# Presentation: 457623

## Recreation Resource Advisory 

- Committee Options and Other Public
- Involvement Opportunities

**Notes:**
The REA was signed into law in December 2004.  
The law requires the FS and BLM to establish Recreation Resource Advisory Committees (RRACs).  This presentation provides background on RRACs and some options that have been developed by the BLM and FS.  The FS and BLM are working together in this effort.

## Opportunities for Active Public 

- Participation in REA

- REA provides many opportunities for public participation:

- Interagency Public Involvement Guidelines will be published in the Federal Register

- FS/BLM Recreation Resource Advisory Committees- FACA- chartered committee to address fee program

- Agency public outreach– focus groups, listening sessions, public meetings, field visits, websites, local media and one-on-one discussions

**Notes:**
REA provides multiple opportunities for the public to be actively engaged in the recreation fee program.
Interagency public involvement guidelines will be published in the Federal Register.  
RRACs will be established.
The agencies will also provide other opportunities for the public to be involved in the Recreation Fee program– field trips, focus groups, public meetings etc.

## Public Involvement Input and Participation in

**Fee Recommendations and Monitoring of Fees**

_**Advisory Group**_
**Collaboration through RRACS**

_**Local Communities **_
_**& Public Meetings**_
**Involvement through work groups, workshops and local forums**

_**Public Notice**_
**Federal Register, newspapers, **
**On-site signs, electronic media**

_**Accountability & Evaluation**__** **_** **
**Annual reporting, web sites, & direct mail to interested public**

_**Business Planning**_** **
**Market-based assessments and surveys **

- Fee
- Recommendations

**Notes:**
This diagram shows the multitude of opportunities for the public to be involved in recommendations on the fee program.

## Key Provisions of Federal Advisory

- Committee Act (FACA)

- FACA signed into law in 1972
- The US General Services Administration (GSA) oversees
-      implementation of FACA (over 1,000 committees in federal government)
- FACA governs the establishment, operation, and termination
-      of committees within the Executive Branch of government
- FACA requires committees to be balanced in its membership
-      and points of view

**Notes:**
The Federal Advisory Committee Act is the law that guides the establishment of federal advisory committees– the RRACs would be FACA committees.
There are specific requirements for organizing and managing FACA committees.

## Key Provisions of Federal Advisory

- Committee Act (FACA) - continuing

- FACA provides for open public meetings
- FACA committees are guided by the committee Charter
- A Designated Federal Official (DFO) is assigned to each
-      committee and approves all meetings, agendas and
-      attends all meetings
- Agencies are responsible for keeping minutes of FACA
-      meetings, attendees, issues discussed and annual report to GSA

## REA and Recreation Resource

- Advisory Committees (RRACs)

-   REA provides the authority for the Secretary to establish
-     1 to 50+ RRACs

-   BLM and FS must establish RRACs in *“each state or region”*
-      or *“as many...as the Secretary considers necessary”*  for the
-      effective operation of this Act

-   RRACs may be new groups or agencies may use existing
-      FACA- chartered resource advisory committees

**Notes:**
REA requires the FS and BLM to establish RRACs. 

The BLM and FS are holding listening sessions to get initial feedback on the concept and options for RRACs. 

## RRAC Nomination/Appointment Process

- Under FACA, anybody can nominate persons to serve on the committee

- REA provides that the Governor and designated county official from each county in State or Region may submit  nominations

- Secretaries appoint members from a list of candidates vetted by the agencies found qualified to serve

- Secretaries appoint members for staggered terms of 2-3 years

**Notes:**
FACA requires a specific nomination and appointment process.
REA requires that the agencies work with the governors’ offices and county officials to identify possible nominations for the RRAC.
The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior will make the appointments to RRAC.  Members will serve for 2-3 years.

## RRAC Membership

**Five** persons representing recreation users; winter motorized/non; summer motorized/non; and hunting/fishing interests

**Three** persons representing interest groups; motorized/non motorized outfitters and guides; local environmental groups

**Three** persons including:  state tourism official to represent State; person representing tribes; and a local government representative

**Eleven Member Committee**

**Notes:**
REA specifically identifies the composition of members on the RRAC.  It is an 11 member committee.
Briefly describe the composition of membership.  Congress intended that the RRAC represents a diverse group of recreation  and governmental interests.

## Provisions of RRAC Charter

- Delineates officers and membership to insure representation
- Determines decision processes and number of meetings
- Provides  for the establishment of local sub-groups
- Describes terms, duties, and responsibilities of members

**Scope of Responsibility for RRACs**

**Notes:**
FACA requires that each advisory committee is guided by a Charter that is filed with the Library of Congress.
The Charter will detail roles and responsibilities and the management and organization of the committee.
The Charter will also provide RRACs the authority to establish subgroups that can be organized to address specific recreation fee issues.

## Provisions of RRAC Charter - continuing

**Defines what RACs may make recommendations on to the Secretary**:

- Implementation or elimination of  a standard or expanded amenity recreation fee
- Establishment of a specific recreation fee site
- Expansion or limitation of the program

**Notes:**
The RRACs provide recommendations to the Secretaries on 3 areas.  List the 3 areas from the slide.  (Standard fee- day use, campgrounds, trailheads ; Expanded Fee- rental cabins or fire lookouts)
We anticipate that the RRACS will discuss a broad range of recreation fee related topics but it only can make recommendations on the 3 areas defined in the REA law.
REA requires that recommendations to the Secretaries have to be approved by a majority of the members from each category and that general public support for the recommendation is documented.  This is a high threshold for recommendations to the Secretaries.

## Provisions of RRAC Charter - continuing

**Defines what issues RRAC may not make recommendations on to the Secretary:**

- Non-agency operated facilities—concessions, contractor etc.
- Permit fees– river, wilderness, special events, outfitters/guides
- Fee amounts or changes (Fee levels are established in business plans)

**Notes:**
The Charter will also identify the areas that the RRAC will not be making recommendations to the Secretaries.  
The setting of the fees will be decided through the recreation fee business plans.  There will be opportunities for the public to be involved in these business plans.

## Role of Subgroups in RRACS

- The RRAC could establish new subgroups or ask existing groups to also serve as subgroups reporting to the RRAC.  Subgroups  would:

- Provide local perspective, input and collaboration
- Encourage accountability and oversight
- Represent local interests and concerns
- Be flexible in membership and location to accommodate different interests
- Not be required to be chartered as a FACA committee

**Notes:**
RRACs can establish specific subgroups.  These supgroups could be based on specific geographical area, local interests and concerns.
We view these as integral to the success of the RRACs.  These groups can be the eyes and ears of the RRACs and feed this info to the full committee.
Subgroups do not have to formally chartered by FACA.  This enables these groups to be established quickly to address a specific issue or concern.

## Role of Subgroups in RRACS

- Subgroups have to report only to the RRAC

- Current RACs could become subgroups under REA

- Operational budget and management for subgroups will be determined by the RRAC

## RRACs Relationship to Existing

- Resource Advisory Committees (RACs)

- REA provides authority to use current RACs established for other purposes

- If an existing group is used as a RRAC, would require a change in its existing charter to include REA duties

- Current RACs may not have the appropriate representation of interests to meet the intent of REA

**Notes:**
The REA provides the authority to use existing FACA chartered committees as possible RRACs. 
 The BLM and FS have evaluated this concept and believe that the current Resource Advisory Committees would not work as an RRAC.  The RACs were established for a different purpose and have a membership that is not focused on the recreation fee program.

## Evaluation of RRAC Options

- BLM/FS Interagency Team has evaluated the following options for RRACs:

- One national committee
- Regional Committees (2, 4, or 7 Regions)
- Individual state committees based on need and interest

**Notes:**
The BLM and the FS have evaluated a broad range of options for the RRACs.  Briefly state the options.
We are particularly interested in hearing from you about the options for RRACs.  The remainder of this presentation will focus on the options for RRACs.

## RRAC Options

## Option A – One National Committee

- PROS
- Can better maintain national consistency for fee program
- Align with structure of national governors’ associations
- Relatively low agency costs

- CONS
- Might not effectively represent local interests (too many subgroups would have to be  established)
- Competition by interest groups for appointments to committee

**Notes:**
Briefly describe the option.  

## Option B – RRAC Regional Committees

- 		(2,4, or 7 Regions)

- PROS
- Broad regional representation
- Great flexibility in drawing boundaries for regional RRACs
- Subgroups formed to represent local interests/concerns
- High probability for local support
- Represents regional recreation use pattern

- CONS
- States may not have equal representatives on RRACs
- National interest groups may not be represented

**Notes:**
The next series of slides describes 3 different configurations for regional RRACs.  
Any of these options can have subgroups based on local interest.

## Proposed Two RRAC Regions

- East and West

- Administrative Oversight:
- East – FS
- West – FS & BLM
- Regional or local based
- subgroups established by
- RRACs  provide local input and involvement

**Notes:**
The red dots in this slide are used to illustrate possible subgroups.  There could be dots in the east as well.

## Proposed 4 RRACs Geographical Regions

- Administrative Oversight:
- NE – FS
- SE – FS
- NW – FS & BLM
- SW – FS & BLM
- Consolidates and splits some FS regions
- Regional or local based
- subgroups established by RRACS provide local input and involvement

**Notes:**
This option divides the east and the west into 4 different geographical areas.
The BLM/FS would jointly have 2 RRACs in the West and the FS would be responsible for 2 RRACs in the East.

## Proposed RRACs 7 Regions

- Generally follows USFS Regions

- Administrative Oversight:
- NE – FS
- SE – FS
- CA – FS & BLM
- OR, WA & AK – FS & BLM
- ID,MT,NV & UT – FS & BLM
- AZ & NM – FS & BLM
- CO, WY,NB,KS & Dakotas –FS & BLM

- Regional or local based
- subgroups established by RRACS provide local input and involvement

**Notes:**
This option would have 7 different regions– reflects some of the FS Regions– Pacific NW and California R6 and R5.

## Option C – Individual State RRACs

- PROS
- Better geographical representation of interests
- Local officials may feel like they have more influence
- High probability for local support

- CONS
- May not have enough activity or interest to warrant establishment of RRACs in each state
- Requires major oversight and coordination of RRACs

**Notes:**
The last option would be based on individual states based on their governors interest to have a RRAC.  There may be states that won’t have the interest or constituency to have a RRAC.

## RRAC Establishment: Actions and Estimated Timeframe

- December/January

- Notification of appointment

- October/December

- Appointment of members

- Mid-July
- Late July
- September/October

- RRAC establishment
- Charter, info memo, Civil Rights Impact Analysis (CRIA) drafted and informally agreed to by FS and BLM
- Proposed Charter and Soliciting Membership in Federal Register Notice and Comment
- RRAC Charter approved and signed by USDA and USDOI

- Early July

- Decision on Proposed Framework for RRACs

-  June

- Outreach to Key Contacts

- Timeframe

- Action

**Notes:**
This slide describes the various steps before we can establish the RRACs and provides an estimated timeframe.
You are participating in the Outreach– and we really appreciate your comments and feedback.  

## Planned Outreach for Discussing

- RRAC Options

- FS and BLM will brief congressional committee staff

- FS and BLM will hold listening session with key national stakeholders in Washington, D.C.

- FS and BLM field staff will discuss options with key state, local, and regional interests

**Notes:**
During  June the BLM and FS will be holding listening sessions to discuss the options for RRACs.  

We will also be sharing the options with internal agency staff and leadership.

## Agency RRAC Information Contact

- David G. Holland, Director of Recreation and Heritage Resources c/o Jonathan Stephens, Recreation and Heritage Resources Staff, Forest Service, e-mail, jstephens02@fs.fed.us
- Hal Hallett, Senior Recreation Manager,  Bureau of Land Management, hal_hallett@blm.gov

**Notes:**
Please e-mail your comments to us– we will collect these comments and share them with the Recreation Fee Leadership Council.  These includes Mark Rey, Under Secretary Natural Resources and Environment USDA and Lynn Scarlett, Assistant Secretary DOI.  

This info will be used to draft a framework for RRACs that the agencies will publish in the Federal Register for public comment.

Thanks for your help with this important effort.

## Recreation Resource Advisory 

- Committee Options and Other Public
- Involvement Opportunities