Committees

Objective

The Recreation Resource Advisory Committee of the Eastern Region will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture through a designated federal official concerning recreation fees on national forest lands..

Role

The advisory committee makes recommendations to the designated federal official of the Eastern Region. The designated federal official is responsible for bringing the recommendations forward to the Regional Forester who will make final decisions. The advisory committee is composed of a group of 11 citizens, which allows for sharing of knowledge and personal experience. Council members consist of three distinct groups:

• Category One:  Five people who represent recreation users, one in each position: summer motorized, summer non-motorized, winter motorized, winter non-motorized, and hunting and fishing.
• Category Two: Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate: motorized outfitter and guides, non-motorized outfitter and guides, and local environmental groups.
• Category Three:  Three people, one in each position: State tourism official, a person who represents affected local government interests, and a person who represents affected Tribal Nations' issues.

To be useful by the Forest Service, recommendations by the advisory committee should fall within the sideboards established by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the Federal Advisory Council Act, and any other pertinent guiding legislation or direction. As stated in the advisory committee charter, members provide recommendations to Forest Service officials on matters including, but not limited to: 

1. The implementation of a standard amenity recreation fee or an expanded amenity recreation fee or the establishment of a specific recreation fee site;
2. The elimination of a standard amenity recreation fee or an expanded amenity recreation fee;
3. The expansion or limitation of the recreation fee program;
4. The implementation of or elimination of non-commercial, individual special recreation permit fees; and
5. The implementation of fee level changes (increases or decreases). 

Although the advisory committee will make recommendations to the designated federal official, the public at-large will be given opportunities to participate as well. All meetings will be open to the public; however non-committee members will not be able to participate directly in committee discussions or exercises unless invited.

Members will be responsible for being accessible to others, and for bringing forward ideas they receive.

Following the Regional Forester decisions, the advisory committee will be encouraged to monitor the implementation process and actions taken.

Member Responsibilities

1. Represent interests of appropriate groups by 1) generating information necessary from interest groups, and 2) keeping your constituency informed of progress.
2. Determine whether general public support exists for their recommendation. Documentation of public support will be provided to the advisory committee.
3. Understand and agree to meeting commitments. This is highly important because if the correct make-up of members is not attending a meeting, recommendations cannot be made. According to the charter:

a.     A quorum, 8 members, must exist to hold a meeting.  

b.     A majority of members from each of three member groups (at least 7 members) must be present to make recommendations.

c.     A majority of total members (at least 6 members) must be present to make decisions such as nominating a chairperson or forming a subcommittee.

1. Work in a team setting and be open to discussing and understanding differing viewpoints.
2. Give everyone a chance to speak and withhold judgment on an idea presented by others until it has a chance to be developed.
3. Focus on issues, needs and opportunities, not on personalities, people, or firm positions.
4. Speak concisely and listen without interrupting.
5. If problems or concerns arise about how the advisory committee is operating, members should make these known to the advisory committee or facilitators first and attempt to resolve them within the advisory committee structure. This will help to avoid undermining the process.

The Recreation Resource Advisory Committee helps the Forest Service be more effective by

• Bringing stakeholder concerns and interests to the table;
• Carrying information back to the stakeholders
• Alerting the Forest Service to emerging issues
• Sharing technical and professional knowledge with the Forest Service and other council members
• Attending meetings
• Being a hands on, problem solving group

Summary of Duties

Duties of the Designated Federal Officer:

While advisory committees make recommendations to the Regional Forester, the designated federal official is the federal employee designated by the agency to implement the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The designated federal official, or an officer or employee of the Federal Government, must be present during each meeting. The designated federal official is authorized, whenever he/she determines it to be in the public interest, to adjourn any such meeting. Official meetings cannot take place when that officer or employee is absent.

• Approve or call both the advisory committee and any subcommittee meetings
• Approve the agendas;
• Attend the meetings;
• Adjourn the meeting when such an adjournment is in the public interest; and
• Chair the meeting in absence of a Chairperson selected by the advisory committee.

Duties of the Agency (including, but not limited to):

• Orient new committee members;
• Ensure notices of meetings are posted in the Federal Register at least 15 days in advance;
• Ensure notices of meetings are posted in local newspapers at least 5 days in advance;
• Ensure public participation opportunities in open advisory committee meetings;
• Maintain the records, reports, transcripts, minutes, appendices, working papers, drafts, studies, agendas, or other documents which are made available for public inspection and copying at a single location in the agency until the advisory committee ceases to exist;
• Maintain detailed minutes;
• Maintain records of costs;
• Ensure committee members are reimbursed for travel and per diem costs;
• Track committee recommendations and obtaining agency responses; and
• File Annual Report to Congress.

Duties of the Chairperson:

The Chairperson shall be selected by a majority vote of advisory committee members for a period of time that the advisory committee determines. Duties include, but are not limited to

• Presides over committee meetings and must be familiar with the openness provision of the Federal Advisory Committee Act;
• Certifies the accuracy of all minutes; and
• Works with the designated federal official in the formation of agendas.

Question 1 – What is the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA)?

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), signed into law in December 2004, authorizes the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to establish, modify, charge and collect recreation fees at Federal recreation lands and waters.

Question 2 – What is the Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee?

The Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) is an “Advisory Committee” as established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which has certain requirements to ensure that federal agencies receive broad and balanced input into their decision-making process. The advisory committee requires the establishment of RRACs by state or region, to provide recommendations concerning recreation fee proposals on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The advisory committee recommendations are considered by the Forest Service who, ultimately, is responsible for making decisions about recreation fees.

Question 3 - Is there currently a functioning Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee?

There is a committee in place awaiting the Charter update to resume activity. The last Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee last met in Spring 2018

Question 4 – How will the Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee be re-established?

The establishment of the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee is guided by provisions contained in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and Federal Advisory Committee Act. Generally, it involves a series of public outreach steps including a mandatory notice in the Federal Register and recruitment of nominees from organizations representing key recreational interests.

Question 5 - When does the Region anticipate re-establishing the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee?

Key target timeframes include:

• Recruitment and outreach – December 2023– May 2024
• Submittal of nomination package to the Department for review – June 2024
• Selection and notification to members – Winter 2024
• Recreation Resource Advisory Committee meeting - Spring/Summer 2025

Question 6 - What States does the Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee cover?

The Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee provides recommendations for the Forest Service and BLM on recreation fee matters in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

Question 7 - What kinds of fees do Recreation Resource Advisory Committees consider?

Recreation Resource Advisory Committees provide recommendations on implementing or eliminating standard amenity fees, expanded amenity fees, and non-commercial individual special recreation permit fees; expanding or limiting the recreation fee program; and fee level changes (increases or decreases).

Recreation Resource Advisory Committees do not make recommendations on recreation fee sites operated by a concessionaire or contractor, commercial permits such as outfitting and guiding, or Forest Service special use permits issued for group events such as bike races.

Question 8 - Who serves on a Recreation Resource Advisory Committee?

A total of 11 members will serve on each Recreation Resource Advisory Committees:

• Category One: Five people who represent recreation users, one in each position: summer motorized, summer non-motorized, winter motorized, winter non-motorized, and hunting and fishing.
• Category Two: Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate: motorized outfitter and guides, non-motorized outfitter and guides, and local environmental groups.
• Category Three: Three people, one in each position: State tourism official, a person who represents affected local government interests, and a person who represents affected Tribal Nations' issues.

Question 9: If an individual is currently serving on a Resource Advisory Committee, can they be selected for the regional Recreation Resource Advisory Committees?

No. Members can only serve on one Resource Advisory Committee at a time.

Question 10 - What are the responsibilities of individual committee members?

Through by-laws each Recreation Resource Advisory Committee may identify unique responsibilities for members. In general, some are:

• Represent interests of appropriate groups by receiving pertinent information from and sharing discussions with interest groups.
• Consider whether or not general public support exists for a recommendation.
• Understand and agree to meeting commitments.
• Work in a team setting and be open to discussing and understanding differing viewpoints.
• Give everyone a chance to speak and withhold judgment on an idea presented by others until it has a chance to be developed.
• Focus on issues, needs and opportunities, not on personalities, people, or firm positions.

Question 11 - How does the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee interact with the Forest Service?

The Recreation Resource Advisory Committee has a “Designated Federal Official” or designated federal official who serves as a liaison to the Forest Service. The designated federal official will:

• Approve or call both the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee and any subcommittee meetings;
• Approve the agendas;
• Attend the meetings;
• Adjourn the meeting when such an adjournment is in the public interest; and
• Chair the meeting in absence of a Chairperson selected by the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee.

Question 12 - When and where do the Recreation Resource Advisory Committees meet?

Each Recreation Resource Advisory Committee meets at least once annually or as often as is determined necessary. The location and length of meetings will be determined by the designated federal official and Chairperson and will be shared with members. Meetings may be in-person, virtual, or a combination of the two.

Question 13 - How are meetings conducted?

Each Recreation Resource Advisory Committee may identify the specific methods or requirements by which meetings are run and majority or consensus decisions are reached. However, REA does state that:

• A quorum, 8 members, must exist for the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee to hold an official meeting.
• A majority of members from each of three member groups (at least 7 members) must be present to make recommendations; and
• A majority of total members (at least 6 members) must be present to make decisions such as nominating a chairperson or forming a subcommittee.

Question 14 - Are Recreation Resource Advisory Committee members paid or compensated for travel to meetings?

Recreation Resource Advisory Committee members do not receive compensation; however, they are reimbursed for transportation, lodging and meal expenses when attending an in-person meeting.

Question 15 - How long do members serve?

Members will serve two to three years. A member cannot exceed two consecutive terms.

Question 16 - Can members be reappointed to the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee or are they limited to one term?

The Secretary of Agriculture may choose to appoint Recreation Resource Advisory Committee members to additional terms.

Question 17 - What is the Recreation Resource Advisory Committee Charter?

The charter is the document that officially identifies the membership, duties, costs, meeting requirements and any special instructions for the Recreation Resource Advisory Committees. This national document is renewed every two years.