WARREN — Allegheny National Forest officials are conducting public outreach to fill committee member seats for the Allegheny Resource Advisory Committee that covers Elk, Forest, McKean, and Warren counties.
RACs were established as a provision of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. The legislation sets aside funding for projects that improve watershed function and promote community economic development. Typically, the Allegheny RAC meets once a year to review and make recommendations on project proposals submitted for this funding.
By law the four-year term, 15-member committee is composed of a wide representation of National Forest interests organized into three categories. Each RAC has 15 members with balanced and broad representation of interests in three categories, including:
Category 1: 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; commercial or recreational fishing interests; commercial timber industry; holders of Federal grazing or other land use permits, and representatives of nonindustrial private forest land owners, within the area for which the committee is organized.
Category 2: Nationally recognized environmental organizations; regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations; dispersed recreational activities; archaeological and historical interests; nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups, wildlife or hunting organizations, and watershed associations.
Category 3: Holder of State or local elected office, representatives of American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized, school officials or teacher, and the affected public at large.
Members must reside within Pennsylvania and, to the extent practicable, provide local representation in each category.
For further information regarding RAC membership, contact the Designated Federal Official, District Ranger Richard Hatfield at (814) 363-6098.
