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[Federal Register: November 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 227)]
[Notices]               
[Page 58989]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no01-24]                         

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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 12, 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 12, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Leon County Courthouse, 301 
South Monroe Street, Commission Meeting Room, 5th Floor, Tallahassee, 
Florida 32301.
    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, DC 20043-4713, (202) 208-6574 or 
electronically to <A HREF="mailto:rphillips01@fs.fed.us">rphillips01@fs.fed.us</A>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randle G. Phillips, Executive 
Director, Forest Counties Payments Committee, (202) 208-6574; or via e-
mail at <A HREF="mailto:rphillips01@fs.fed.us">rphillips01@fs.fed.us</A>.

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 12 meeting in Tallahassee, 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 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. 01-29364 Filed 11-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P

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