[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9164-9165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03900]


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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 an advisory committee renewal.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture has renewed 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 has been 
renewed to continue providing advice and recommendations on the 
implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning 
Rule (Planning Rule). The Committee will also deliberate and formulate 
advice for the Secretary to aid in the implementation of the new 
Planning Rule. The Committee is necessary and in the public interest.

DATES: The charter renewal was effective February 3, 2016. As provided 
by the FACA law, the charter will expire 24 months from the date of 
renewal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Acheson, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, National Forest System, Ecosystem 
Management Coordination; telephone: 202-205-1275, 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 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday 
through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 
has renewed the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the 
National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule (Committee). The 
Committee is a discretionary advisory committee.
    The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and 
recommendations on implementation of the planning rule. The Committee 
will be solely advisory in nature. Advice or recommendations of the 
Committee will be given only with respect to the implementation of the 
planning rule and associated projects. All activities of the Committee 
will be conducted in an open, transparent, and accessible manner. The 
Committee will be asked to perform the following duties or other 
requests made by the Secretary or the Chief:
     Offer recommendations on outreach efforts, public 
engagement, and stakeholder collaboration;
     Offer recommendations on broad scale and multiparty 
monitoring and other ways to engage partnerships in land management 
plan revisions;
     Offer recommendations on communication tools and 
strategies to help provide greater understanding of the land management 
planning process; and
     Offer recommendations on potential best management 
practices and problem solving resulting from early implementation of 
the 2012 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 seven 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; and
    e. Represent Youth.
    2. Up to seven 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; and
    e. Scientific Community.
    3. Up to seven 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;

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    d. Commercial or recreational hunting and fishing interests; and
    e. Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or 
commercial recreation interests.
    The Committee will serve 2-year terms and will meet three to six 
times annually, or as often as necessary at the times designated by the 
Designated Federal Officer (DFO). The appointment of members to the 
Committee are made by the Secretary of Agriculture. 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. 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 were followed in accordance with U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) policies. 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 the needs 
of all racial and ethnic groups, women and men, and persons with 
disabilities.

    Dated: February 17, 2016.
Gregory L. Parhan,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-03900 Filed 2-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P