[Federal Register: November 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 227)]
[Notices]
[Page 58988-58989]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no01-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Forest Counties Payments Committee
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Counties Payments Committee has scheduled a meeting
on December 11, 2001, 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 9 a.m. until 12 noon.
DATES: The meeting will be held on December 11, 2001.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Farm Bureau Building, 6310
I55 North, Jackson, Mississippi 39236.
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, P.O. Box 34718, Washington, D.C. 20043-4713, (202) 208-6574
or electronically to rphillips01@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randle G. Phillips, Executive
Director, Forest Counties Payments Committee, (202) 208-6574; or via e-
mail at rphillips01@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 320 of the 2001 Interior and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act (Pub L. 106-389) authorizes the payments to
States and counties from monies derived from receipts collected on
Federal lands. These payments are to be used for the benefit of public
education and other public purposes. The Act also created a Forest
Counties Payments Committee to gather input from the public and elected
officials to help develop recommendations to Congress on a long-term
solution for making payments to eligible States and counties in which
Federal lands are situated. The Committee will evaluate the methods and
use of these payments. The Committee will also 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 occurring on Federal lands
which are Federal responsibilities; and monitor payments and
implementation of the Act.
At the December 11 meeting in Jackson, 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 from 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
[[Page 58989]]
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 Pub
L. 106-291, The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination
Act?
Dated: November 19, 2001.
Timothy DeCoster,
Acting Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 01-29363 Filed 11-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P