81 FR 65995 - Forest Resource Coordinating Committee

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 186 (September 26, 2016)

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee (Committee) pursuant to Section 8005 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Act) (Pub. L. 110-246), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), (5 U.S.C. App. 2). Additional information on the Committee can be found by visiting the Committee's Web site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/ spf/coop/frcc/.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 186 (Monday, September 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65995-65996]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23219]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Resource Coordinating Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Call for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking 
nominations for the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee (Committee) 
pursuant to Section 8005 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
2008 (Act) (Pub. L. 110-246), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), (5 U.S.C. App. 2). Additional information on the Committee can 
be found by visiting the Committee's Web site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/frcc/.

DATES: Written nominations must be received by November 14, 2016. 
Nominations must contain a completed application packet that includes 
the

[[Page 65996]]

nominee's name, resume, cover letter, and completed Form AD-755 
(Advisory Committee or Research and Promotion Background Information). 
The package must be sent to the name and address below.

ADDRESSES: Scott Stewart, USDA Forest Service, Office of Cooperative 
Forestry, Sidney R. Yates Federal Building, 201 14th Street SW., 
Mailstop 1123, Washington, DC 20024 by express mail delivery or 
overnight courier service. Nominations sent via the U.S. Postal Service 
must be sent to the following address: USDA Forest Service, Office of 
Cooperative Forestry, State & Private Forestry, Mailstop 1123, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1123.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori McKean, Forest Resource 
Coordinating Committee Program Coordinator, by telephone at 570-296-
9672 or Scott Stewart, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), by telephone 
at 202-205-1190. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday 
through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In accordance with the provisions of FACA, the Secretary of 
Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill five vacancies that will 
occur when current appointments expire in December 2016 and January 
2017. One vacancy is currently available. The purpose of the Committee 
is to continue providing direction and coordination of actions within 
USDA, and coordination with State agencies and the private sector, to 
effectively address the national priorities for private forest 
conservation, with specific focus on owners of non-industrial private 
forest land as described in Section 8005 of the Food, Conservation, and 
Energy Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-246). These priorities include:
    1. Conserving and managing working forest landscapes for multiple 
values and uses.
    2. Protecting forests from threats, including catastrophic 
wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, windstorms, snow or ice storms, 
flooding, drought, invasive species, insect or disease outbreak, or 
development, and restoring appropriate forest types in response to such 
threats, and
    3. Enhancing public benefits from private forests, including air 
and water quality, soil conservation, biological diversity, carbon 
storage, forest products, forestry-related jobs, production of 
renewable energy, wildlife, wildlife corridors and wildlife habitat, 
and recreation.

Vacancies

    Members appointed to the Committee will be fairly balanced in terms 
of the points of view represented, functions to be performed, and will 
represent a broad array of expertise, leadership, and relevancy to a 
membership category. Geographic balance and a balanced distribution 
among the categories are also important. Representatives from the 
following categories will be appointed by the Secretary with staggered 
terms up to 3 years: (1) Non-industrial Private Forest Landowner (2 
vacancies); (2) Private Forestry Consultant (1 vacancy); (3) 
Conservation District (1 vacancy); and (4) Conservation Organization (1 
vacancy). These positions must be associated with such organizations 
and be willing to represent that sector as it relates to non-industrial 
private forestry. Vacancies will be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made.

Nomination and Application Instructions

    The appointment of members to the Committee is made by the 
Secretary of Agriculture.
    The public is invited to submit nominations for membership on the 
Forest Resource Coordinating Committee, either as a self-nomination or 
a nomination of any qualified and interested person.
    Any individual or organization may nominate one or more qualified 
persons to represent the above vacancies on the Forest Resource 
Coordinating Committee. To be considered for membership, nominees must 
provide the following--
    1. A resume showing past experience in working successfully as part 
of a group working on issues and priorities related to the vacancies;
    2. A cover letter with a rationale for serving on the Committee and 
what you can contribute;
    3. A completed Form AD-755, Advisory Committee or Research and 
Promotion Background Information. The Form AD-755 may be obtained from 
the Forest Service contacts or from the following Web sites: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/frcc/ and http://www.OCIO.usda.gov/document/ad-755; and
    4. Letters of recommendation are welcome.
    All nominations will be vetted by USDA. A list of qualified 
applicants will be prepared from which the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall appoint members to the Forest Resource Coordinating Committee. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit nominations via overnight 
mail or delivery to ensure timely receipt by the USDA. 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.
    Equal opportunity practices, in line with 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 the Departments, 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: September 16, 2016.
 Gregory L. Parham,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-23219 Filed 9-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P