[Federal Register: March 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 58)]
[Notices]
[Page 13748]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr02-17]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Forest Counties Payments Committee
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Forest Counties Payments Committee has scheduled a meeting
on April 20, 2002, to discuss how it will provide Congress with the
information specified in Section 320 of the Fiscal Year 2001 Interior
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. In order to develop its
recommendations to Congress, the Committee would like to hear from both
elected officials and the general public. The meeting will consist of a
public input session from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
DATES: The meeting will be held on April 20, 2002.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Silver Baron ``D'' meeting
room on the mezzanine level at the Silver Legacy Casino/Resort, 407
North Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada.
Those who cannot be present may submit written responses to the
questions listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION in this notice to
Randle G. Phillips, Executive Director, Forest Counties Payments
Committee, PO Box 34718, Washington, DC 20043-4713, or electronically
to the Committee's website at http://countypayments.gov/comments.html.
Comments on this notice must be received by April 30, 2002, to be
assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be
considered to the extent possible.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randle G. Phillips, Executive
Director, Forest Counties Payments Committee, (202) 208-6574 or
rphillips01@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 320 of the 2001 Interior and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 106-291) created the Forest
Counties Payments Committee to make recommendations to Congress on a
long-term solution for making Federal payments to eligible States and
counties in which Federal lands are situated. The Committee will
consider the impact on eligible States and counties of revenues from
the historic multiple use of Federal lands; evaluate the economic,
environmental, and social benefits which accrue to counties containing
Federal lands; evaluate the expenditures by counties on activities
occuring on Federal lands which are Federal responsibilities; and
monitor payments and implementation of The Secure Rural Schools and
Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-393).
At the April 20 meeting in Reno, the Committee asks that
respondents provide information that is responsive to the following
questions:
1. Do counties receive their fair share of federal revenue-sharing
payments made to eligible States?
2. What difficulties exist in complying with, and managing all of
the federal revenue-sharing payments programs? Are some more difficult
than others?
3. What economic, social, and environmental costs do counties incur
as a result of the presence of public lands within their boundaries?
4. What economic, social, and environmental benefits do counties
realize as a result of public lands within their boundaries?
5. What are the economic and social effects of changes in revenues
generated from public lands over the past 15 years, as a result of
changes in management on public lands in your State or county?
6. What actions has your State or county taken to mitigate any
impacts associated with declining economic conditions, or revenue-
sharing payments?
7. What effects, both positive and negative, have taken place with
education and highway programs that are attributable to the management
of public lands within your State or county?
8. What relationship, if any, should exist between federal revenue-
sharing programs and management activities on public lands?
9. What alternatives exist to provide equitable revenue-sharing to
States and counties and promote ``sustainable forestry''?
10. What has been your experience regarding implementation of
Public Law 106-393, The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act?
11. What changes in law, policies and procedures, and the
management of public land have contributed to changes in revenue
derived from the multiple-use management of these lands?
12. What changes in law, policies and procedures, and the
management of public land are needed in order to restore the revenues
derived from the multiple-use management of these lands?
Dated: March 19, 2002.
Scott D. Conroy,
Acting Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 02-7241 Filed 3-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P