[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6144-6145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02113]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National
Forest System Land Management Planning Rule
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to renew an advisory committee.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture intends to renew the National
Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System
Land Management Planning Rule (Committee). In accordance with
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Committee
is being renewed to continue providing advice and recommendations on
the implementation of the National Forest System Land Management
Planning Rule (Planning Rule). The Committee is currently deliberating
and formulating advice for the Secretary on the Proposed Planning Rule
Directives. The Committee is necessary and in the public interest.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tony Tooke, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, National Forest System, Ecosystem
Management Coordination; telephone: 202-205-0830 or email:
[email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,
Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 6145]]
Background
In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 2), the Secretary of Agriculture
intends to renew the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of
the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule. The Committee
is a discretionary advisory committee. The Committee operates under the
provisions of FACA and will report to the Secretary of Agriculture
through the Chief of the Forest Service.
The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and
recommendations on implementation of the planning rule. The Committee
will be asked to perform the following duties or other requests made by
the Secretary of Agriculture or the Chief of the Forest Service:
1. Review the content of and provide recommendations on directives
related to implementation of the planning rule;
2. Offer recommendations on implementation of the planning rule,
based on lessons learned and best practices from on-going or completed
assessments, revisions, and monitoring strategies;
3. Offer recommendations on new best practices that could be
implemented based on lessons learned;
4. Offer recommendations for consistent interpretation of the rule
where ambiguities cause difficulty in implementation of the rule;
5. Offer recommendations for effective ongoing monitoring and
evaluation, including broadscale monitoring, for implementation of the
planning rule;
6. Offer recommendations on how to foster an effective ongoing
collaborative framework to ensure engagement of Federal, State, local
and Tribal governments; private organizations and affected interests;
the scientific community; and other stakeholders; and
7. Offer recommendations for integrating the land management
planning process with landscape scale restoration activities through
implementation of the planning rule.
Advisory Committee Organization
This Committee is currently comprised of 21 members who provide
balanced and broad representation within each of the following three
categories of interests:
1. Up to 7 members who represent one or more of the following:
a. Represent the affected public at-large
b. Hold State-elected office (or designee)
c. Hold county or local elected office
d. Represent American Indian Tribes
e. Represent Youth
2. Up to 7 members who represent one or more of the following:
a. National, regional, or local environmental organizations
b. Conservation organizations or watershed associations
c. Dispersed recreation interests
d. Archaeological or historical interests
e. Scientific Community
3. Up to 7 members who represent one or more of the following:
a. Timber Industry
b. Grazing or other land use permit holders or other private forest
landowners
c. Energy and mineral development
d. Commercial or recreational hunting and fishing interests
e. Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or
commercial recreation interests
No individual who is currently registered as a Federal lobbyist is
eligible to serve as a member of the Committee. Members of the
Committee serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel
expenses while performing duties on behalf of the Committee, subject to
approval by the DFO.
The Committee meets three to six times annually or as often as
necessary and at such times as designated by the Designated Federal
Official (DFO).
The appointment of members to the Committee was made by the
Secretary of Agriculture. Further information about the Committee is
posted on the Planning Rule Advisory Committee Web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/planningrule/committee.
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with U.S. Department of
Agriculture (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 USDA,
membership includes to the extent possible, individuals with
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities.
Dated: January 17, 2014.
Gregory L. Parham,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-02113 Filed 1-31-14; 8:45 am]
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