[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13516-13517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05873]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary


Provincial Advisory Committees

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Re-establish the Charter for the Provincial 
Advisory Committees.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the 
Department of the Interior, intends to re-establish the Provincial 
Advisory Committees (PACs) for the provinces in Oregon and Washington. 
This re-establishment is in response to the continued need for the PACs 
to provide advice on coordinating the implementation of the Record of 
Decision (ROD) of April 13, 1994, for Management of Habitat for Late-
Succession and Old-Growth Forest Related Species within the Range of 
the Northern Spotted Owl. The PACs also provide advice and 
recommendations to promote integration and coordination of forest 
management activities between Federal and non-Federal entities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shandra L. Terry, PACs Program 
Manager, USDA Forest Service, Region 6 Regional Office, 333 Southwest 
First Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204; by phone at 503-808-2242 or by 
email at [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:

Background

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.), 
notice is hereby given that the Department of Agriculture, in 
consultation with the Department of the Interior, intends to re-
establish the PACs. The purpose of the PACs is to facilitate the 
coordinated implementation of the ROD of April 13, 1994, for Management 
of Habitat for Late-Succession and Old-Growth Forest Related Species 
within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl. The PACs consists of 
representatives of the following Federal agencies: Forest Service, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Bureau of Land Management, National Marine Fisheries Service, National 
Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey 
Biological Resources Division, Environmental Protection Agency, and 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    Ecosystem management at the province level requires improved 
coordination among governmental entities responsible for land 
management decisions and the public those agencies serve. Each PAC will 
provide advice and recommendations regarding implementation to promote 
integration and coordination of forest management activities between 
Federal and non-Federal entities. Each PAC will provide advice 
regarding implementation of a comprehensive ecosystem management 
strategy for Federal land within a province (provinces are defined in 
the ROD at E19).
    Re-establishment of the PACs does not require an amendment of 
Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service planning documents because 
the re-establishment does not affect the standards and guidelines or 
land allocations. The Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service will 
provide further notice, as needed, for additional actions or 
adjustments when implementing interagency coordination, public 
involvement, and other aspects of the ROD.

PAC Membership

    Each PAC will be comprised of no more than 30 members approved by 
the Secretary of Agriculture. This Committee will be fairly balanced in 
its membership in terms of the points of view represented and the 
functions to be performed. The PACs may include representation in the 
following areas:
    (1) One or more representatives of the Environmental Protection 
Agency;
    (2) One or more representatives of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service;
    (3) One or more representatives of the Forest Service;
    (4) One or more representatives of the BLM in each province where 
lands administered by BLM occur in the province;
    (5) One or more representatives of the National Park Service in 
each province where a National Park occurs in the province;
    (6) One or more representatives of the National Marine Fisheries 
Service;
    (7) One or more representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
    (8) Up to a maximum of three representatives of the government of 
each State within whose boundaries all or a portion of the province is 
located (the State agencies/departments to be represented will be 
determined by the Federal officials described in Paragraphs 3a(1) 
through 3a(7);
    (9) One or more representatives of each county government within 
whose boundaries all or a portion of the province is located, up to a 
maximum of three county representatives;
    (10) One or more representatives of each tribal government whose 
reservation, ceded land, or usual and accustomed areas are within all 
or a portion of the province, up to a maximum of three tribal 
representatives;
    (11) Up to a maximum of two representatives of environmental 
interests;
    (12) Up to a maximum of two representatives of different sectors of 
the forest products industry;
    (13) Up to a maximum of four representatives of the recreation and 
tourism sectors;
    (14) Three to five representatives of the following interests when 
those

[[Page 13517]]

interests are determined by the Federal officials described in 
Paragraphs 3a(1) through 3a(7) to be needed on the respective 
provincial committee: Fish, wildlife, or forestry conservation 
organizations; special forest products interests, mining interests, 
grazing interests, and commercial fishing or charter fishing boat 
industry interests; and other interests that help achieve the purpose 
of these PACs;
    (15) Up to a total of three representatives from the following 
Federal agencies when the jurisdiction or authority of those agencies 
are determined by the Federal officials described in Paragraphs 
3a(1)(a) through 3a(7)(g) to be needed on the respective provincial 
committee: Bureau of Reclamation, United States Geological Survey 
National Biological Division, Forest Service Research, United States 
Army Corps of Engineers, United States Geological Survey, Bonneville 
Power Administration, Department of Defense, and Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; and
    (16) Up to a maximum of six representatives representing the public 
at large affected by the ROD for the Northwest Forest Plan and 
concerned with the management of the national forests in the community.
    No individual who is currently registered as a Federal lobbyist is 
eligible to serve as a member of the PAC. Members of the PAC serve 
without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses while 
performing duties on behalf of the PAC, subject to approval by the 
Designated Federal Official (DFO).
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) policies shall be followed in all appointments to 
the PACs. To ensure that the recommendations of the PACs have been 
taken into account, the needs of the diverse groups served by the 
Departments, membership should include, to the extent practicable, 
individuals with demonstrated ability to represent all racial and 
ethnic groups, women and men, and persons with disabilities.

    Dated: March 9, 2015.
 Gregory L. Parham,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-05873 Filed 3-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P