DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST - RAC Meeting -

1. DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST- RAC Meeting - July 27, 2010 Sharwan Smith Conference Center

2. OVERVIEW 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

3. Secure Rural Schools and Self Determination Act (SRS)

4. History of Act • 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)

5. Purpose 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

6. Titles in 2008 Reauthorization of the Act • 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

7. Logistics of Payments • 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

8. Committee Basis in Law

9. SRS and FACA • 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

10. Post on RAC Website Meeting notices Meeting agendas Meeting notes and RAC recommendations Members names and interests represented DFO and Coordinator names Projects and other relevant information

11. RAC Roles and Responsiblities

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

13. RAC Roles and Responsibilities • 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

14. RAC Roles and Responsibilities • Replacement Members • Participation • Review projects • Monitor projects • Informally provide advice • Don’t vote • Forest Supervisor • Approve projects recommended by the RAC • Provide sufficient support to make RAC successful • Listen to discussions

15. RAC Roles and Responsibilities • 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

16. RAC Roles and Responsibilities • 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

17. Title II Projects

18. Title II Projects 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

19. Title II: What Can Be Done? • 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

20. One Limitation • 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

21. Who Can Propose a Project? 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

22. Successful Projects

23. Project Timeline and Submission Process

24. What We Have Done Already • Provided notice for first two meetings • July 27, August 18 • Solicited preliminary project proposals • Engaged Forest Service employees to think about potential projects

25. Submission Form

26. What You May Choose to Do 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)

27. Dixie National Forest RAC Specific Information

28. Dixie National Forest RAC Members • Category A • Jay Var Campbell • Gaylord Robb • Carl Albrecht • Jim Matson • H. Dell Lefevre • Replacement Member: Kip Bowler • Category B • Mary O’Brien • Rick Rosenberg • Denny Drake • Dorothy Uherka • Donnie Hunter • Replacement Member: Gayle Pollock

29. Dixie National Forest RAC Members • 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

30. Title II Funds Available • 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%)

31. A Couple Notes on How RACs Work 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)

32. Questions?