Slide 1

July 27, 2010 Sharwan Smith Conference Center

Slide 2

Secure Rural Schools Act Federal Advisory Committee Act RAC Roles and Responsibilities Title II Projects Project Timeline and Submission Process Dixie National Forest RAC Specific Information Questions

Slide 3

Slide 4

1908 25% Payment Act Share national forest receipts from Timber, Grazing, Land Use, Recreation/Special Uses, User Fees, Minerals (including oil, gas, coal) These payments have declined in recent decades and flucuated widely. 2000-2007 First Round of SRS Act Original Act for 5 years, followed by emergency supplemental appropriation (1 year) 2008 Act is Reauthorized (Public Law 110- 343)

Slide 5

Stabilize and transition payments to states for schools and roads Invest in the land and create employment opportunities Improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for national forests

Slide 6

Title I Secure payments for states and counties containing federal land to help fund schools and roads Title II Special projects on federal lands Title III County funds for specific purposes Narrower list of eligible activities Title IV Misc. provisions including new calculation for 25% payment Complex formula: Acres of Fed land, Average 25% payment, per capita income in county

Slide 7

Counties receiving over $100,000 from the state payment must allocate between 15-20 % to Title II and/or Title III Counties receiving over $350,000 must allocate to Title II Counties make the election on percentages by September 30 each year Payments are made by January Title I and III funds goes to counties through state government Title II funds are held in Forest Service accounts for approved RAC projects FY 2008 and FY 2009 available, FY 2010 funds available Feb 2011, FY 2011 funds available Feb 2012 RAC must initiate all projects for Title II funding by Sept 30, 2011

Slide 8

Slide 9

2008 SRS Act Title II Establish and maintain committee Purpose and duties of committee Composition of membership Balanced representation Quorum requirements Newspaper notice of meetings seven days prior 1972, 2001 Federal Advisory Committee Act Open meetings Public involvement in governance Transparent, accessible proceedings/records Federal Register Notice of Meetings 15-45 days prior

Slide 10

Meeting notices Meeting agendas Meeting notes and RAC recommendations Members names and interests represented DFO and Coordinator names Projects and other relevant information

Slide 11

Slide 12

RAC Chair Members Replacement Members Forest Supervisor Designated Federal Official (DFO) RAC Coordinator County Officials General Public/Community Partners

Slide 13

RAC Chair Open, conduct, and close meetings Coordinate preparation of agendas Coordinate with DFO to provide briefings to RAC partners (e.g., local elected officials, state/congress staff, other partners) Represent RAC member concerns to Forest Supervisor Other duties as agreed to in RAC members Members Participation (potential for removal if 2 meetings are missed) Represent interests Review and recommend projects Monitor projects Provide advice

Slide 14

Replacement Members Participation Review projects Monitor projects Informally provide advice Dont vote Forest Supervisor Approve projects recommended by the RAC Provide sufficient support to make RAC successful Listen to discussions

Slide 15

Designated Federal Official (DFO) Know the Act provide guidance Identify staff support for Title II program Work closely with RAC Chair Interact with elected officials and stakeholders Liaison with Forest Supervisor Work with additional Forest Service staff assigned to assist RAC RAC Coordinator Program management (process/timelines, coordination with Regional Office) Liaison with RAC Chair/Members/Partners Federal Register notices Facilitation (if needed) Notetaking (for official record) Monitoring (field trips) Annual Report to Congress

Slide 16

County Officials Annual allocations among titles Notify RAC of Title III projects Interact with Forest Service about projects Representation on RAC General Public/Community Partners Participate during public forum at RAC mtgs Submit project proposals Work with appropriate line officer on projects Follow federal regulations during implementation if project is approved Repot accomplishments

Slide 17

Slide 18

On or directly benefiting national forest lands Have broad-based support Help foster collaborative relationships Reviewed and recommended by RAC Approved by the Forest Service

Slide 19

Improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure Implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems Restore and improve health of the land and water quality Protect, restore, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat Road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration Soil productivity improvement Improvements to forest ecosystem health Watershed restoration and maintenance The restoration, maintenance, and improvement of fish and wildlife habitat The control of noxious and exotic weeds The re-establishment of native species

Slide 20

At least 50% of Title II funds must go to projects that: Do road maintenance, decommissioning, or obliteration And /Or Restoration of streams and watersheds

Slide 21

RAC members Tribes, counties, state, federal agencies Fire Safe Councils, Firewise Communities Fish, Wildlife, & Watershed Interest Groups Other partners or stakeholders General public Forest Serivice

Slide 22

RAC Member Support Forest Service Support Public Support

Slide 23

Slide 24

Provided notice for first two meetings July 27, August 18 Solicited preliminary project proposals Engaged Forest Service employees to think about potential projects

Slide 25

Slide 26

Establish a year long calendar (do one Federal Register notice with all meetings) Develop a plan for the year (need to have recommendations for projects by Fall 2011) Solicit project ideas from public (with clear expectations/dates for submittal)

Slide 27

Slide 28

Category A Jay Var Campbell Gaylord Robb Carl Albrecht Jim Matson H. Dell Lefevre Replacement Member: Kip Bowler Category B Mary OBrien Rick Rosenberg Denny Drake Dorothy Uherka Donnie Hunter Replacement Member: Gayle Pollock

Slide 29

Category C Clare Ramsay Lois Bulloch Marshall Topham Brian Bremner Laura Cotts Replacement Member: Paul Nelson NOT MEMBERS BUT KEY SUPPORT Designated Federal Official Gretchen Merrill RAC Coordinator Kenton Call

Slide 30

Approximately $1.4 million Approx $650K Garfield County (45%) Approx $375K Iron County (26%) Approx $100K Kane County (7%) Approx $1K Piute County (0.1%) Approx $250K Washington County (18%) Approx $50K Wayne County (4%)

Slide 31

Majority of each category must be available for a Quorum Projects are recommended with vote of majority of members within each Category (e.g., 3 of 5 or 2 or 3 must vote in favor of the project)

Slide 32