[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45391-45392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17781]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 151 / Tuesday, August 5, 2008 /
Notices
[[Page 45391]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Eastern Recreation Resource Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of request for nominations for Eastern Region Recreation
Resource Advisory Committee.
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SUMMARY: Nominations are being sought for certain positions to serve on
the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) operating
in the Eastern 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 2009 when current
member appointments expire.
One member is being sought to represent each of the following
interests: (1) Summer Motorized Recreation, (2) Hunting/Fishing, (3)
Non-motorized Outfitters/Guides, (4) Motorized Outfitters/Guides or
Local Environmental Groups, (5) Affected Indian Tribes, and (6)
Affected Local Governments.
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 from the
Forest Service Eastern Regional Office listed below or on the Web at
http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac-application.shtml. All
nominations must include a completed application packet that includes
background information and other details that address a nominee's
qualifications.
DATES: All applications must be received by the Eastern Regional Office
on or before September 30, 2008. This timeframe may be extended if
officials do not receive applications for needed positions.
ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations to the Eastern Region Recreation
RAC to: Marcia Heymen, Eastern Regional Office, 626 E. Wisconsin Ave.,
Milwaukee, WI 53202, (414) 297-3662.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 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, (501) 321-5277.
SUPPLEMENTARY 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 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 states--Alaska, Nebraska and Wyoming--requested
that their State be exempt from the REA-R/RAC requirement, and the two
Departments concurred with the exemptions.
Members were appointed to the Eastern Recreation RAC in February
2007 for either two year or three-year terms. The terms for the two-
year members will expire February 2009.
The Eastern Recreation RAC provides recreation fee recommendations
to the Forest Service. The Recreation RAC makes 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 fee-
level changes.
Recreation RAC Composition
The Recreation RAC consists of 11 members appointed by the
Secretary. For purposes to better serve public recreation activities in
the Eastern Region, two members were selected to serve in the Local
Environmental Group category and no members were appointed for
Motorized Outfitters and Guides. These members provide a broad and
balanced representation from the recreation community as follows:
(1) Five persons who represent recreation users and that include,
as appropriate, the following:
a. Winter motorized recreation, such as snowmobiling;
b. Winter non-motorized recreation, such as snowshoeing, cross-
country and downhill skiing, and snowboarding;
c. Summer motorized recreation, such as motorcycles, boats, and
off-highway vehicles;
d. Summer non-motorized 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. Motorized outfitters and guides;
b. Non-motorized outfitters and guides; 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:
Identify what interest group they would represent and how
they are qualified to represent that group;
State why they want to serve on the committee and what
they can contribute;
Show their past experience in working successfully as part
of a collaborative group; and
[[Page 45392]]
Complete Form AD-755, Advisory Committee or Research and
Promotion Background Information.
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 Service-managed lands are located.
Application packets, including evaluation criteria and the AD-755
form, are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/rrac-application.shtml or by contacting the Eastern Region. 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/about-rec-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 RAC 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 aid 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: July 29, 2008.
Cheryl Chatham,
Designated Federal Official.
[FR Doc. E8-17781 Filed 8-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M