[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81911-81912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33535]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National 
Forest System Land Management Planning Rule

AGENCY: USDA Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of intent to establish an advisory committee and call 
for nominations.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture intends to establish the National 
Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System 
Land Management Planning Rule (Committee). In accordance with 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Committee 
is being established to provide advice and recommendations on the 
implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning 
Rule (Planning Rule). The Committee is necessary and in the public 
interest. Therefore, the Secretary of Agriculture is seeking 
nominations for individuals to be considered as committee members. The 
public is invited to submit nominations for membership.

DATES: Written nominations must be received by February 13, 2012. 
Nominations must contain a completed application packet that includes 
the nominee's name, resume, and completed form AD-755 (Advisory 
Committee Membership Background Information). The form AD-755 may be 
obtained from Forest Service contact person or from the following Web 
site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5203568.pdf. The package must be sent to the address below.

ADDRESSES: Send nominations and applications to Angela Gee, USDA Forest 
Service, National Forest System, Mail Stop 1106, 201 14th Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20025 by express mail or overnight courier service. If 
sent via the U.S. Postal Service, they must be sent to the following 
address: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National 
Forest System, Mail Stop 1106, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Tooke, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, National Forest System, Ecosystem 
Management Coordination; telephone: (202) 205-0830, fax: (202) 205-
1758, or email: [email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-(800) 877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2) and with the concurrence of 
the General Services Administration (GSA), the Secretary of Agriculture 
intends to establish the National Advisory Committee for Implementation 
of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. The 
Committee will be a discretionary advisory committee. The Committee 
will operate under the provisions of FACA and will report to the 
Secretary of Agriculture through the Chief of the Forest Service.
    The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and 
recommendations on implementation of the planning rule. The Committee 
will be asked to perform the following duties or other requests made by 
the Secretary of Agriculture or the Chief of the Forest Service:
    1. Review the content of and provide recommendations on directives 
related to implementation of the planning rule;
    2. Offer recommendations on implementation of the planning rule, 
based on lessons learned and best practices from on-going or completed 
assessments, revisions, and monitoring strategies;
    3. Offer recommendations on new best practices that could be 
implemented based on lessons learned;
    4. Offer recommendations for consistent interpretation of the rule 
where ambiguities cause difficulty in implementation of the rule;
    5. Offer recommendations for effective ongoing monitoring and 
evaluation, including broadscale monitoring, for implementation of the 
planning rule;
    6. Offer recommendations on how to foster an effective ongoing 
collaborative framework to ensure engagement of Federal, State, local 
and Tribal governments; private organizations and affected interests; 
the scientific community; and other stakeholders; and
    7. Offer recommendations for integrating the land management 
planning process with landscape scale restoration activities through 
implementation of the planning rule.

Advisory Committee Organization

    This Committee will be comprised of not more than 21 members who 
provide balanced and broad representation within each of the following 
three categories of interests:
    1. Up to 7 members who represent one or more of the following:
    a. Represent the affected public at-large
    b. Hold State-elected office (or designee)
    c. Hold county or local elected office
    d. Represent American Indian Tribes
    e. Represent Youth
    2. Up to 7 members who represent one or more of the following:
    a. National, regional, or local environmental organizations
    b. Conservation organizations or watershed associations
    c. Dispersed recreation interests
    d. Archaeological or historical interests
    e. Scientific Community
    3. Up to 7 members who represent one or more of the following:
    a. Timber Industry
    b. Grazing or other land use permit holders or other private forest 
landowners
    c. Energy and mineral development
    d. Commercial or recreational hunting and fishing interests
    e. Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or 
commercial recreation interests
    No individual who is currently registered as a Federal lobbyist is 
elegible to serve as a member of the Committee.
    The Committee will meet three to four times annually or as often as 
necessary and at such times as designated by the Designated Federal 
Official (DFO).
    The appointment of members to the Committee will be made by the 
Secretary of Agriculture. Any individual or organization may nominate 
one or more qualified persons to serve on the National Advisory 
Committee for Implementation of the Planning Rule. Individuals may also 
nominate themselves. To be considered for membership, nominees must 
submit a:
    1. Resume describing qualifications for membership to the 
Committee;
    2. Cover letter with a rationale for serving on the committee and 
what you can contribute; and
    3. Complete form AD-755, Advisory Committee Membership Background 
Information.
    Letters of recommendation are welcome. The form AD-755 may be 
obtained from Forest Service contact person or from the following Web 
site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/

[[Page 81912]]

FSE--DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5203568.pdf. All nominations will be vetted by 
USDA. The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint committee members to 
the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National 
Forest System Land Management Planning Rule from the list of qualified 
applicants.
    Members of the Committee will serve without compensation, but may 
be reimbursed for travel expenses while performing duties on behalf of 
the Committee, subject to approval by the DFO.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) policies will be followed in all appointments to the 
committee. To ensure that the recommendations of the Committee have 
taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by USDA, 
membership shall include to the extent possible, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities.

    Dated: December 23, 2011.
Pearlie S. Reed,
Assistant Secretary of Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-33535 Filed 12-27-11; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P