[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 57 (Friday, March 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15286-15287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5930]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Counties Payments Committee Meeting

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Counties Payments Committee will meet in Sparks, 
Nevada, April 15, 2005. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss 
Section 320 of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 
2001.

DATES: The meeting will be held on April 15, 2005. The meeting will 
consist of a session from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m., which will be open to 
public participation, followed by a business session, open only to 
public attendance.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the John Ascuaga's Nugget Hotel, 
Rose B Meeting Room, 2nd floor, 1100 Nugget Avenue, Sparks, Nevada 
89431.
    Those who cannot be present may submit written responses to the 
questions, listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 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 Web site at http://countypayments.gov/comments.html. Comments must be received by May 1, 
2005, 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, at (202) 208-6574 or via 
e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 320 of the Interior and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001 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 The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393). In order to develop its 
recommendations to Congress, the Committee would like to hear from both 
elected officials and the general public. At the April 15 meeting in 
Sparks, Nevada, the Committee asks that respondents provide information 
that is responsive to the following questions:

1. Schools

    Identify specific examples of expenditures for education resulting 
directly from payments received from Public Law 106-393 that would not 
have been possible without the funding from this Act. Specify whether 
these, or other education services, would be discontinued or reduced 
when the current Law expires in 2006 and, if other funding sources 
would be available to replace the funds currently provided by Public 
Law 106-393.

2. Roads

    Identify examples of expenditures on roads from payments from Pub. 
L. 106-393 that would not have been possible without the funding from 
this Act. Specify whether these, or other transportation services, 
would be discontinued or reduced when the current Law expires in 2006, 
or if other funding sources would be available to replace them.

3. Resource Advisory Committees

    Pursuant to the requirements of Pub. L. 106-393, a county, or 
similar local governing body, that receives $100,000 or more, must set 
aside between 15 and 20 percent of the total payment for Title II, 
Title III, or a combination of the two titles.
    If your county received at least $100,000, please describe the 
reasons why your local governing body decided not to set aside money 
for Title II, public lands projects, and establish a resource advisory 
committee. Please describe any conditions or circumstances that would 
have caused your local governing body to set aside money in Title II, 
and establish a resource advisory committee.

4. Role of Resource Advisory Committees

    The projects of resource advisory committees are determined by 
funds set aside by counties and agreed to by the members of the 
committee as described in their charter.
    Based on the experience you have gained in working with resource 
advisory committees, do you believe the role of these committees could 
be expanded beyond their current responsibilities to address other 
management activities on public lands? If so, please provide examples. 
What advantages would be gained from such expansion?

5. Title III

    There are currently six categories for which expenditures of Title 
III funds are permitted. These categories are: Search, rescue, and 
emergency services on Federal lands; community service work camps for 
Federal lands; easement purchases; forest related educational 
opportunities; fire prevention and county planning; and community 
forestry. Are there other categories you would like to see added to the 
list that would permit expenditures of these funds? Please provide your 
reasons.

[[Page 15287]]

6. Implementation of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Pub. 
L. 108-148)

    Please provide specific examples where funds from Title II, Title 
III, or a combination of both, have been used to accomplish the 
purposes of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003.

    Dated: March 21, 2005.
Elizabeth Estill,
Deputy Chief, Programs, Legislation and Communication.
[FR Doc. 05-5930 Filed 3-24-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P