16 USC 7125 - Resource advisory committees

View all text of Subchapter II [§ 7121 - § 7128]

§ 7125. Resource advisory committees

(a) Establishment and purpose of resource advisory committees

(1) Establishment

(2) PurposeThe purpose of a resource advisory committee shall be—

(A) to improve collaborative relationships; and

(B) to provide advice and recommendations to the land management agencies consistent with the purposes of this subchapter.

(3) Access to resource advisory committees

(4) Existing advisory committees

(A) In general

(B) Charter

(b) DutiesA resource advisory committee shall—

(1) review projects proposed under this subchapter by participating counties and other persons;

(2) propose projects and funding to the Secretary concerned under section 7123 of this title;

(3) provide early and continuous coordination with appropriate land management agency officials in recommending projects consistent with purposes of this chapter under this subchapter;

(4) 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 the project development process under this subchapter;

(5)

(A) monitor projects that have been approved under section 7124 of this title; and

(B) advise the designated Federal official on the progress of the monitoring efforts under subparagraph (A); and

(6) make recommendations to the Secretary concerned for any appropriate changes or adjustments to the projects being monitored by the resource advisory committee.

(1) Appointment and term

(A) In general

(B) Reappointment

(2) Basic requirements

(3) Initial appointment

(4) Vacancies

(5) Compensation

(d) Composition of advisory committee

(1) Number

(2) Community interests representedExcept as provided in paragraph (6), committee members shall be representative of the interests of the following 3 categories:

(A) 5 persons that—

(i) represent organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups;

(ii) represent developed outdoor recreation, off highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities;

(iii) represent—(I) energy and mineral development interests; or(II) commercial or recreational fishing interests;

(iv) represent the commercial timber industry; or

(v) 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 persons that represent—

(i) nationally recognized environmental organizations;

(ii) regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations;

(iii) dispersed recreational activities;

(iv) archaeological and historical interests; or

(v) nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups, wildlife or hunting organizations, or watershed associations.

(i) hold State elected office (or a designee);

(ii) hold county or local elected office;

(iii) represent American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized;

(iv) are school officials or teachers; or

(v) represent the affected public at large.

(3) Balanced representation

(4) Geographic distribution

(5) Chairperson

(6) Committee composition waiver authority

(A) Notice

(B) Modification of membership requirementsIf, by the date that is 30 days after the date of publication of notice under subparagraph (A), an inadequate number of qualified candidates have applied to serve on a resource advisory committee, the Secretary concerned may reduce—

(i) the membership requirement under paragraph (1) to not fewer than 9; and

(ii) the membership requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (2) to 3 in each category described in that paragraph, except that where a vacancy exists on a resource advisory committee, the Secretary concerned may not reject a qualified applicant from any category.

(e) Approval procedures

(1) In general

(2) Quorum

(3) Approval by majority of members

(f) Other committee authorities and requirements

(1) Staff assistance

(2) Meetings

(3) Records

(g) Resource advisory committee appointment pilot programs

(1) DefinitionsIn this subsection:

(A) Applicable designee

(B) National pilot program

(2) Establishment of pilot programs

(3) Regional pilot program

(A) In general

(B) Geographic limitationThe regional pilot program shall only apply to resource advisory committees chartered in—

(i) the State of Montana; and

(ii) the State of Arizona.

(i) Review

(ii) Savings clause

(4) National pilot program

(A) In general

(B) AppointmentUnder the national pilot program, subject to subparagraph (C), not later than 30 days after the date on which a nomination is transmitted to the Secretary concerned under subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned shall—

(i) appoint the nominee to the applicable resource advisory committee; or

(ii) reject the nomination.

(D) Geographic limitationThe national pilot program shall apply to a resource advisory committee chartered in any State other than—

(i) the State of Montana; or

(ii) the State of Arizona.

(E) Savings clause

(5) Termination of effectiveness

(6) Report to CongressNot later 180 days after the date described in paragraph (5), the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report that includes—

(A) with respect to appointments made under the regional pilot program compared to appointments made under the national pilot program, a description of the extent to which—

(i) appointments were faster or slower; and

(ii) the requirements described in paragraph (3)(C)(i) differ; and

(B) a recommendation with respect to whether Congress should terminate, continue, modify, or expand the pilot programs.

(Pub. L. 106–393, title II, § 205, as added Pub. L. 110–343, div. C, title VI, § 601(a), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3905; amended Pub. L. 112–141, div. F, title I, § 100101(a)(7), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 906; Pub. L. 113–40, § 10(a)(2)(C), Oct. 2, 2013, 127 Stat. 545; Pub. L. 115–141, div. O, title IV, § 401(b)(2), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1079; Pub. L. 115–334, title VIII, § 8702, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4875; Pub. L. 116–94, div. I, title III, § 301(b)(1), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3021; Pub. L. 117–58, div. D, title XII, § 41202(c), (d)(1), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1132, 1134.)