Siuslaw National Forest

Siuslaw National Forest
4077 S.W. Research Way
P.O. Box 1148
Corvallis, Oregon 97339

(541) 750-7000
Fax: (541) 750-7234

TTY for hearing & speech impaired:
(Oregon Relay)

Citizens Sought for Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee

Contact: Joni Quarnstrom 541.750.7075

March 26, 2009

Corvallis, OR – The Forest Service is seeking people from communities in and around the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon Coast as nominees for five vacancies on the Siuslaw Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). Application forms must be received at the Siuslaw National Forest office by 4:30 p.m. on May 1.

The RAC consists of 15 members representing a wide range of interests. The committee’s duties include reviewing proposed land management projects on or adjacent to the Siuslaw National Forest. The committee recommends which projects to fund and is responsible for coordinating with land management agencies and county officials. Projects are located in Coos, Lane, Douglas, Lincoln, Benton, Yamhill and Tillamook counties.

The four-year term would begin upon appointment by the Secretary of Agriculture. Committee members serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. Members must be Oregon residents, preferably living in Coos, Lane, Douglas, Lincoln, Benton, Yamhill or Tillamook counties. Meetings are held at least once during the year, primarily in a coastal community.

The 15 members of the Siuslaw RAC are split equally between the following three categories. There may also be a non-voting replacement member in each category. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will make the appointments to the RAC based on the applications received, striving to appoint members who have demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively with others of different viewpoints.

There are no vacancies in Category One, which represents the following interests:

Organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups

Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle, commercial recreation

Energy and mineral development

Commercial or recreational fishing

Commercial timber industry

Federal grazing permit holders or land use permit holders within the RAC area

There are no vacancies in Category Two, which represents the following interests:

Nationally recognized environmental organizations

Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations

Dispersed recreation

Archaeological and historical interests

Nationally or regionally recognized wild horse or burro groups, wildlife or hunting organizations or watershed associations.

There are two vacancies in Category Three, which represents the following interests:

State-elected office holders

County or local elected officials

American Indian tribal representatives from tribes within or adjacent to RAC areas

School officials or teachers

Citizens representing the affected public at large

The Forest Service is also looking to fill three replacement member positions each for category A, B and C. Replacement members attend meetings with the 15 RAC members, ready to fill in a permanent vacant position upon approval by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Barnie Gyant, the Forest Service official responsible for the Siuslaw RAC, is enthusiastic about the work of the committee currently in place. “This is an exciting group to be involved with,” Gyant commented. “Through the committee’s efforts, we’ve put a dent in noxious weeds along the Coast, repaired and restored forest roads and culverts and improved public safety. The group has also strengthened relationships between the counties, the forest and among the communities in the last seven years.”

In recent years, the Siuslaw RAC helped to recommend funding with the $1.5 million in Title II dollars available annually. Funding for this and future years has not yet been determined.

Citizens interested in applying for RAC membership are encouraged to retrieve an application form (AD 755) on-line at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw or from any Forest Service office, or contact any County Court or Board of Commissioners.

Applications must be received at the Siuslaw National Forest, ATTN: Joni Quarnstrom, 4077 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR, 973330 no later than 4:30 p.m. May 1. Applications must contain original signatures.