[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 105 (Monday, June 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33083-33084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11677]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Office of the Secretary


Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Call for nominations for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic 
Trail Advisory Council.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking 
nominations for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory 
Council (Council) pursuant to Section 5(d) of the National Trails 
System Act (NTSA), as amended. Additional information on the Council 
can be found by visiting the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest 
National Scenic Trail website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnt.

DATES: Nominations must be received by July 31, 2020. The timeframe may 
be extended if officials do not receive applications for vacancies. 
Nominations must contain a completed application packet that includes 
the nominee's completed form AD-755 (Advisory Committee or Research and 
Promotion Background Information), r[eacute]sum[eacute], cover letter 
identifying which organization and/or interest group(s) they would 
represent and how they are qualified to represent the group(s), and, if 
applying to represent an organization, a letter of endorsement from the 
organization. The package must be sent to the address below.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may submit nominations packets by U.S. 
Mail or express delivery to the Attention: Becky Blanchard, PNT 
Administrator, USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, 1220 
Southwest Third Avenue, Suite 1700, Portland, Oregon 97204-2825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becky Blanchard, Designated Federal 
Officer, by phone at 503-808-2449; or by email at 
[email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunications devices or the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8:00 a.m. an 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In accordance with the NTSA and the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App.2), the Secretary of Agriculture has 
renewed the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail Advisory Council, 
effective March 10, 2020, and is seeking nominations for the Council. 
The Council is a statutory advisory council. The Council 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 Council is to make recommendations on matters 
relating to the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail in accordance 
with Section 5(d) of the NTSA, which states,

    ``The Secretary charged with the administration of each 
respective trail shall, within one year of the date of the addition 
of any national scenic or national historic trail to the system, . . 
. . . establish an advisory council for each such trail, each of 
which councils shall expire ten years from the date of its 
establishment, . . . . . . The appropriate Secretary shall consult 
with such council from time to time with respect to matters relating 
to the trail, including the selection of rights-of-way, standards 
for the erection and maintenance of markers along the trail, and the 
administration of the trail.''

Council Membership

    The Council will be comprised of approximately of 25 and no more 
than 35 members. The members appointed to the Council will provide 
balanced and broad representation within each of the following 
interests:
    (1) The head of each Federal department or independent agency 
administering lands through which the trail route passes, or their 
designee.
    (2) A member appointed to represent each State through which the 
trail passes, and such appointments shall be made from recommendations 
of the Governors of such States.
    (3) One or more members appointed to represent private 
organizations, including corporate and individual landowners and land 
users which, in the opinion of the Secretary, have an established and 
recognized interest in the trail. These members may represent social, 
environmental, or economic organizations (such as nationally or 
regionally recognized trails organizations, nationally or regionally 
recognized environmental organizations, nationally or regionally 
recognized wildlife organizations) and interests (hiking, equestrian, 
mountain biking, archaeological and historical, the timber industry, 
tourism and/or commercial outfitters, county governments and/or gateway 
communities, environmental education, youth engagement and employment); 
and/or private landowners.
    (4) One or more members appointed to represent tribal interests.
    Federal government members will serve as Regular Government 
Employees, appointed to provide the perspective of their agency or 
program. Non-federal members will serve as Representative members, 
appointed to provide the perspectives of a particular organization or 
interest. No individual who is currently registered as a Federal 
lobbyist is eligible to serve as a member of the Council.
    Representative (non-federal) members will serve without 
compensation but may be reimbursed for travel expenses while performing 
duties on behalf of the Council, subject to approval by the Designated 
Federal Officer (DFO). The Council will meet at least once annually or 
as often as necessary and at such times as designated by the DFO.

Nominations and Application Information

    The appointment of members to the Council will be made by the 
Secretary of Agriculture. Any individual or organization may nominate 
one or more qualified and interested persons to represent the interest 
areas listed above. Individuals may also nominate themselves. To be 
considered for membership, nominees must submit:
    (1) Complete form AD-755;
    (2) R[eacute]sum[eacute] focused on qualifications, experiences, 
and skills relevant to the Council;
    (3) Cover letter identifying which organization and/or interest 
group(s) they would represent and how they are qualified to represent 
the group(s), their rationale for serving on the Council and what they 
can contribute, and their past

[[Page 33084]]

experience working successfully as part of a collaborative group; and
    (4) If applying to represent an organization, a letter of 
endorsement from the organization.
    Letters of recommendations may also be included as part of the 
nomination package but are not required. The form AD-755 and additional 
application information can be found by visiting the following website: 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnt. They may also be obtained by contacting 
Becky Blanchard, Designated Federal Officer, USDA Forest Service 
Pacific Northwest Region, 1220 Southwest Third Avenue, Suite 1700, 
Portland, Oregon 97204-2825; by phone at 503-808-2449; or by email at 
[email protected]. Nominations and completed applications for 
the Council should be sent to the DFO at the mailing address or email 
address above.
    All nominations will be vetted by USDA. The Secretary of 
Agriculture will appoint members to the Council from the list of 
qualified applicants.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA policies shall 
be followed in all appointments to the Council. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the Council have considered the needs of the diverse 
groups served by USDA, membership will, to the extent practicable, 
include individuals with demonstrated ability to represent all racial 
and ethnic groups, women and men, and persons with disabilities.

    Dated: May 26, 2020.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-11677 Filed 5-29-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P