Notice2026-08443
Intent To Establish Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership for Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees
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Published
April 30, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Abstract
In accordance with the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, the United States Department of Agriculture announces its intent to establish 84 Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees (RACs). The Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees will advise the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture on proposed recommendations and other such matters as the Secretary determines. Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees will be governed by the provisions of FACA. Duration of the Secure Rural School Resource Advisory Committees is for two years unless renewed by the Secretary of Agriculture. This notice also solicits nominations for membership on the Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 83 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 83 (Thursday, April 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23242-23243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08443]
[[Page 23242]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Intent To Establish Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory
Committees and Solicitation of Nominations for Membership for Secure
Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to establish Secure Rural Schools Resource
Advisory Committees and solicitation of nominations for membership.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA),
as amended, the United States Department of Agriculture announces its
intent to establish 84 Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory
Committees (RACs). The Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory
Committees will advise the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture
on proposed recommendations and other such matters as the Secretary
determines. Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees will be
governed by the provisions of FACA. Duration of the Secure Rural School
Resource Advisory Committees is for two years unless renewed by the
Secretary of Agriculture. This notice also solicits nominations for
membership on the Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees.
DATES: Nominations must be submitted via email or postmarked by May 25,
2026.
ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to the Secretary of Agriculture
through the Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committee (SRS RAC)
Regional Coordinators. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for the name and
address of the SRS RAC Regional Coordinators accepting nominations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquiries may be sent to, Brianna
Gallegos, National Partnership Coordinator, National Partnership
Office, USDA Forest Service, Yates Building, 1400 Independence Avenue,
Mailstop 1158, Washington, DC 20250, or by email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#194a54375f4a374a4b4a50777b7661596c6a7d78377e766f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e7d6300687d007d7c7d67404c41566e5b5d4a4f00494158">[email protected]</span></a>. or phone 505-218-1535.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of
2000 (Pub. L. 106-393) directs the Secretary of the United States
Department of Agriculture to create Secure Rural Schools Resource
Advisory Committees (SRS RACs) to provide advice and recommendations to
the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with SRS
Title II of the Act. The duties of SRS RACs include monitoring
projects, advising the Secretary on the progress and results of
monitoring efforts, and making recommendations to the Forest Service
for any appropriate changes or adjustments to the projects being
monitored by the SRS RACs.
This charter renewal will establish two new committees as follows:
Mineral and Missoula County (RAC) in Region 1 by consolidating the
Mineral County and Missoula County RACs; Chugach (RAC) in Region 10 by
consolidating the Prince William Sound RAC and the Kenai Peninsula-
Anchorage Borough RAC. The SRS RACs will operate in compliance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The purpose of the SRS RACs is
to improve collaborative relationships among people who use and care
for national forests. The SRS RACs are statutory committees. Additional
information on the SRS RACs can be found by visiting the (Committee)
website at: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/pts">http://www.fs.usda.gov/pts</a>.
SRS RACs Membership
The SRS RACs will be comprised of 15 members approved by the
Secretary of Agriculture (or designee) where each will serve a 4-year
term. SRS RACs memberships will be balanced in terms of the points of
view represented and functions to be performed. The SRS RACs shall
include representation from the following interest areas:
(1) Five persons who represent:
(a) Organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups;
(b) Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or
commercial recreation activities;
(c) Energy and mineral development, or commercial or recreational
fishing groups;
(d) Commercial timber industry; or
(e) Federal grazing permit or other land use permit holders, or
representative of non-industrial private forest land owners, within the
area for which the committee is organized.
(2) Five persons who represent:
(a) Nationally or regionally recognized environmental
organizations;
(b) Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations;
(c) Dispersed recreational activities;
(d) Archaeology and history; or
(e) Nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro
interest, wildlife hunting organizations, or watershed associations.
(3) Five persons who represent:
(a) State elected office holder;
(b) County or local elected office holder;
(c) American Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which
the committee is organized;
(d) Are school officials or teachers; or
(e) Affected public-at-large.
If a vacancy arises, the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) may
consider recommending to the Secretary (or designee) to fill the
vacancy as soon as it occurs with a candidate from the applicant pool
provided an appropriate candidate is available. In accordance with the
Act, members of the SRS RAC shall serve without compensation. SRS RAC
members and replacements may be allowed travel expenses and per diem
for attendance at committee meetings, subject to approval of the DFO
responsible for administrative support to the SRS RAC.
Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified
individuals for membership. Interested candidates may nominate
themselves. Individuals who wish to be considered for membership on the
Secure Rural Schools Advisory Committee must submit a nomination with
information, including a background disclosure form (Form AD-755 is
available online at <a href="https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755-advisory-committee-commodity-board-background-information.pdf">https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-755-advisory-committee-commodity-board-background-information.pdf</a>).
Nominations should be typed and include the following:
1. If nominating an individual, a brief summary, no more than two
pages, explaining the nominee's qualifications to serve on the Secure
Rural Schools Advisory Committee and addressing the membership
composition and criteria described above.
2. A resume providing the nominee's background, experience, and
educational qualifications.
3. A completed background disclosure form (Form AD-755) signed by
the nominee.
4. Letters of endorsement are optional.
Northern Regional Office--Region 1
Helena-Lewis Clark RAC, Flathead RAC, Gallatin RAC, Idaho Panhandle
RAC, Lincoln RAC, Mineral and Missoula County RAC, North Central Idaho
RAC, Ravalli RAC, Sanders RAC, Southern Montana RAC, Southwest Montana
RAC, Tri-County RAC
Melissa Simpson, Northern Regional Coordinator, Forest Service, 26
Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, Montana 59804, (406)-599-3954 or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#432e262f2a3030226d302a2e33302c2d03363027226d242c35"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f626a63667c7c6e217c66627f7c60614f7a7c6b6e21686079">[email protected]</span></a>.
[[Page 23243]]
Rocky Mountain Regional Office--Region 2
Black Hills RAC and Greater Rocky Mountain RAC
Jace Ratzlaff, Rocky Mountain Regional Coordinator, Forest Service,
1617 Cole Blvd. Building 17, Lakewood, Colorado 80401, (719) 469-1254
or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7a101b191f54081b0e00161b1c1c3a0f091e1b541d150c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c8a2a9abade6baa9bcb2a4a9aeae88bdbbaca9e6afa7be">[email protected]</span></a>.
Southwestern Regional Office--Region 3
Coconino County RAC, Eastern Arizona RAC, Northern New Mexico RAC,
Southern Arizona RAC, Southern New Mexico RAC, Yavapai RAC
Daniel Fredrickson, Southwestern Regional Coordinator, Forest
Service, 333 Broadway SE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, (505) 563-7939
or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dcb8bdb2b5b9b0f2baaeb9b8aeb5bfb7afb3b29ca9afb8bdf2bbb3aa"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0165606f68646d2f677364657368626a726e6f41747265602f666e77">[email protected]</span></a>.
Intermountain Regional Office--Region 4
Southern Utah RAC, Alpine RAC, Bridger-Teton RAC, Central Idaho RAC,
Eastern Idaho RAC, Nevada RAC, Northern Utah, South Central Idaho RAC,
Southwest Idaho RAC
Hannah Lenkowski, Intermountain Regional Coordinator (Idaho, Utah,
and Nevada), Forest Service, 324 25\th\ Street, Ogden UT 84401 (385)-
517-0972 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d4bcb5babab5bcfab8b1babfbba3a7bfbd94a1a7b0b5fab3bba2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5f373e31313e3771333a313430282c34361f2a2c3b3e71383029">[email protected]</span></a>.
Pacific Southwest Regional Office--Region 5
Butte County RAC, Del Norte County RAC, El Dorado County RAC, Fresno
County RAC, Glenn and Colusa Counties RAC, Humboldt County RAC, Kern
and Tulare Counties RAC, Lassen County RAC, Mendo-Lake County RAC,
Modoc County RAC, Nevada and Placer Counties RAC, Plumas County RAC,
Shasta County RAC, Sierra County RAC, Siskiyou County RAC, Tehama RAC,
Trinity County RAC, Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties RAC
Paul Wade, Pacific Southwest Regional Coordinator, Forest Service,
1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, California 94592, (707) 562-9010 or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdcddcc8d193cf93cadcd9d8fdc8ced9dc93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="106071657c3e623e6771747550656374713e777f66">[email protected]</span></a>.
Pacific Northwest Regional Office--6
Colville RAC, Deschutes and Ochoco RAC, Fremont and Winema RAC, Hood
and Willamette RAC, Gifford Pinchot RAC, Northeast Oregon Forests RAC,
Olympic Peninsula RAC, Rogue and Umpqua RAC, Siskiyou (OR) RAC, Siuslaw
RAC, Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest RAC, Wenatchee-Okanogan RAC,
Umatilla Washington RAC
Paul Wade, Pacific Northwest Regional Coordinator, Forest Service,
1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, California 94592, (707) 562-9010 or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#235342564f0d510d5442474663565047420d444c55"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="116170647d3f633f6670757451646275703f767e67">[email protected]</span></a>.
Southern Regional Office--Region 8
Alabama RAC, Cherokee RAC, Daniel Boone RAC, Davy Crockett RAC, Florida
National Forests RAC, Francis Marion-Sumter RAC, Kisatchie RAC, Ozark-
Ouachita RAC, Sabine-Angelina RAC, National Forest in Mississippi RAC,
Virginia RAC, El Yunque RAC
Brianna Gallegos, National Partnership Coordinator, National
Partnership Office, USDA Forest Service, Yates Building, 1400
Independence Avenue, Mailstop #1158, Washington, DC 20250, (505)-218-
1535 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f7a4bad9b1a4d9a4a5a4be9995988fb782849396d9909881"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="edbea0c3abbec3bebfbea4838f8295ad989e898cc38a829b">[email protected]</span></a>.
Eastern Regional Office--Region 9
Allegheny RAC, Chippewa National Forest RAC, Eleven Point RAC, Hiawatha
RAC, Huron-Manistee RAC, North Wisconsin RAC, Ottawa, Superior RAC,
West Virginia RAC
Tiffany Benna, Eastern Regional Coordinator, Forest Service, 71
White Mountain Drive, Campton, New Hampshire 03223, (603)-348-0078 or
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a8dcc1cecec9c6d186cacdc6c6c9e8dddbccc986cfc7de"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5c1dcd3d3d4dbcc9bd7d0dbdbd4f5c0c6d1d49bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>.
Alaska Regional Office--Region 10
Chugach RAC, North Tongass RAC, South Tongass RAC
Tanya Zastrow, Alaska Regional Coordinator, Forest Service, 612
Second Street Cordova, Alaska 99574, (907) 424-4722 or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cebaafa0b7afe0b4afbdbabca1b98ebbbdaaafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8efaefe0f7efa0f4effdfafce1f9cefbfdeaefa0e9e1f8">[email protected]</span></a>.
Equal opportunity practices, in accordance with USDA policies, will
be followed in all membership appointments to the Committee.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or
administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance
program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil
rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing
deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and
TDD).
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to
File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write
a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint
form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA
by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop
9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#afdfddc0c8ddcec281c6c1dbcec4caefdadccbce81c8c0d9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6d6d4c9c1d4c7cb88cfc8d2c7cdc3e6d3d5c2c788c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a>.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Dated: April 28, 2026.
Cikena Reid,
USDA Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-08443 Filed 4-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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