departments, membership will, to the extent practicable, include 
individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, 
and persons with disabilities.

    Dated: March 18, 2003.
Clyde Thompson,
Associate Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-7159 Filed 3-25-03; 8:45 am]
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