[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13516-13517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05873]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
Provincial Advisory Committees
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Re-establish the Charter for the Provincial
Advisory Committees.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the
Department of the Interior, intends to re-establish the Provincial
Advisory Committees (PACs) for the provinces in Oregon and Washington.
This re-establishment is in response to the continued need for the PACs
to provide advice on coordinating the implementation of the Record of
Decision (ROD) of April 13, 1994, for Management of Habitat for Late-
Succession and Old-Growth Forest Related Species within the Range of
the Northern Spotted Owl. The PACs also provide advice and
recommendations to promote integration and coordination of forest
management activities between Federal and non-Federal entities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shandra L. Terry, PACs Program
Manager, USDA Forest Service, Region 6 Regional Office, 333 Southwest
First Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97204; by phone at 503-808-2242 or by
email at [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:
Background
Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.),
notice is hereby given that the Department of Agriculture, in
consultation with the Department of the Interior, intends to re-
establish the PACs. The purpose of the PACs is to facilitate the
coordinated implementation of the ROD of April 13, 1994, for Management
of Habitat for Late-Succession and Old-Growth Forest Related Species
within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl. The PACs consists of
representatives of the following Federal agencies: Forest Service,
Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Bureau of Land Management, National Marine Fisheries Service, National
Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey
Biological Resources Division, Environmental Protection Agency, and
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Ecosystem management at the province level requires improved
coordination among governmental entities responsible for land
management decisions and the public those agencies serve. Each PAC will
provide advice and recommendations regarding implementation to promote
integration and coordination of forest management activities between
Federal and non-Federal entities. Each PAC will provide advice
regarding implementation of a comprehensive ecosystem management
strategy for Federal land within a province (provinces are defined in
the ROD at E19).
Re-establishment of the PACs does not require an amendment of
Bureau of Land Management or Forest Service planning documents because
the re-establishment does not affect the standards and guidelines or
land allocations. The Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service will
provide further notice, as needed, for additional actions or
adjustments when implementing interagency coordination, public
involvement, and other aspects of the ROD.
PAC Membership
Each PAC will be comprised of no more than 30 members approved by
the Secretary of Agriculture. This Committee will be fairly balanced in
its membership in terms of the points of view represented and the
functions to be performed. The PACs may include representation in the
following areas:
(1) One or more representatives of the Environmental Protection
Agency;
(2) One or more representatives of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service;
(3) One or more representatives of the Forest Service;
(4) One or more representatives of the BLM in each province where
lands administered by BLM occur in the province;
(5) One or more representatives of the National Park Service in
each province where a National Park occurs in the province;
(6) One or more representatives of the National Marine Fisheries
Service;
(7) One or more representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(8) Up to a maximum of three representatives of the government of
each State within whose boundaries all or a portion of the province is
located (the State agencies/departments to be represented will be
determined by the Federal officials described in Paragraphs 3a(1)
through 3a(7);
(9) One or more representatives of each county government within
whose boundaries all or a portion of the province is located, up to a
maximum of three county representatives;
(10) One or more representatives of each tribal government whose
reservation, ceded land, or usual and accustomed areas are within all
or a portion of the province, up to a maximum of three tribal
representatives;
(11) Up to a maximum of two representatives of environmental
interests;
(12) Up to a maximum of two representatives of different sectors of
the forest products industry;
(13) Up to a maximum of four representatives of the recreation and
tourism sectors;
(14) Three to five representatives of the following interests when
those
[[Page 13517]]
interests are determined by the Federal officials described in
Paragraphs 3a(1) through 3a(7) to be needed on the respective
provincial committee: Fish, wildlife, or forestry conservation
organizations; special forest products interests, mining interests,
grazing interests, and commercial fishing or charter fishing boat
industry interests; and other interests that help achieve the purpose
of these PACs;
(15) Up to a total of three representatives from the following
Federal agencies when the jurisdiction or authority of those agencies
are determined by the Federal officials described in Paragraphs
3a(1)(a) through 3a(7)(g) to be needed on the respective provincial
committee: Bureau of Reclamation, United States Geological Survey
National Biological Division, Forest Service Research, United States
Army Corps of Engineers, United States Geological Survey, Bonneville
Power Administration, Department of Defense, and Natural Resources
Conservation Service; and
(16) Up to a maximum of six representatives representing the public
at large affected by the ROD for the Northwest Forest Plan and
concerned with the management of the national forests in the community.
No individual who is currently registered as a Federal lobbyist is
eligible to serve as a member of the PAC. Members of the PAC serve
without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses while
performing duties on behalf of the PAC, subject to approval by the
Designated Federal Official (DFO).
Equal opportunity practices in accordance with U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) policies shall be followed in all appointments to
the PACs. To ensure that the recommendations of the PACs have been
taken into account, the needs of the diverse groups served by the
Departments, membership should include, to the extent practicable,
individuals with demonstrated ability to represent all racial and
ethnic groups, women and men, and persons with disabilities.
Dated: March 9, 2015.
Gregory L. Parham,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-05873 Filed 3-13-15; 8:45 am]
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