[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 241 (Monday, December 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87398-87400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27745]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Intent To Establish Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory
Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership for Secure
Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of Establishment for Secure Rural Schools Resource
Advisory Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and
Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 as amended, codified in
Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA), as amended, the United States Department of
Agriculture announces its intent to renew the charter for 80 Secure
Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) and establish six new
RACs through merger/consolidation. The Secure Rural Schools Advisory
Committees will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on proposed
recommendations and other such matters as the Secretary determines. The
Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees will be governed by
the provisions of FACA. Duration of Secure Rural Schools Resource
Advisory Committees are for two years unless renewed by the Secretary,
USDA. This notice also solicits nominations for membership on the
Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees.
DATES: Written nominations must be submitted via email or postmarked
within 90 days following the publication date of this notice. A
completed application packet includes the nominee's name, resume, and
completed Form AD-755 (Advisory Committee or Research and Promotion
Background Information, https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf). All completed application packets must be sent
to the addresses below.
ADDRESSES:
Northern Regional Office--Region I
Central Montana RAC, Flathead RAC, Gallatin RAC, Idaho Panhandle RAC,
Lincoln RAC, Mineral County RAC, Missoula RAC, Missouri River RAC,
North Central Idaho RAC, Ravalli RAC, Sanders RAC, Southern Montana
RAC, Southwest Montana RAC, Tri-County RAC
Jeffery Miller, Northern Regional Coordinator, Forest Service, 26
Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, Montana 59804, (406) 329-3576,
[email protected].
Rocky Mountain Regional Office--Region II
Black Hills RAC and Greater Rocky Mountain RAC
David Boyd, Rocky Mountain Regional Coordinator, Forest Service,
1617 Cole Boulevard, Building 17, Lakewood, Colorado 80401,
[email protected], (970) 319-4895.
Southwestern Regional Office--Region III
Coconino County RAC, Eastern Arizona RAC, Northern New Mexico RAC,
Southern Arizona RAC, Southern New Mexico RAC, Yavapai RAC
Erick Stemmerman, Southwestern Regional Coordinator, Forest
Service, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, (575) 654-
3278, [email protected].
Intermountain Regional Office--Region IV
Alpine RAC, Bridger-Teton RAC, Central Idaho RAC, Dixie RAC, Eastern
Idaho RAC, Fishlake RAC, Lyon-Mineral RAC, Manti-La Sal RAC, Northern
Utah RAC, South Central Idaho RAC, Southwest Idaho RAC, Rural Nevada
RAC
Hannah Lenkowski, Intermountain Regional Coordinator, Forest
Service, 355 North Vernal Avenue, Vernal, UT 84078,
[email protected], 385-517-0972.
[[Page 87399]]
Pacific Southwest Regional Office--Region V
Butte County RAC, Del Norte County RAC, El Dorado County RAC, Fresno
County RAC, Glenn and Colusa Counties RAC, Humboldt County RAC, Kern
and Tulare Counties RAC, Lassen County RAC, Mendo-Lake County RAC,
Modoc County RAC, Nevada and Placer Counties RAC, Plumas County RAC,
Shasta County RAC, Sierra County RAC, Siskiyou County RAC, Tehama RAC,
Trinity County RAC, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties RAC
Paul Wade, Pacific Southwest Regional Coordinator, Forest Service,
1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, California 94592, (707) 562-9010,
[email protected].
Pacific Northwest Regional Office--VI
Columbia County RAC, Colville RAC, Deschutes and Ochoco RAC, Fremont
and Winema RAC, Hood and Willamette RAC, Gifford Pinchot RAC, North Mt.
Baker-Snoqualmie RAC, Northeast Oregon Forests RAC, Olympic Peninsula
RAC, Rogue and Umpqua RAC, Siskiyou (OR) RAC, Siuslaw RAC, Snohomish-
South Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie RAC, Southeast Washington Forest RAC,
Wenatchee-Okanogan RAC
Yewah Lau, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, Forest Service,
295142 Highway 101 South, Quilcene, Washington 98379, (360) 981-9101,
[email protected].
Southern Regional Office--Region VIII
Alabama RAC, Cherokee RAC, Daniel Boone RAC, Davy Crockett RAC, Florida
National Forests RAC, Francis Marion-Sumter RAC, Kisatchie RAC, Ozark-
Ouachita RAC, Sabine-Angelina RAC, National Forests in Mississippi RAC,
Virginia RAC
Sheila Holifield, Southern Regional Coordinator, Forest Service,
1720 Peachtree Road, Northwest, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, (205) 517-9033,
[email protected].
Eastern Regional Office--Region IX
Allegheny RAC, Chippewa National Forest RAC, Eleven Point RAC, Hiawatha
RAC, Huron-Manistee RAC, North Wisconsin RAC, Ottawa RAC, Superior RAC,
West Virginia RAC
Tiffany Benna, Eastern Regional Coordinator, Forest Service, 71
White Mountain Drive, Campton, New Hampshire 03223, (603) 348-0078,
[email protected].
Alaska Regional Office--Region X
Kenai Peninsula-Anchorage Borough RAC, North Tongass RAC, Prince
William Sound RAC, South Tongass RAC
Carlos De La Torre, Alaska Regional Coordinator, Forest Service,
709 West 9th Street, Room 561C, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1807,
[email protected], 907-738-2758.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brianna Gallegos, National Partnership
Coordinator, National Partnership Office, USDA Forest Service, Yates
Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, Mailstop #1158, Washington, DC
20250, by email to [email protected], or call 505-218-1535.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard-of-
hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339, 24
hours per day, every day of the week, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 7125, directs the
Secretary of Agriculture to create Secure Rural Schools Advisory
Committees to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service
concerning projects and funding consistent with SRS Title II of the
Act. The duties of SRS RACs include monitoring projects, advising the
Secretary on the progress and results of monitoring efforts, and making
recommendations to the Forest Service for any appropriate changes or
adjustments to the projects being monitored by the SRS RACs.
This charter renewal will establish six new committees as follows:
Helena-Lewis and Clark RAC in Region 1 by consolidating the Central
Montana and Missouri River RACs; the Southern Utah RAC in Region 4 by
consolidating Dixie, Fishlake, and Manti-La Sal RACs; Nevada RAC in
Region 4 by consolidating Rural Nevada and Lyon-Mineral RACs; the Mt.
Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest RAC in Region 6 by consolidating
Snohomish-South Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and North Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie
RACs; Umatilla Washington RAC in Region 6 by consolidating Columbia
County and Southeast Washington RACs; El Yunque RAC in Region 8.
Meetings for the Secure Rural Schools Advisory Committees will be
published on the Federal Register website at least 15 days prior to the
meeting date at: www.federalregister.gov. The SRS RACs will be
comprised of 15 members. Members must be approved by the Secretary of
Agriculture. The SRS RACs shall include representation from the
following interest areas:
1. Five persons who represent:
a. Organized Labor or Non-Timber Forest Product Harvester Groups,
b. Developed Outdoor Recreation, Off Highway Vehicle Users, or
Commercial Recreation Activities,
c. Energy and Mineral Development, or Commercial or Recreational
Fishing Interests,
d. Commercial Timber Industry, or
e. Federal Grazing or Other Land Use Permits, or Represent
NonIndustrial Private Forest Land Owners, within the area for which the
committee is organized.
2. Five persons who represent:
a. Nationally Recognized Environmental Organizations,
b. Regionally or Locally Recognized Environmental Organizations,
c. Dispersed Recreational Activities,
d. Archaeological and Historical Interests, or
e. Nationally or Regionally Recognized Wild Horse and Burro
Interest Groups, Wildlife or Hunting Organizations, or Watershed
Associations.
3. Five persons who represent:
a. State Elected Office (or a designee),
b. County or Local Elected Office,
c. American Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which
the committee is organized,
d. Area School Officials or Teachers, or
e. Affected Public at Large.
Each member will serve a 4-year term.
Balanced representation: In appointing committee members from the 3
categories above, the Secretary shall provide for balanced and broad
representation from within each category. In addition, SRS RACs
membership will be balanced in terms of the points of view represented
and functions to be performed.
Of these members, one will become the Chairperson who is recognized
for their ability to lead a group in a fair and focused manner and who
has been briefed on the mission of the RAC. A chairperson is selected
by a majority of RAC members. The Committee will meet on an annual
basis or as needed and determined by the Agency.
In the event that a vacancy arises, the Designated Federal Officer
(DFO) may fill the vacancy in the manner in which the original
appointments were made. In accordance with the SRS Act, members of the
SRS RAC shall serve without compensation. SRS RAC members may be
allowed travel and per diem expenses for attendance at committee
meetings, subject to approval of the DFO responsible for administrative
support to the SRS RAC.
[[Page 87400]]
Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified
individuals for membership. Interested candidates may nominate
themselves. Individuals who wish to be considered for membership on the
Secure Rural Schools Advisory Committee must submit a nomination with
information, including a background disclosure form (Form AD-755).
Nominations should be typed and include the following:
(1) If nominating an individual, a brief summary, no more than two
pages, explaining the nominee's qualifications to serve on the Secure
Rural Schools Advisory Committee and addressing the membership
composition and criteria described above.
(2) A resume providing the nominee's background, experience, and
educational qualifications.
(3) A completed background disclosure form (Form AD-755) signed by
the nominee. https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755.pdf.
(4) Letters of endorsement are optional.
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with USDA policies shall
be followed in all appointments to the SRS RACs. To ensure that the
recommendations of the SRS RACs have taken into account 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: December 13, 2023.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-27745 Filed 12-15-23; 8:45 am]
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