SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In accordance with the provisions of FACA, the Secretary of Agriculture is seeking nominations for the purpose of improving collaborative relationships among people who use and care for national forests and provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II. 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.

SRS RACs Membership

The SRS RACs will be comprised of 15 members approved by the Secretary of Agriculture where each will serve a 4-year term. SRS RACs memberships will be balanced in terms of the points of view represented and functions to be performed. The SRS RACs shall include representation from the following interest areas:

(1) Five persons that 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 groups;

(d) Commercial timber industry; and

(e) Federal grazing permit or other land use permit holders, or representative of non-industrial private forest landowners, within the area for which the committee is organized.

(2) Five persons that represent:

(a) Nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations;

(b) Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations;

(c) Dispersed recreational activities;

(d) Archaeology and history; and

(e) Nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest, wildlife hunting organizations, or watershed associations.

(3) Five persons that represent:

(a) State elected office holder;

(b) County or local elected office holder;

(c) American Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized;

(d) Are school officials or teachers; and

(e) Affected public-at-large.

In accordance with the Act, the Secretary shall make appointments to fill vacancies on any resource advisory committee as soon as practicable after the vacancy has occurred. The Designated Federal Officer (DFO) may consider recommending to the Secretary to fill the vacancy with a candidate from the applicant pool, provided an appropriate candidate is available. SRS RAC members serve without compensation. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 5703, RAC members and replacements may be allowed travel expenses and per diem for attendance at committee meetings, subject to approval as determined by the Forest Supervisor responsible to the SRS RAC.

Nomination and Application Information

The appointment of members to the SRS RACs will be made by the Secretary of Agriculture. The public is invited to submit nominations for membership on the SRS RACs, either as 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 interest areas listed above.

To be considered for membership, nominees must:

1. Be a resident of the State in which the SRS RAC has jurisdiction,

2. Identify what interest group they would represent and how they are qualified to represent that interest group,

3. Provide a cover letter stating why they want to serve on the SRS RAC and what they can contribute,

4. Provide a resume showing their experience in working successfully as part of a group working on forest management activities,

5. Complete Form AD-755, Advisory Committee or Research and Promotion ( printed page 52667) Background Information www.usda.gov/​sites/​default/​files/​documents/​ad-755-advisory-committee-commodity-board-background-information.pdf.

Additional information may be obtained by visiting the Secure Rural Schools website at: www.fs.usda.gov/​working-with-us/​secure-rural-schools/​title-2. All nominations will be vetted through the Department of Agriculture's Office of the Secretary.

Nominations and completed applications for SRS RACs should be sent to Secure Rural Schools National Partnership Office, USDA Forest Service, Yates Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, Mailstop #1158, Washington, DC 20250, (505) 218-1535 or email SM.FS.SRSInbox@usda.gov. Please see the list of Forest Service Secure Rural School Resource Advisory Committees below:

Northern Regional Office—Region 1

Helena-Lewis Clark RAC, Flathead RAC, Gallatin RAC, Idaho Panhandle RAC, Lincoln RAC, Mineral and Missoula County RAC, North Central Idaho RAC, Ravalli RAC, Sanders RAC, Southern Montana RAC, Southwest Montana RAC, Tri-County RAC.

Rocky Mountain Regional Office—Region 2

Black Hills RAC and Greater Rocky Mountain RAC.

Southwestern Regional Office—Region 3

Coconino County RAC, Eastern Arizona RAC, Northern New Mexico RAC, Southern Arizona RAC, Southern New Mexico RAC, Yavapai RAC.

Intermountain Regional Office—Region 4

Southern Utah RAC, Alpine RAC, Bridger-Teton RAC, Central Idaho RAC, Eastern Idaho RAC, Nevada RAC, Northern Utah, South Central Idaho RAC, Southwest Idaho RAC.

Pacific Southwest Regional Office—Region 5

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.

Pacific Northwest Regional Office—6

Colville RAC, Deschutes and Ochoco RAC, Fremont and Winema RAC, Hood and Willamette RAC, Gifford Pinchot RAC, Northeast Oregon Forests RAC, Olympic Peninsula RAC, Rogue and Umpqua RAC, Siskiyou (OR) RAC, Siuslaw RAC, Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest RAC, Wenatchee-Okanogan RAC, Umatilla Washington RAC.

Southern Regional Office—Region 8

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 Forest in Mississippi RAC, Virginia RAC, El Yunque RAC.

Eastern Regional Office—Region 9

Allegheny RAC, Chippewa National Forest RAC, Eleven Point RAC, Hiawatha RAC, Huron-Manistee RAC, North Wisconsin RAC, Ottawa, Superior RAC, West Virginia RAC.

Alaska Regional Office—Region 10

Chugach RAC, North Tongass RAC, South Tongass RAC.

Equal opportunity practices, in accordance with USDA policies, will be followed in all membership appointments to the Committee.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, 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.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

91 FR 52666