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County Hastens R.A.C. Formation |
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Bessemer - February 28, 2009
Wednesday afternoon representatives of the
Ottawa National Forest Service in Bessemer
came before the Gogebic County Commision to
discuss the formation of a R.A.C. required
under the Secure Rural Schools Recovery Act.
The County recently received $635,049 from
the federal government which was distributed
to the school districts and the townships
based on their percentage of NFS acres. The
schools received $476,286. The remainder
will go to the townships for care and
improvement of federal government acreage
under Title 2.
Speaking to the Commissioners was Susan
Spear, Forest Supervisor. Also addressing
the board was Melanie B. Fullman.
The Commissioners was told that there was
little time to waste setting up the R.A.C.
as the Committee must go to Washington where
it will go through an approval process.
Applicants for the RAC must come from
specific segment of the community. Committee
members shall be representative of the
interests of the and represent following
three categories:
Category A, 5
persons that represent:
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 Commercial timber industry
Federal grazing or other land use permit
holders or represent non-industrial private
forest land owners, within the area for
which the RAC is organized
Category B, 5
persons that represent:
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, or watershed
associations
Category C, 5
persons that:
Hold state elected office or their 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
Represent the affected public at large.
A Secure Rural Schools (SRS) RAC provides
advice and recommendations to the Forest
Service on the development and
implementation of special projects on
federal lands as authorized under the Secure
Rural Schools Act and Community
Self-Determination Act, Public Law 110-343.
Each RAC consists of 15 people representing
varied interests and areas of expertise, who
work collaboratively to improve working
relationships among community members and
national forest personnel.
RACs duties include the following:
Review projects proposed under title II by
participating counties and other persons;
Propose projects and funding to the
Secretary through the Designated Federal
Official (DFO);
Provide early and continuous coordination
with the DFO in recommending title II
projects;
Provide frequent opportunities for citizens,
organizations, tribes, land management
agencies, and other interested parties to
participate openly and meaningfully,
beginning at the early stages of developing
title II projects;
Monitor implementation of approved title II
and advise the DFO on the progress of the
monitoring;
Make recommendations to the DFO for any
appropriate changes or adjustments
Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties elected to
receive the County Share of the SRS
state payment vs. the traditional 25%
payment as outlined in Public Law 110-343.
Under this election, 15% of their payment
falls into Title II funds.
Title II funds are directed to special
projects that improve the maintenance of
existing infrastructure, implement
stewardship objectives that enhance forest
ecosystems, and/or restore and improve land
health and water quality. In addition:
Title II projects need to be consistent with
the ottawa National Forest Land & Resource
Management Plan.
Title II projects must be approved by a RAC.
Fifty percent of the funds must be used for:
(1) Restoration of streams and watersheds,
(2) Road decommissioning, or obliteration;
or (3) Road and Trail Maintenance on federal
lands (or on land adjacent to federal lands
where the activity would improve the
condition of federal lands).
The other 50 percent can be used for the
following types of projects: soil
productivity improvement; forest ecological
health; wildlife and fish habitat
improvement; noxious weeds; re-establishment
of native species.
Title II funds can be banked, but must be
spent/obligated by September 30,2012. A RAC
will need to be developed to expend funds
and implement projects under Title II on the
ottawa National Forest.
The RACs will meet as often as is necessary
to complete their business. RAC meetings are
open to the public end announced in the
local newspaper of record at least one week
in advance. In addition, meetings are
announced in the Federal Register at .least
15 days in advance. Records of RAC meetings
are also made available to the public.
A majority of the members of a RAC must be
present to constitute on official meeting of
the committee (a quorum is considered to be
at least 3 persons in each category). The
approval of the majority of the members
shall be required to approve a project for
recommendation to the Secretary.
Resource Advisory Committees report to the
Secretary of Agriculture through the
Designated Federal Official (DFO) and
appropriate Forest Supervisor. The Forest
Service will provide support for the RACs.
Members of he Committee serve without
compensation. Reimbursement for travel and
per diem for attendance at RAC meetings
called by the Chairperson and with an
-agenda approved by the DFO will be
determined on a Forest by Forest basis with
a view to budgetary constraints and the need
to achieve adequate representation of
necessary groups.
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| The following statistical information
was thoughtfully provided to us by Sue
Pertile, Gogebic County Treasurer. |
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2008 ACTUAL |
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JE#12585 |
NFS |
% of County |
2008 |
School Amt. |
Twp. Amt. |
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$ 635,049.00
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Acres |
NFS Land |
Receipt Amt |
75% |
25% |
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Bessemer |
14,780 |
4.71% |
$ 29,910.81
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$ 22,433.11
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$ 7,477.70
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Ironwood |
12,702 |
4.05% |
$ 25,719.48
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$ 19,289.61
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$ 6,429.87
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Marenisco |
124,704 |
39.75% |
$252,431.98 |
$189,323.98 |
$ 63,108.00
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Wakefield Twp. |
28,828 |
9.19% |
$ 58,361.00
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$ 43,770.75
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$ 14,590.25
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Watersmeet |
132,698 |
42.30% |
$268,625.73 |
$201,469.30 |
$ 67,156.43
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313,712 |
100.00% |
$635,049.00 |
$476,286.75
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$158,762.25
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TOTAL |
$635,049.00
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