[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45392-45393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17783]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Southern Recreation Resource Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of request for nominations for the Southern Region 
Recreation Resource Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: Nominations are being sought for certain positions to serve on 
the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) operating 
in the Southern Region of the Forest Service. New members will be 
appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) and serve three-
year terms. Appointments will begin in February 2009 when current 
member appointments expire.
    One member is being sought to represent each of the following 
interests: (1) Camping; (2) Motorized Recreation; (3) Hunting/Fishing; 
(4) Outfitters/Guides 1; (5) Outfitters/Guides 2; (6) 
Affected Indian Tribes; and (7) Affected Local Governments.
    The public is invited to submit nominations for membership on the 
Recreation RAC. Current members who have only served one term may also 
apply. Application packets for Recreation RACs can be obtained on the 
Web at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac-application.shtml or by 
e-mailing: [email protected]. Interested parties may also contact 
Caroline Mitchell, U.S. Forest Service, PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 
71902 (501-321-5318).
    All nominations must consist of a completed application packet that 
includes background information and other information that addresses a 
nominee's qualifications.

DATES: All applications must be received by the appropriate office 
listed below on or before September 30, 2008. This timeframe may be 
extended if officials do not receive applications for needed positions.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit nominations to the Southern 
Region Recreation RAC by U.S. Mail: C. Mitchell, Ouachita National 
Forest, PO Box1270, Hot Springs, AR 71902, or Express Delivery: C. 
Mitchell, Ouachita National Forest, 100 Reserve Street, Hot Springs, AR 
71901.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Anyone wanting further information regarding 
this request for nominations may contact the designated federal 
official: Cheryl Chatham, Recreation RAC DFO, PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, 
AR 71902 (501-321-5277).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), signed December 
2004, requires that the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) provide Recreation RACs with an opportunity to make 
recommendations to the two agencies on certain types of proposed 
recreation fee changes.
    REA allows the agencies to use existing advisory councils, such as 
BLM Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), or to establish new committees 
as appropriate. The Forest Service and BLM elected to jointly use 
existing BLM RACs in the states of Arizona, Idaho, the Dakotas, 
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. In 2006, the Forest Service 
chartered new Recreation RACs for the states of California and 
Colorado, and for the Forest Service Pacific Northwest, Eastern and 
Southern Regions. The Forest Service is using an existing advisory 
board for the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.
    In addition, the Governors of three states--Alaska, Nebraska and 
Wyoming--requested that their State be exempt from the REA-R/RAC 
requirement, and the two Departments concurred with the exemptions.
    Members were appointed to the Southern Recreation RAC in February 
2007 for either two year or three-year terms. The terms for the two-
year members will expire February 2009.
    The Recreation RACs provide recreation fee recommendations to both 
the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These 
committees make recreation fee program recommendations on implementing 
or eliminating standard amenity fees; expanded amenity fees; and 
noncommercial, individual special recreation permit fees; expanding or 
limiting the recreation fee program; and fee-level changes.

Recreation RAC Composition

    Each Recreation RAC consists of 11 members appointed by the 
Secretary. REA provided flexibility to modify the specified membership 
of the RAC ``as appropriate'' to ensure a fair and balanced 
representation of recreation interests. Due to climate conditions in 
the Southern Region, the Region does not have a winter sports program. 
Therefore, the categories of winter motorized recreation and winter 
non-motorized recreation were replaced with (1) camping and (2) 
wildlife viewing/visiting interpretive sites. In addition, as the 
region has very few motorized outfitters and guides, they have two 
positions representing non-motorized outfitter and guides. The 
positions are as follows:
    (1) Five persons who represent recreation users and that include, 
as appropriate, the following:
    a. Camping interests;
    b. Day-use interests, such as wildlife viewing and interpretive 
centers;
    c. Summer motorized recreation, such as motorcycles, boats, and 
off-highway vehicles;
    d. Summer non-motorized recreation, such as backpacking, horseback 
riding,

[[Page 45393]]

mountain biking, canoeing, and rafting; and
    e. Hunting and fishing;
    (2) Three persons who represent interest groups that include, as 
appropriate, the following:
    a. Non-motorized outfitters and guides-position one;
    b. Non-motorized outfitters and guides-position two; and
    c. Local environmental groups.
    (3) Three persons, as follows:
    a. State tourism official to represent the state;
    b. A person who represents affected Indian tribes; and
    c. A person who represents affected local government interests.

Nomination Information

    Any individual or organization may nominate one or more qualified 
persons to represent the interests listed above to serve on the 
Recreation RAC. To be considered for membership, nominees must:
     Identify what interest group they would represent and how 
they are qualified to represent that group;
     State why they want to serve on the committee and what 
they can contribute;
     Show their past experience in working successfully as part 
of a collaborative group; and
     Complete Form AD-755, Advisory Committee or Research and 
Promotion Background Information.
    Letters of recommendation are welcome, but not required. 
Individuals may also nominate themselves. Nominees do not need to live 
in a state within a particular Recreation RAC's area of jurisdiction 
nor live in a state in which Forest Service-managed lands are located.
    Application packets, including evaluation criteria and the AD-755 
form, are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac-application.shtml or by contacting the Southern Region as identified in 
this notice. Nominees must submit all documents to the appropriate 
regional contact. Additional information about recreation fees and REA 
is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/about-rec-fees.shtml.
    The Forest Service will also work with Governors and county 
officials to identify potential nominees.
    The Forest Service will review the applications and prepare a list 
of qualified applicants from which the Secretary shall appoint both 
members and alternates. An alternate will become a participating member 
of the Recreation RACs only if the member for whom the alternate is 
appointed to replace leaves the committee permanently.
    Recreation RAC members serve without pay but are reimbursed for 
travel and per diem expenses for regularly scheduled committee 
meetings. All Recreation RAC meetings are open to the public and an 
open public forum is part of each meeting. Meeting dates and times will 
be determined by agency officials in consultation with the Recreation 
RAC members.

    Dated: July 29, 2008.
Cheryl Chatham,
Designated Federal Official.
[FR Doc. E8-17783 Filed 8-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M