[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69249-69250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25184]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


The Northwest Forest Plan Area Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

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

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

SUMMARY: The Forest Service intends to establish the Northwest Forest 
Plan Area Advisory Committee (the Committee), subject to the Secretary 
of Agriculture's approval. In accordance with provisions of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Committee is being established to 
provide advice and recommendations on landscape management approaches 
that promote sustainability, climate change adaptations, and wildfire 
resilience while providing for increasing use of and demands from 
National Forest System lands in the Northwest Forest Plan area. The 
Committee is necessary and in the public interest. Therefore, the 
Secretary of Agriculture is also seeking nominations for individuals to 
be considered as committee members. DATES: Written nominations must be 
submitted electronically or post-marked by January 17, 2023. 
Nominations must contain a completed application packet that includes 
the cover letter, resume, references, and completed form AD-755 
(Advisory Committee Membership Background Information). The form AD-755 
may be obtained from the Forest Service contact person or from the 
following website: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf. The package must be sent to either the email address or 
mailing address listed in the ADRESSESS. Electronic submission is 
preferred.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations and applications to Glenn 
Casamassa, Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region at 
[email protected] and include the phrase `FACA Nomination' in 
the subject line. If sending by express mail, overnight courier 
service, or the U.S. Postal Service, use the following address: 
Regional Forester Glenn Casamassa, c/o NWFP FACA Team, 1220 SW 3rd 
Avenue, Portland, OR 97204.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Brown, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service at 971-712-4369; Nick Goldstein, Forest 
Service at 503-347-1765; or email the NWFP FACA team at 
[email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunication devices 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 800 877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, 
including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the provisions of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. app. 2), 
with the concurrence of the General Services Administration (GSA), and 
subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Forest 
service intends to establish the Federal Advisory Committee for 
sustainable, climate-adapted, wildfire-resilient landscapes across the 
Northwest Forest Plan Area. The Committee will be a discretionary 
advisory committeeand will operate under the provisions of the FACA and 
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 landscape management approaches that promote 
sustainability, climate change adapations, and wildfire resilience 
while providing for increasing use of and demands from National Forest 
System lands in the Northwest Forest Plan area. Accordingly, the 
Committee will be asked to perform the following duties or fulfill 
other requests made by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Chief of the 
Forest Service by offering recommendations on:
    1. Planning options that complement the national Wildfire Crisis 
Strategy to assist the U.S. Forest Service transition to greater 
proactive wildfire risk reduction and related vegetation management.
    2. Approaches to address the dynamic nature of ecosystems, utilize 
adaptive management, monitoring, and integration of future uncertainty 
into land management planning.
    3. Application of the best available science regarding the 
following primary issues: (a) the ecological importance of mature and 
old growth forests; (b) climate change, fire, and associated 
disturbance processes; (c) terrestrial and aquatic reserved land use 
allocations and the relationship between the two; (d) the climatic 
diversity of forests encompassed by the NWFP area; and, (e) habitat 
connectivity at multiple scales in light of changed conditions.
    4. Incorporation of traditional ecological knowledge and indigenous 
perspectives and values into federal forest planning and management.
    5. Communication tools and strategies to: (a) help provide greater 
understanding of landscape or programmatic level planning options

[[Page 69250]]

and requirements and (b) enhance outreach efforts, public engagement, 
meaningful Tribal consultation and participation, targeted outreach to 
underserved communities, and stakeholder collaboration within the scope 
of the Committee.
    6. Issue preliminary discrete recommendations in sequence with 
Forest Service NWFP planning timelines.
    The Committee is expected to need two years to carry out its 
objectives. All deliverables will be submitted to the Designated 
Federal Official (DFO) according to planning schedule needs. The 
Committee will meet approximately 4 to 6 times annually or as often as 
necessary and at such times as designated by the DFO. Subcommittees may 
meet more frequently. Attendance may be in-person, by telephone, or by 
other electronic means. Meetings of the Committee whether in person, by 
telephone or electronic means shall be announced 15 calendar days in 
advance in the Federal Register as required by the FACA.
    The Committee will hold open meetings unless the Secretary 
determines that a meeting or a portion of a meeting should be closed to 
the public in accordance with subsection C of section 522(b) of title 
5, United States Code. All proceedings and relevant documents will be 
posted and made accessible to the public. No individual who is 
currently registered as a federal lobbyist is eligible to serve as a 
member of the Committee.

Overview and Memberships

    The committee will be comprised of 20 members approved by the 
Secretary of Agriculture with each member serving a two-year term. The 
Committee membership will be balanced in terms of the points of view 
represented and functions to be performed. 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 and the Department. The Committee should represent 
to the extent possible, a balance across the three states covered by 
the NWFP (Oregon, Washington, California) and reflect the demographic 
diversity of the NWFP area. The Committee shall include representation 
from experts in the following interest areas:
    (1) Science: Up to 9 members who represent the scientific 
community, and have an understanding in the following disciplines and 
how they relate to the NWFP area:
    (a) Forest ecology
    (b) Vegetation management
    (c) Fire ecology
    (d) Terrestrial wildlife ecology
    (e) Aquatic and riparian ecosystems and species
    (f) Climate change
    (e) Social science
    (g) Adaptive management and planning
    (h) Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge (ITEK) 
practitioners.
    (2) Organizations: Up to 7 members who represent a broad array of 
organizations with an interest in NWFP forests:
    (a) National, regional, or local conservation organizations with 
staff and active programs in the Pacific Northwest
    (b) Forest products industry
    (c) Recreation organization
    (d) Organization involved in outreach with underserved communities
    (e) Forest collaborative groups
    (f) Wildlife organization
    (g) Watershed organization.
    (3) Government and public: Up to 4 members who represent 
governmental entities or the public at-large:
    (a) Member of the affected public at large
    (b) Represent state governments
    (c) Represent counties
    (d) Represent American Indian Tribes.

Nomination and Application Information

    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 Federal Advisory 
Committee for sustainable, climate-adapted, wildfire-resilient 
landscapes across the Northwest Forest Plan Area. Individuals may also 
nominate themselves. To be considered for membership, nominees must 
submit a:
    1. Cover letter identifying what interest area group(s) listed 
above the nominee would represent, how they are qualified to represent 
that interest group, and why they want to serve on the Committee.
    2. Three references that may be contacted about the nominee's 
application.
    3. A resume describing in detail the nominee's qualifications for 
membership to the Committee.
    4. A completed form AD-755, Advisory Committee Membership 
Background Information. The form AD-755 may be obtained from the Forest 
Service contact person or from the following website: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf.
    5. Letters of recommendation are welcome. All nominations will be 
vetted by the Agency and the Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 
committee members from the list of qualified applicants. Members serve 
at the pleasure of the Secretary.
    Submit nominations and applications to the addressee listed in this 
notice.
    USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, 
color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including 
gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital 
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance 
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil 
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA 
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing 
deadlines vary by program or incident.
    Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA policies shall 
be followed in all membership 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, to the 
extent practicable, include individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent all racial and ethnic groups, gender diversity, and persons 
with disabilities.
    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible 
Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or 
contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages 
other than English. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, 
and lender.

    Dated: November 15, 2022.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-25184 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P