Committees

Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees

What is a RAC?

Resource Advisory Committees review and recommend land management projects for public benefit, directing money from the federal government to local priorities on or adjacent to federal land. Past projects funded at the advice of RACs include road and trail maintenance, fuels treatments, invasive plant removal, and sanitation improvement. RAC members serve a term of four years, with the possibility of a second term for a maximum of eight years. Once a committee of 15 members has been selected, RACs meet about every 1 to 2 months.

Each local RAC has nine to 15 representatives of varied interests and areas of expertise. They work collaboratively to improve working relationships among community members and national forest employees. Each RAC meets up to four times per year in a location and facility that is accessible to the public. Attendance may be in-person, by telephone, or other electronic means.

Members are required to live within the state(s) in which the committee has jurisdiction. To the extent practicable, the members also represent municipalities covered by the committee. Members are appointed to four-year terms and may be reappointed for additional terms. Members serve without compensation, but may be allowed travel expenses and per diem for attendance at committee meetings.

Payments are divided into three distinct categories, or Titles: Title I for roads and schools, Title II for projects on Federal lands, and Title III for county projects.

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Why serve on a RAC?

This is a unique opportunity to provide advice and recommendation on management activities on national forest lands. RAC members are able to represent people who share their interests, learn about other community members’ interests, and help determine how funds are spent and projects are implemented on and around public land. RACs are designed to include diverse perspectives from the community and members are selected to equally represent three categories of interests, described below.

Contact

If interested in being on either the Del Norte or Humboldt County RAC or to request a project proposal form, please contact RAC Coordinator, Ben Littlefield at benjamin.littlefield@usda.gov