Mendocino National Forest seeking RAC members within Lake and Mendocino counties

Mendocino National Forest seeking RAC members
within Lake and Mendocino counties
WILLOWS, Calif; Oct. 31, 2016 – For Immediate Release – Mendocino National Forest officials are conducting public outreach to fill committee member seats for Resource Advisory Committees (RAC) within Lake and Mendocino Counties.
RACs were established as a provision of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. By law the four-year term, 15-member committee is composed of a wide representation of National Forest interests organized into three categories. Each RAC shall have 15 members with balanced and broad representation of interests in 3 categories, specified in Section 205 (d)(2) of the Act:
(A) 5 persons that– (i) represent organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups; (ii) represent developed outdoor recreation, off highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities; (iii) represent energy and mineral development interests; or commercial or recreational fishing interests; (iv) represent the commercial timber industry; or (v) hold Federal grazing or other land use permits, or represent nonindustrial private forest land owners, within the area for which the committee is organized.
(B) 5 persons that represent– (i) nationally recognized environmental organizations; (ii) regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations; (iii) dispersed recreational activities; (iv) archaeological and historical interests; or (v) nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups, wildlife or hunting organizations, or watershed associations.
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(C) 5 persons that– (i) hold State elected office (or a designee); (ii) hold county or local elected office; (iii) represent American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized; (iv) are school officials or teachers; or (v) represent the affected public at large.
Members shall reside within the State(s) in which the committee has jurisdiction and, to the extent practicable, provide local representation in each category. An additional member is also appointed as a replacement should a committee member leave for any reason.
“RACs are extremely beneficial to both the Forest and local communities. They allow for public participation in the review and recommendation of resource projects that benefit public lands,” said Forest Supervisor Ann Carlson.
For further information regarding RAC membership, please contact the Designated Federal Official, District Ranger Frank Aebly at (707) 275-1401.To apply to be a RAC committee member, applicants must complete a cover letter, interest form and FBI background check form prior to being considered for the committee. An interest form is available on the Mendocino National Forest website at: http://tinyurl.com/hvpnk8v
To apply for Lake or Mendocino County RACs, please address your correspondence to RAC Coordinator Deborah McIntosh, 10025 Elk Mountain Rd., Upper Lake, CA 95485 or call (707) 275-1407 for more information. Applications must be received on or before Feb 3, 2017.
For additional information about the Secure Rural Schools legislation, including Titles I, II and III, please visit the SRS website at www.fs.fed.us/srs.
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