[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39251-39252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15644]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 39251]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


21st Century Conservation Service Corps Partnership Opportunity

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) National 
Council is requesting letters of interest from all conservation and 
youth corps programs that would like to be identified as a 21CSC member 
organization. We are initiating this outreach in order to catalyze the 
establishment of a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) to 
engage young Americans and returning veterans in public lands and water 
restoration.
    This notice seeks to establish the 21CSC by building upon and 
leveraging the experience and expertise of existing Federal, State, 
tribal, local and non-profit conservation and youth corps, and veterans 
programs. This will facilitate conservation and restoration service 
work on public lands to include all governmental entities of cities, 
counties, States, and the Federal Government, and encourage a new 
generation of natural resource managers and environmental stewards.
    All principals of interested organizations are invited to submit a 
letter of interest that outlines the organization's and/or program's 
criteria. Letters should include the name of your organization; an 
address and point of contact, including email address; and a 
description of your organization or program. Organizations that respond 
to this request may be contacted to provide additional information to 
support their statements. The 21CSC National Council will oversee the 
review of all submissions to determine the respondent's alignment with 
the 21CSC principles. Organizations that are not recognized as 21CSC 
member organizations in the initial review process may submit new 
letters of interest.
    This notice is being published by the USDA Forest Service on behalf 
of the National Council; 21CSC member organizations recognized through 
this process will be acknowledged by all signatories to the National 
Council MOU.

DATES: Submit letters of interest (maximum 5 pages, double-spaced in 
Times New Roman, 12 point type) before August 1, 2013. An interagency 
team will review submissions and respond by September 30, 2013. 
Organizations may submit letters of interest including new and re-
submissions up to 1 year after the date of this notice. Letters will be 
reviewed quarterly and the member organization directory will also be 
updated quarterly (October, January, April, and July). Organizations 
may be removed at any time by submitting a written request to the email 
or mailing address below. Membership will last through the 2014 
calendar year; more information regarding membership beyond this period 
will be forthcoming after August 2014.

ADDRESSES: Letters of interest may be submitted electronically to 
[email protected]. If electronic submission is not an option, please send 
your letter of interest to: USDA Forest Service, Attn: Merlene Mazyck, 
1620 Kent Street, RPC, 4th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USDA Forest Service, Attn: Merlene 
Mazyck, 1620 Kent Street, RPC, 4th Floor, Arlington, VA 22209 or 
[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 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

21CSC National Council

    The implementation of the 21CSC is coordinated by a National 
Council of representatives from Federal agencies that formalized their 
mission through the signing a Memorandum of Understanding in January 
2013. National Council membership includes leadership from the 
Departments of the Army, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor, 
Environmental Protection Agency, the President's Council on 
Environmental Quality, and the Corporation for National and Community 
Service. The National Council will work to: Support program expansion, 
including by matching natural resource management needs with 21CSC 
opportunities and identifying potential sources of funding and other 
resources; remove barriers and streamline processes for supporting 
21CSC programs; support participant pathways to careers; facilitate 
technical assistance; develop and support partnerships; coordinate 
messaging; and ensure national representation.

Background

    The 21CSC is a bold national effort to put America's youth and 
veterans to work protecting, restoring, and enhancing America's Great 
Outdoors. Recognizing the need for job opportunities for youth and 
returning veterans, for restoration of our natural resources, to 
connect Americans to the country's lands and waters, to effectively 
recruit the next generation of public employees, and to develop the 
next generation of conservation stewards, the Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior, on behalf of the America's Great Outdoors 
Council, formed a Federal Advisory Committee (FACA) to develop 
recommendations for the establishment of the 21CSC. The FACA was 
comprised of representatives from Federal agencies, the outdoor 
industry, and non-profit youth and conservation corps. In addition to 
providing recommendations, the FACA also identified 21 CSC goals and 
principles, which were slightly modified and adopted by the Federal 
21CSC National Council.

21CSC Goals

    1. Build America's future. Through service to America, the 21CSC 
will develop a generation of skilled workers, educated and active 
citizens, future leaders, and stewards of natural and cultural 
resources, communities, and the nation.
    2. Put Americans to work. The 21CSC will provide service, training, 
education, and employment opportunities for thousands of young 
Americans and veterans, including low income, disadvantaged youth and 
other

[[Page 39252]]

youth with limited access to outdoor work opportunities.
    3. Preserve, protect, and promote America's greatest gifts. The 
21CSC will protect, restore, and enhance public and tribal lands and 
waters as well as natural, cultural, and historical resources and 
treasures. With high-quality, cost-effective project work, the 21CSC 
will increase public access and use while spurring economic development 
and outdoor recreation.

21CSC Principles

    21CSC member organizations must be in alignment with the criteria 
in each of the following 21CSC Principles:
    1. Population served. Program serves young people ages 15-25 and/or 
military veterans up to age 35. Program may serve young people up to 
age 29 in an advanced capacity.
    2. Participant eligibility. Participants must be a U.S. citizen, 
national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States, 
meeting the same citizenship requirements as those for serving in 
AmeriCorps and Public Lands Corps.
    3. Emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Participant recruitment 
should make deliberate outreach efforts to traditionally underserved 
communities, including low-income and disadvantaged populations.
    4. Term of service. Program minimum term of service of: 140 hours 
of on-the-ground, hands-on direct service for full time students and 
summer only participants; or 300 hours of on-the-ground, hands-on 
direct service for non-full time student participants. Program maximum 
term of service of 3,500 hours of on-the-ground, hands-on direct 
service, with a limited exception for program elements that require 
more than 3,500 hours to achieve highly advanced outcomes. Service is 
compensated (not volunteer). Compensation can be in the form of wages, 
stipend, educational credit, or other appropriate form.
    5. Organization of work. Program organizes its participants as 
either: (a) Crew-based where participants work collectively and 
intensely together directly supervised by trained and experienced crew 
leaders or conservation professionals, or (b) Individual or small team-
based where participants work individually or in coordinated teams 
under the direction of conservation professionals on initiatives that 
require specific skills and dedicated attention.
    6. Types of work. Projects include significant outdoor activity 
and/or include ``hands-on'' direct impact and/or helps young people 
connect with America's Great Outdoors. Some programs may include work 
that is primarily indoors--for example, science, policy or program 
internships--that have a clear benefit to natural, cultural or historic 
resources.
    7. Participant outcomes. Program provides:
    (a) Job skill development to prepare participants to be successful 
in the 21st century workforce;
    (b) Community skill development to help participants acquire an 
ethic of service to others and learn to become better resource and 
community stewards; and
    (c) A connection, improvement, or restoration of the natural or 
cultural/urban environment or a greater understanding of our natural, 
cultural, or historic resources.
    8. Leveraged investment. Program leverages public investment 
through either financial or in-kind support, to the extent possible. 
Exceptions may be made to support new, smaller, or Federal programs 
that increase diversity and inclusion.

21CSC Member Organization Benefits and Caveats

    Through this ``notice of interest'' process, all respondents that 
currently meet each of the criteria listed in all 21CSC principles will 
be designated as a 21CSC member organization. Designation as a 21CSC 
member organization is not a commitment of funding or future 
partnership opportunities; however, this designation may result in the 
following benefits to and limitations for member organizations and the 
Federal agencies represented on the 21CSC National Council.
    Access to a national network of 21CSC member organizations.
    1. Identification on a government Web site as a 21CSC member 
organization.
    2. Ability to utilize the 21CSC logo to promote affiliation as a 
member organization.
    3. Participation and/or acknowledgement in a rollout and launch of 
21CSC in the Fall 2013.
    4. Career and youth development opportunities with Federal agencies 
for participants of member organizations, where available.
    5. Inclusion with outreach to Public Lands Service Corps programs 
about Federal partnership and employment opportunities.
    6. Opportunities to participate in webinars and other outreach to 
agency field staff to increase awareness of how agency natural, 
cultural, or historic resource management needs can be supported or met 
by youth and veterans conservation corps, where appropriate.
    7. Neither this announcement, nor letters of interest submitted in 
response to this announcement, obligates any Federal agency represented 
on the 21CSC National Council to enter into a contractual agreement 
with any respondent.
    8. Federal agencies represented on the 21CSC National Council 
reserve the right to establish a partnership based on organizational 
priorities and capabilities found by way of this announcement or other 
searches, if determined to be in the best interest of the government.
    9. This Notice does not preclude any Federal agencies from entering 
into agreements or partnerships with non-21CSC organizations.

    Dated: June 24, 2013.
Jame M. Pena,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2013-15644 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P