Secure Rural Schools Advisory Committees

What is a Secure Rural Schools RAC?

A Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) provides advice and recommendations to the Forest Service on the development and implementation of special projects on federal lands as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools Act and Community Self-Determination Act, Public Law 110-343.   Each RAC consists of 15 people representing varied interests and areas of expertise, who work collaboratively to improve working relationships among community members and national forest personnel.

The Secretary of Agriculture may establish a RAC for part of a national forest or for one or more national forests to ensure that each national forest on which special projects are proposed has access to a RAC.

Secure Rural Schools RACs were first established under the “Secure Rural School and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393).  Authorization for those committees expired September 30, 2006.  In 2007, to keep these committees operable, the Act was amended and re-authorized by additional legislation.

In October 2008 the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, and Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 (P. L. 110-343) reauthorized the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for four years, 2008-2012. P.L.110-343 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to renew the Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees in place prior to September 29, 2006.  Generally, Public Law 110-343 allows the Secretary to reauthorize previously existing RACs or to establish new RACs as appropriate.

Composition of RACs

Each RAC shall have 15 members with balanced and broad representation of interests in 3 categories, described in Section 205 (d)(2) of the Act.  Members shall reside within the State in which the committee has jurisdiction and, to the extent practicable, provide local representation in each category.

Operations of RACs

A quorum of RAC members is considered to be at least 3 persons in each category. Each meeting shall be convened and conducted in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and USDA Departmental Regulations (.pdf). FACA rules require the Designated Federal Official (DFO) to publish notice of a meeting in Federal Register at least 15 days in advance. The Secure Rural Schools Act requires announcement of a RAC meeting at least one week in advance in a local newspaper of record. Meetings are open to the public and the DFO is responsible for keeping minutes and other records related to the meetings.

RAC charters

The charters for RACs in existence on September 29, 2006 generally covered a Forest Service Region or a state and included one or more RACs in that geographic area.

RACs may advise more than one national forest and may review and recommend projects in more than one county.  The DFO will work with counties and stakeholders to form RACs to serve appropriate geographic and administrative jurisdictions.  Considerations for determining the geographic scope of RAC activities include the Forest Service’s capacity to support the RAC operations and related efficiencies as well as fostering collaboration within and among communities.

The Washington Office (WO) Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Office will confer with the Secure Rural Schools Regional coordinators to amend charters for Secure Rural Schools RACs that existed on September 29, 2006.  Charters will be amended to reflect additional duties and composition of RACs (See Act section 205 (b) and (d).)  They may be amended to modify the geographic area of existing RACs or to add new RACs. 

Re-starting a previously existing RAC

If the Forest Service had a RAC in place on September 29, 2006:

1. The Designated Federal Official (DFO) contacts the previously appointed RAC members to determine their interest in serving a four year term.  If there is a quorum of previously appointed members and the funding is in place for the RAC, the committee may begin operating as convened by the DFO.  A quorum is at least three members from each of the three categories of interest listed in the Act, Section 205(d).
2.  If there is a quorum but not a full committee, a previously appointed “replacement” member may fill the vacancy or the DFO will recruit replacement members from appropriate categories to maintain balanced representation. 
3. If there are not enough previously appointed members to form a quorum, vacancies must be filled with new appointments by the Secretary before the RAC can operate.
4. To fill vacancies, the following documentation needs to be submitted to the WO FACA Office via the Regional RAC coordinator.  Clearance and appointment of a new member can take 3 to 4 months.
1. An Informational Memorandum - Recommending the Nominee(s).
2. Form AD-755 (Advisory Committee or Research and Promotion Background Information.) for each nominee.
5. The WO FACA Office will confer with the DFO and the Regional RAC coordinator on the need to amend the civil rights impact analysis. 

Joining an existing Secure Rural Schools RAC

If one or more counties are interested in joining a RAC that existed on September 29, 2006:

1. The charter will need to be amended to reflect the addition of a county or counties.
2. It is likely new members will need to be recruited to represent the larger geographic area and the newly expanded categories of membership.  The process for recruiting and appointing new members is described above and can take 3 to 4 months.  
3. If changes to RAC membership or geographic area affect the Civil Rights Impact Analysis (CRIA), the CRIA will need to be amended.
4. The Designated Federal Official (DFO) with the assistance of the Regional Secure Rural Schools coordinator and the WO FACA staff will submit the amended charter and CRIA for review and approval.  Amending and approving these documents can take 4 to 6 months.

Establishing a new Secure Rural Schools RAC

If the Forest Service and one or more counties want to establish a new RAC:

1. National forests with counties that want to allocate funds to Title II, special projects on federal land, will need to assist citizens in forming a RAC.
2. The line officer and appropriate staff will need to become familiar with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (DR-1041-001), which outlines general responsibilities of Federal Officials involved with the committee management and guidelines for the operation of the RAC.  The Regional Secure Rural Schools coordinator, the national Secure Rural Schools coordinator and the Washington Office FACA staff are available to advise on forming new RACs.
3. The line officer and appropriate staff will need to become familiar with the Secure Rural Schools Act (P.L.110-343), especially Title II that describes the purpose of the Act and the purpose and duties of the RAC.
4. National forest staff will need to recruit RAC members from interested stakeholders and interest groups. Refer to Section 205 of the Act to recruit membership to ensure appropriate composition and balanced representation among the categories described in the Act.
5. The Designated Federal Official (DFO), the Regional Secure Rural Schools coordinator and the WO FACA staff will develop and assemble the following documents to establish a RAC.  Templates and samples of these documents are being developed and will be made available to the DFOs. The DFO will be primarily responsible for working with county officials and stakeholders in identifying the appropriate geographic area of the RAC and recruiting nominees.  This will involve the forms listed at vii and viii below.  Establishing a new RAC can take 6 to 8 months for review and approval of documentation and appointment of new members.
1. Proposed Charter
2. Civil Rights Impact Analysis (CRIA)
3. Decision Memo to Secretary – Establishing a Committee
4. Federal Register Notice
5. Copy of Legislative Authority
6. Decision Memo – Recommending the nominee(s) (Appointment)
7. Member Selection Form
8. Form AD-755 (Advisory Committee or Research and Promotion Background Information) for each nominee.

For more information on RACs

For an overview of Federal Advisory Committee Act and its relationship to Secure Rural Schools, please see, FACA training (PPT | 274kb)

US Department of Agriculture Departmental Regulations (pdf) 1041-001

Federal Advisory Committee Act Final Rule 2001 (PDF) (MS Word).

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) FACA website

Secure Rural Schools FAQs for Title II.

“Sustaining Forests and Communities” (PDF) a report summarizing activities under the previous SRS Act.

Or, you may contact the Forest Service Washington Office FACA staff by phone: Nancy Bond at 202 205-1595 or Helen Abraham at 202 401-4469; or email:  secure_rural_schools@fs.fed.us.