[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 163 (Thursday, August 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49406-49407]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-19253]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for nominations for Recreation Resource
Advisory Committees.
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SUMMARY: Nominations are being sought for certain positions to serve on
the Pacific Northwest Recreation Resource Advisory Committees
(Recreation RAC). 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: Winter Non-motorized, Summer Non-motorized, Local
Environmental, State Tourism, and 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 from the
Forest Service Pacific Northwest Regional Office listed below or on the
Web at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac. All nominations must
include 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 Pacific Northwest
Regional Office on or before September 30, 2008. This timeframe may be
extended if officials do not receive applications for needed positions.
ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations to the Pacific Northwest
Recreation RAC by: U.S. Mail: Shandra Terry, Regional Public
Involvement Coordinator, Public Affairs, Pacific Northwest Regional
Office, PO Box 3623, Portland, OR 97208, (503) 808-2242.
Express Delivery: Shandra Terry, Regional Public Involvement
Coordinator, Public Affairs, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, 333 SW
1st Ave., Portland, OR 97204, (503) 808-2242.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anyone wanting further information
regarding this request for nominations may contact Jocelyn Biro,
Recreation Fee Coordinator, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, PO Box
3623, Portland, OR 97208, (503) 808-2411.
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.
[[Page 49407]]
In addition, the Governors of three states--Alaska, Nebraska and
Wyoming--requested that their States be exempt from the REA-RIRAC
requirement, and the two Departments concurred with the exemptions.
Members were appointed to the Pacific Northwest 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 Pacific Northwest
Recreation RAC provides recreation fee recommendations to both the
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The Recreation
RAC makes 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
The Recreation RAC consists of 11 members appointed by the
Secretary. These members provide a broad and balanced representation
from the recreation community as follows:
(1) Five persons who represent recreation users and that include,
as appropriate, the following:
a. Winter motorized recreation, such as snowmobiling;
b. Winter non-motorized recreation, such as snowshoeing, cross-
country and downhill skiing, and snowboarding;
c. Summer motorized recreation, such as motorcycles, boaters, and
off-highway vehicles;
d. Summer non-motorized recreation, such as backpacking, horseback
riding, mountain biking, canoeing, and rafting; and
e. Hunting and fishing.
(2) Three persons who represent interest groups that include, as
appropriate, the following:
a. Motorized outfitters and guides;
b. Non-motorized outfitters and guides; 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. 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 or by
contacting the respective regions 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 RAC 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: August 14, 2008.
Calvin N. Joyner,
Acting Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region, USDA Forest
Service.
[FR Doc. E8-19253 Filed 8-20-08; 8:45 am]
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