Media Release from the U.S. Forest Service - September 4, 2019

Officials of the Superior National Forest are seeking applications for the Superior Resource Advisory Committee (RAC).

“The Forest is seeking a diverse representation of applicants to serve as members on our Resource Advisory Committee,” said Connie Cummins, the Superior National Forest Supervisor. “RAC’s are a great way for interested community members to engage in a public lands dialogue and recommend resource projects funded by the Secure Rural Schools Act.”  

Resource Advisory Committees are established as a provision under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which was recently reauthorized. RACs are responsible for reviewing and recommending projects for implementation under Title II of the Act.  By law, the four-year term, fifteen-member committee is composed of a wide representation of national forest interests.

Committee members are needed for three different categories representing interest groups, specified in Section 205 (d) (2) of the Act:

A) 5 people that--

• represent organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups;
• represent developed outdoor recreation, off highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities;
• represent energy and mineral development interests, or commercial or recreational fishing interests;
• represent the commercial timber industry; or
• hold Federal grazing or other land use permits, or represent nonindustrial private forest land owners, within the area for which the committee is organized.

B) 5 people that represent--

• 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.

C) 5 people 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
• represent the affected public at large.

Any Minnesota resident interested in serving must complete both the Advisory Committee Membership Interest form and form AD-755 (Advisory Committee Membership Background) and return them to the Superior National Forest Headquarters located at 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, Minnesota  55808 no later than Thursday, October 10, 2019. The RAC typically meets annually. Forms and additional information can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/workingtogether/advisorycommittees.

If you are interested in serving as a member of the Forest’s RAC and questions please contact Lisa Radosevich-Craig at 218-626-4336 or [email protected].

Secure Rural School Title II recommended projects must have broad community-based support with objectives that may include, but are not limited to: road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration; soil productivity improvements; improvements in forest ecosystem health; watershed restoration and maintenance; restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat; control of noxious and exotic weeds; hazardous fuels reduction; and reintroduction of native species.  Projects must be on public land, but can occur on private land if it can be demonstrated that there is a benefit to public land resources.

For more information about the Superior National Forest please visit our website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/superior/home.

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 30 percent of the nation’s surface drinking water to cities and rural communities and approximately 66 million Americans rely on drinking water that originated from the National Forest System.  The agency also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.)