§ 7125. Resource advisory committees

(a) Establishment and purpose of resource advisory committees

(1) Establishment

The Secretary concerned shall establish and maintain resource advisory committees to perform the duties in subsection (b), except as provided in paragraph (4).

(2) Purpose

The 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

To ensure that each unit of Federal land has access to a resource advisory committee, and that there is sufficient interest in participation on a committee to ensure that membership can be balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed, the Secretary concerned may,^[1] establish resource advisory committees for part of, or 1 or more, units of Federal land.

(4) Existing advisory committees

(A) In general

An advisory committee that meets the requirements of this section, a resource advisory committee established before September 29, 2006, or an advisory committee determined by the Secretary concerned before September 29, 2006, to meet the requirements of this section may be deemed by the Secretary concerned to be a resource advisory committee for the purposes of this subchapter.

(B) Charter

A charter for a committee described in subparagraph (A) that was filed on or before September 29, 2006, shall be considered to be filed for purposes of this chapter.

The Secretary of the Interior may deem a resource advisory committee meeting the requirements of subpart 1784 of part 1780 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, as a resource advisory committee for the purposes of this subchapter.

(b) Duties

A 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

The Secretary concerned,^[1] shall appoint the members of resource advisory committees for a term of 4 years beginning on the date of appointment.

(B) Reappointment

The Secretary concerned may reappoint members to subsequent 4-year terms.

(2) Basic requirements

The Secretary concerned shall ensure that each resource advisory committee established meets the requirements of subsection (d).

(3) Initial appointment

Not later than 180 days after October 3, 2008, the Secretary concerned shall make initial appointments to the resource advisory committees.

(4) Vacancies

The Secretary concerned shall make appointments to fill vacancies on any resource advisory committee as soon as practicable after the vacancy has occurred.

(5) Compensation

Members of the resource advisory committees shall not receive any compensation.

(d) Composition of advisory committee

(1) Number

Each resource advisory committee shall be comprised of 15 members.

(2) Community interests represented

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

In appointing committee members from the 3 categories in paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned shall provide for balanced and broad representation from within each category.

(4) Geographic distribution

The members of a resource advisory committee shall reside within the State in which the committee has jurisdiction and, to extent ^[2] practicable, the Secretary concerned shall ensure local representation in each category in paragraph (2).

(5) Chairperson

A majority on each resource advisory committee shall select the chairperson of the committee.

(e) Approval procedures

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (3), each resource advisory committee shall establish procedures for proposing projects to the Secretary concerned under this subchapter.

(2) Quorum

A quorum must be present to constitute an official meeting of the committee.

(3) Approval by majority of members

A project may be proposed by a resource advisory committee to the Secretary concerned under section 7123 (a) of this title, if the project has been approved by a majority of members of the committee from each of the 3 categories in subsection (d)(2).

(f) Other committee authorities and requirements

(1) Staff assistance

A resource advisory committee may submit to the Secretary concerned a request for periodic staff assistance from Federal employees under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.

(2) Meetings

All meetings of a resource advisory committee shall be announced at least 1 week in advance in a local newspaper of record and shall be open to the public.

(3) Records

A resource advisory committee shall maintain records of the meetings of the committee and make the records available for public inspection.

[1] So in original. The comma probably should not appear.

[2] So in original. Probably should be preceded by “the”.

U.S. Code

§ 7125. Resource advisory committees