1.  PURPOSE

1. This regulation reestablishes the Provincial Advisory Committees (PACs) to the Provincial Interagency Executive Committees (PIECs) for 12 provinces, which are areas set up under the Northwest Forest Plan. The PIECs facilitate the successful implementation of the Record of Decision for Amendments to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl (ROD) of April 13, 1994. They consist of representatives of some or all of the following Federal agencies: the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Geological Survey Biological Resources Division, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The purpose of the PACs is to advise the PIECs on coordinating the implementation of the ROD. Each PAC provides advice regarding implementation of a comprehensive ecosystem management strategy for Federal land within a province (provinces are defined in the ROD at E19). The PACs provide advice and recommendations to promote better integration of forest management activities between Federal and non-Federal entities to ensure that such activities are complementary.
    

2. The PACs advising the PIECs for the 12 provinces are as follows:

   1. Eastern Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee,

   2. California Coast Provincial Advisory Committee,

   3. Olympic Peninsula Provincial Advisory Committee,

   4. Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee,

   5. Yakima Provincial Advisory Committee,

   6. Western Washington Cascades Provincial Advisory Committee,

   7. Southwestern Oregon Provincial Advisory Committee,

   8. Southwestern Washington Provincial Advisory Committee,

   9. Willamette Provincial Advisory Committee,
   10. Northwest Sacramento Provincial Advisory Committee,

   11. Oregon Coast Provincial Advisory Committee, and

   12. Klamath Provincial Advisory Committee
        

3. The PACs operate in the public interest in that they provide local forums where Federal agencies, particularly those within the United States Department of Agriculture and United States Department of the Interior, can develop ways to better coordinate activities with non-Federal entities. The ROD provides direction to the Forest Service and the BLM for developing an ecosystem management approach that is consistent with statutory authority for land use planning, such as the Forest Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. (See the ROD, page 5.) Ecosystem management at the province level requires improved coordination among governmental entities responsible for land management decisions and the public they serve.
    

2.  SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Departmental Regulation DR 1043-37, dated April 15, 2003, is hereby superseded.
    

2. The functions of the PACs cannot be completed in less than 2 years. In accordance with Departmental Regulations, unless renewed, this regulation will terminate 2 years from the date of filing,
    

3.  OFFICERS AND MEMBERSHIP

1. Each PAC will consist of no more than 29 members. Members will include:

1. One or more representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency;

2. One or more representatives of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service;

3. One or more representatives of the Forest Service;
4. One or more representatives of the BLM in each province where lands administered by BLM occur in the province;

5. One or more representatives of the National Park Service in each province where a national park occurs in the province;

6. One or more representatives of the National Marine Fisheries Service;

7. One or more representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;

8. Up to a maximum of three representatives of the government of each State within whose boundaries all or a portion of the province is located (the State agencies/departments to be represented will be determined by the Federal officials described in Paragraphs 3a(1) through 3a(7));

9. One or more representatives of each county government within whose boundaries all or a portion of the province is located, up to a maximum of three county representatives;

10. One or more representatives of each tribal government whose reservation, ceded land, or usual and accustomed areas are within all or a portion of the province, up to a maximum of three tribal representatives;
11. Up to a maximum of two representatives of environmental interests;
12. Up to a maximum of two representatives of different sectors of the forest products industry;
13. Up to a maximum of two representatives of the recreation and tourism sectors;
14. Three to five representatives of the following interests when those interests are determined by the Federal officials described in Paragraphs 3a(1) through 3a(7) to be needed on the respective provincial committee: Fish, wildlife, or forestry conservation organizations; special forest products interests, mining interests, grazing interests, and commercial fishing or charter fishing boat industry interests; and other interests that help achieve the purpose of this charter;
15. Up to a total of three representatives from the following Federal agencies when the jurisdiction or authority of those agencies are determined by the Federal officials described in Paragraphs 3a(1)(a) through 3a(1)(g) to be needed on the respective provincial committee: Bureau of Reclamation, United States Geological Survey National Biological Division, Forest Service Research, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Geological Survey, Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Defense, and Natural Resources Conservation Service; and

16. Up to a maximum of three representatives representing the public at large affected by the ROD for the Northwest Forest Plan and concerned with the management of the national forests in the community.

The PACs may invite a representative of the State Community Economic Revitalization Team, or its equivalent, to participate as an ex-officio member. In the event a member is unable to attend a meeting of a PAC or a meeting of one of its subcommittees/working groups, that member may send a designee, or alternate, to represent him or her at the meeting.

2. The Chairperson of each PAC will alternate annually between the Forest Service representative and the BLM representative in provinces where both agencies administer lands. When the BLM is not represented on the PIEC, the Forest Service representative will serve as Chairperson. The Chairperson, or designated agency employee, will serve as the designated Federal officer under Sections 10 (e) and (f) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App). 
    
3. Appointments to the PACs will be made by the Regional Forester, Region 6, after recommendation(s) have been made by the PIEC and consultation with the BLM State Director, Oregon State Office, when appropriate (in provinces where the BLM administers land), and the Regional Interagency Executive Committee. The Regional Forester, Region 6, also shall consult with the Regional Forester, Region 5, when appropriate. The BLM State Director, Oregon State Office, shall consult with the BLM State Director, California State Office, when appropriate.
    
4. Equal opportunity practices in line with USDA policies will be followed in all appointments to the PACs. To ensure that the recommendations of the PACs have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the Departments, membership should include, to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

4.  DUTIES

1. The PACs provide advice and recommendations to the PIECs regarding the coordinated implementation of the ROD.
    

2. The PACs provide advice on provincial level analyses and monitoring, provide a forum for information exchange, and encourage complementary ecosystem management among Federal and non-Federal land managers.
    

3. Each PAC may create and operate subcommittees or working groups recommended by its members and approved by the Secretary or designated Federal officer. Working groups or subcommittees may include individuals who are not members of a PAC and may be community-based groups that would provide advice and recommendations to a PAC on land management issues related to the Adaptive Management Areas or other land-use classifications described in Attachment A of the ROD.
    

5.  ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS

1. Members or designees serve without pay, but with reimbursement of travel and per diem expenses for attendance at PAC and/or subcommittee or working group meetings. Travel and per diem expenses will be submitted on vouchers signed by the Forest Service representative to the PAC.
    

2. Annual operating costs are estimated to be $600,000 and 6 staff years of support.
    

6.  NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

1. The PACs will meet as often as is necessary to complete their business.
    

2. Sixty percent of the members of each PAC shall constitute a quorum.

7.  REPORTS/SUPPORT

1. The PACs report to the PIECs.
    

2. Support for the PACs will be provided by the Forest Service for the life of this charter.

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