Federal Register: June 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 118)
DOCID: fr22jn09-34 FR Doc E9-14434
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr22jn09-34
ACTION: Revised Land and Resource Management Plan:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of request for nominations for the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Southern Recreation Resource Advisory Committee
DATES: All applications must be received by the appropriate office listed below on or before July 31, 2009. This timeframe may be extended if officials do not receive applications for needed positions.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
Nominations are being sought for certain positions to serve on the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) operating in the Southern Region of the Forest Service. New members will be appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) and serve three year terms. Appointments will begin in February 2010 when current member appointments expire.
One member is being sought to represent each of the following interests: (1) Wildlife Viewing/Visiting Interpretive Sites; (2) Non motorized Recreation; (3) Local Environmental Groups; and (4) State Tourism Official Representing the State.
The public is invited to submit nominations for membership on the Recreation RAC. Current members who have only served one term may also apply. Application packets for Recreation RACs can be obtained on the Web at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rracapplication.shtml or by emailing: r8_rrac@fs.fed.us. Interested parties may also contact Caroline Mitchell, U.S. Forest Service, PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71902 (5013215318).
All nominations must consist of a completed application packet that includes background information and other information that addresses a nomine's qualifications.
SUMMARY:
Southern Recreation Resource Advisory Committee; Request for Nominations
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Background
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), signed December 2004, requires that the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) provide Recreation RACs with an opportunity to make recommendations to the two agencies on certain types of proposed recreation fee changes.
REA allows the agencies to use existing advisory councils, such as
BLM Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), or to establish new committees
as appropriate. The Forest Service and BLM elected to jointly use
existing BLM RACs in the states of Arizona, Idaho, the Dakotas,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. In 2006, the Forest Service
chartered new Recreation RACs for the states of California and Colorado, and for the Forest Service Pacific
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Northwest, Eastern and Southern Regions. The Forest Service is using an
existing advisory board for the Black Hills National Forest in South
Dakota. In addition, the Governors of three statesAlaska, Nebraska
and Wyomingrequested that their State be exempt from the REAR/RAC
requirement, and the two Departments concurred with the exemptions.
Members were appointed to the Southern Recreation RAC in February 2007 for either twoyear or threeyear terms. The terms for the three year members will expire February 2010.
The Recreation RACs provide recreation fee recommendations to both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These committees make recreation fee program recommendations on implementing or eliminating standard amenity fees; expanded amenity fees; and noncommercial, individual special recreation permit fees; expanding or limiting the recreation fee program; and feelevel changes.
Recreation RAC Composition
Each Recreation RAC consists of 11 members appointed by the
Secretary. REA provided flexibility to modify the specified membership
of the RAC ``as appropriate'' to ensure a fair and balanced
representation of recreation interests. Due to climate conditions in
the Southern Region, the Region does not have a winter sports program.
Therefore, the categories of winter motorized recreation and winter
nonmotorized recreation were replaced with (1) camping and (2)
wildlife viewing/visiting interpretive sites. In addition, as the
region has very few motorized outfitters and guides, they have two
positions representing nonmotorized outfitters and guides. The positions are as follows:
(1) Five persons who represent recreation users and that include, as appropriate, the following:
a. Camping interests;
b. Dayuse interests, such as wildlife viewing and interpretive centers;
c. Summer motorized recreation, such as motorcycles, boats, and offhighway vehicles;
d. Summer nonmotorized recreation, such as backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, canoeing, and rafting; and
e. Hunting and fishing;
(2) Three persons who represent interest groups that include, as appropriate, the following:
a. Nonmotorized outfitters and guidesposition one;
b. Nonmotorized outfitters and guidesposition two; and
c. Local environmental groups.
(3) Three persons, as follows:
a. State tourism official to represent the state;
b. A person who represents affected Indian tribes; and
c. A person who represents affected local government interests. Nomination Information
Any individual or organization may nominate one or more qualified persons to represent the interests listed above to serve on the Recreation RAC. To be considered for membership, nominees must:
Letters of recommendation are welcome, but not required. Individuals may also nominate themselves. Nominees do not need to live in a state within a particular Recreation RAC's area of jurisdiction nor live in a state in which Forest Servicemanaged lands are located.
Application packets, including evaluation criteria and the AD755 form, are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac application.shtml or by contacting the Southern Region as identified in this notice. Nominees must submit all documents to the appropriate regional contact. Additional information about recreation fees and REA is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/aboutrec fees.shtml.
The Forest Service will also work with Governors and county officials to identify potential nominees. The Forest Service will review the applications and prepare a list of qualified applicants from which the Secretary shall appoint both members and alternates. An alternate will become a participating member of the Recreation RACs only if the member for whom the alternate is appointed to replace leaves the committee permanently.
Recreation RAC members serve without pay but are reimbursed for
travel and per diem expenses for regularly scheduled committee
meetings. All Recreation RAC meetings are open to the public and an
open public forum is part of each meeting. Meeting dates and times will
be determined by agency officials in consultation with the Recreation RAC members.
Dated: June 12, 2009.
Cheryl Chatham,
Designated Federal Official.
[FR Doc. E914434 Filed 61909; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341011M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Anyone wanting further information regarding this request for nominations may contact the designated federal official: Cheryl Chatham, Recreation RAC DFO, PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71902 (5013215277).