Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act

1. Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act US Forest Service May 2011

2. Purposes of the Act • 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 Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

3. Act of 1908 25% payment Share national forest receipts from • Timber • Grazing • Land use • Recreation special uses & user fees • Minerals including oil, gas, coal Declined in recent decades fluctuate widely Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

4. Secure Rural Schools Titles • Title I Secure payments for states and counties containing federal land to help fund countyschools and roads • Title II Projects on National Forest or to benefit resources on National Forest land • Title III County funds for fire-related Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

5. Title II – Special Projects • On national forests or directly benefit resources on national forest lands • Help foster collaborative relationships • Reviewed and recommended by resource advisory committee (RAC) • Approved by Forest Supervisor Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

6. Project Types • 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 Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

7. Project Examples • road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration; • soilproductivity improvement; • watershed restoration and maintenance; • the control of noxious weeds; and • the re-establishment of native species Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

8. Project Requirements Approved projects must: • Meet purposes of the Act and title II • Comply with laws andregulations (NEPA) • Be consistent with Forest Plan(s) • Be properly submitted and recommended by RAC Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

9. Project Proponents Projects may be proposed by: • Resource advisory committee (RAC) • Counties • Communities • Fish, wildlife & watershed interest groups • Other partners and stakeholders • Forest Service Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

10. Project Implementors Implemented thru cooperative agreements: • federal agencies, state and local governments • private and nonprofitorganizations • landowners Or be implemented by • Contractor or by Forest Service personnel Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

11. Project Approval & Disapproval The Secretary (Forest Service) has sole discretion to approve project • Disapprovals are not subject to appeal or judicial review • RAC will be notified of disapproval within 30 days with explanation Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

12. RAC Duties • Review projects • Recommendprojects and funding • Coordinate with the Forest Service Designated Federal Official (DFO) • Encourage public participation • Monitor projects • Recommend changes based on monitoring Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

13. RAC Membership • 15 members appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. • Include local representation • Residents of state(s) in which RAC has jurisdiction • Balanced and broad representation within three categories specified in the Act Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

14. RAC Categories & Interests Category A: 5 persons representing — Business & Development • (i) organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups • (ii) developed outdoor recreation, off highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities; • (iii) (I) energy and mineral development interests; or (II) commercial or recreational fishing interests; • (iv) 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. Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

15. RAC Categories & Interests Category B: 5 persons representing - Resources • (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. Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

16. RAC Categories & Interests Category C: 5 persons that-- People • (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. Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

17. RAC Set Up • Each RAC is included on a regional charterapproved by the Secretary of Agriculture • RAC members will select a chairperson • Each RAC may develop and maintain its own by-laws or operating guidelines consistent with the Act and charter Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

18. RAC Operations • Quorum: 9 of 15 members’ participation is required for meetings • Agreement by a majority (3 of 5) in each of the three categories is required for project approval. Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

19. RAC Meeting Management • Meetings are open to the public • Publish meeting notice 15-45 days in advance in Federal Register • Publicize meetings at least 7 days in advance in local newspaper of record • RAC shall maintain meeting records available to public (RAC database and website.) Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

20. RAC Support • Designated Federal Official (DFO) will work with the RAC • Forest Service may provide additional staff support • Forest Service may request RAC to agree to use title II funds for environmental analysis of a project prior to implementation Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs