County Payment Committees Information

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) formed Resource Advisory Committees (RAC) in western Oregon to comply with Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000--Public Law 106-393 (the Act). The Act provided a payment schedule to local counties in lieu of funds generated by timber harvest on federal lands.

BLM Committee members review project proposals and recommend their highest priorities for the Secretary of the Interior to invest county-designated funds. The Committee represents a variety of interests, and members work collaboratively for the long term benefit of public lands and economic stability in local communities.

Western Oregon has five BLM District RACs for lands that contain Oregon & California (O&C) Grant Lands and Coos Bay Wagon Road (CBWR) lands. The Forest Service also established Resource Advisory Committees for combinations of National Forests throughout the nation. The BLM Resource Advisory Committees are as follows.

Nominations for Vacant Positions

The Oregon/Washington BLM will occasionally recruit for vacant positions on the RACs. Vacancies occur when a current member leaves the Committee.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Nominees must reside within one of the counties that are within the BLM District boundaries of the Committee they seek to join. Applicants will be evaluated based on their education, training, and experience working with the interest area they choose to represent, and their knowledge of the RAC’s geographic area. Nominees must also have demonstrated a commitment to collaborative resource decision making. A completed nomination form and reference letter(s) are required for all applications.

Committee projects

The RAC's designated federal officer (DFO) submits federal projects for the RAC to consider funding under Title II of the Act. No later than September 30, the DFO forwards to the Secretary of the Interior a description of projects that the RAC recommends funding by eligible counties.

Membership categories

Qualifications for RAC members are determined by the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary must select 15 members who reside within the Committee's geographic jurisdiction to ensure local representation. Membership must be balanced and represent the various interests concerned with managing the public lands.

Specifically, Committee members represent interests within the following three categories:

• Category One represents - organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups; developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities; energy and mineral development interests, or commercial or recreational fishing interests; the commercial timber industry; or people who hold Federal grazing or other land use permits, or nonindustrial private forest land owners within the area for which the committee is organized.
• Category Two represents - nationally recognized environmental organizations; regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations; dispersed recreational activities; archaeological and historical interests; or nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups, wildlife or hunting organizations, or watershed associations.
• Category Three represents - persons that hold State elected office (or a designee); hold county or local elected office; represent American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized; are school officials or teachers; or the affected public at large.

Need more information? Please contact the appropriate BLM District Office or

Pam Robbins, RAC Coordinator
BLM Oregon State Office
PO Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208
Phone: (503) 808-6306
Email: Pam_Robbins@or.blm.gov

General Information

• Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (PDF)
• Resource Advisory Committees
• RAC Areas Map (PDF)
• Official Payments Made to Counties
• O&C Counties Historical Information
• Oregon/Washington Citizen Advisory Groups