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Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. US Forest Service May 23, 2011. Purposes of the Act. Stabilize and transition payments to states for schools and roads Invest in the land and create employment opportunities

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Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act

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  1. Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act US Forest Service May 23, 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 May 23, 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. Legislative History • October 30, 2000 • Secure Rural School and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 • Public Law 106-393 • 5 years • End Sept. 30, 2006 • May 17, 2007 • Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, Section 5401 • Extend PL 106-393 • 1 year • End Sept. 30, 2007 Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  5. 2008 Reauthorization Title I differs significantly from previous act • Four years • New formula for State Payment • Transition payments for certain states Title II largely unchanged Title III significantly narrowed uses of funds Title IV new formula for 25% payments Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  6. Public Law 110-343 • Title I Secure payments for states and counties containing federal land to help fund schools and roads • Title II Special projects on federal land • Title III County funds for specific purposes • Title IV – Miscellaneous provisions including new calculation for 25% payment Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  7. Title I – State Payment Formula Eligible county’s “adjusted share” is determined by complex formula involving: • Acres of national forest land in county • Average high 3 years 25% payment between 1986 and 1999 • Per capita personal income for county Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  8. Use of Funds • Title II & III funds unobligated in one fiscal year shall be available in the following year. • Authority to initiate title II and title III projects ends September 30, 2011 • Title II and III funds not obligated by September 30, 2012 shall be returned to U.S.Treasury Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  9. Fiscal Year 2008 Payment January 2009 payments to states • $477 million (title I and title III) • 41 states and Puerto Rico • Redistributed to 729 counties Additional $52 million for title II projects • 306 counties in 31 states • 108 national forests • 120 resource advisory committees Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  10. Juneau RAC funding • FY 2009 $168,134 • FY 2010 $162,243 • FY 2011 $143,974 • FY 2012 $129,576 estimated • Total estimated funds $603,927 Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  11. RACs Then & Now PL 106-393 • 7 years • 14 States • 164 Counties • 73 National Forests • 55 RACs • 825 RAC members • $38 million/yr avg. • 5400 projects PL 110-343 • 4 years • 31 States • 306 Counties • 108 National Forests • 120 RACs • 1890 RAC members • $45 million/yr est. • 6400 projects est. Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  12. Title II – RAC Purposes Improve collaboration among all those who enjoy and care for the national forests Provide advice to Forest Service about projects to invest in the land and create employment opportunities Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

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

  14. Title II – Special Projects • 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

  15. Title II – Special Projects • road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration; • soil productivity improvement; • improvements in forest ecosystem health; • watershed restoration and maintenance; • the restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat; • the control of noxious and exotic weeds; and • the re-establishment of native species Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  16. Wrangell-Petersburg RAC project, historic shelter after reconstruction, and Ketchikan RAC project, Ward Lake shelter Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  17. Examples of trail projects in Yakutat and Wrangell Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  18. Title II – Special Projects Projects approved by the FS must • Comply with laws and regulations • Be consistent with Forest Plan(s) • Be properly submitted and recommended by RAC • Meet purposes of the Act and title II Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  19. Title II – Special Projects Projects may be proposed by • Resource advisory committee • Tribes, counties • Fire Safe Councils, Firewise communities • Fish, wildlife & watershed interest groups • Other partners and stakeholders • Forest Service Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  20. Title II – Special Projects Implemented thru cooperative agreements • Tribes • federal agencies, state and local governments • private and nonprofit organizations • landowners Or be implemented by • Contractor or by Forest Service personnel Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  21. Title II – Special Projects 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

  22. Title II – Special Projects • FY 2008, FY2009, and FY 2010 funds available now • FY 2011 funds available in February 2012. • RACs must submit all projects for all 4 years by September 30, 2011. Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  23. Title II – RAC Formation • RACs are organized and formed to advise the National Forest(s) • The Secretary of Agriculture may establish resource advisory committees for part of, or for one or more national forests • Projects recommended by the RAC must be approved by the Forest Service acting for the Secretary Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

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

  25. Title II – 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

  26. Title II – RAC Membership Category A: 5 persons representing-- • (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

  27. Title II – RAC Membership Category B: 5 persons representing • (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

  28. Title II – RAC Membership Category 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. Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  29. Title II – RAC Membership • One replacement member will be appointed for each of the 3 categories • Members serve a 4 year term • Members will not receive compensation • Forest Service, if funds are available, may reimburse members for travel related expenses Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  30. Title II – RAC Operations • Each RAC is included on a regional charter approved 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

  31. Title II – 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

  32. Title II – RAC Operations • 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 data base and website.) Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  33. Title II – RAC Operations • 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, or support RAC operations Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  34. Title II – RAC Operations RAC operations must conform to the Federal Advisory Committee Act See USDA Directive 1041.001 www.ocio.usda.gov/directives/doc/DR1041-001.htm Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

  35. Secure Rural Schools Act Secure Rural Schools website: www.fs.fed.us/srs Resource advisory committee website: https://fsplaces.fs.fed.us/fsfiles/unit/wo/secure_rural_schools.nsf Secure Rural Schools Act www.fs.fed.us/srs

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