[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6144-6145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02113]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


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

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to renew an advisory committee.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture intends to renew 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 renewed to continue providing advice and recommendations on 
the implementation of the National Forest System Land Management 
Planning Rule (Planning Rule). The Committee is currently deliberating 
and formulating advice for the Secretary on the Proposed Planning Rule 
Directives. The Committee is necessary and in the public interest.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Tooke, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, National Forest System, Ecosystem 
Management Coordination; telephone: 202-205-0830 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 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, 
Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 6145]]

Background

    In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), the Secretary of Agriculture 
intends to renew the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of 
the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. The Committee 
is a discretionary advisory committee. The Committee operates 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 is currently comprised of 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 
eligible to serve as a member of the Committee. Members of the 
Committee serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel 
expenses while performing duties on behalf of the Committee, subject to 
approval by the DFO.
    The Committee meets three to six 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 was made by the 
Secretary of Agriculture. Further information about the Committee is 
posted on the Planning Rule Advisory Committee Web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/planningrule/committee.
    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 includes to the extent possible, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities.

     Dated: January 17, 2014.
Gregory L. Parham,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-02113 Filed 1-31-14; 8:45 am]
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