Sonora, CA…The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest Service is seeking nominations to fill its 11-member Recreation Resource Advisory Committee in California. Recreation RAC members provide recommendations to the agency on recreation fee changes at national forest sites throughout California. This includes making recommendations on implementing or eliminating the following: standard and expanded amenity fees, noncommercial, individual special recreation permit fees, the recreation fee program and fee-level changes.

Committee membership will be balanced fairly in terms of points of view represented and functions performed. The committee’s jurisdiction includes national forests and/or BLM-managed lands in California. Members receive travel and per diem expenses for regularly scheduled meetings, but do not receive pay or any other compensation.

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, signed in December 2004, directs the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of the Interior, or both, to establish Recreation RACs, or use existing advisory committees to perform the duties of Recreation RACs, in each state or region for federal recreation lands and waters managed by the Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. REA and Recreation RACs do not involve recreation fee sites operated under concessionaire management.

“The Forest Service values working with our partners and local community members who volunteer to serve as the Region’s Recreation Resource Advisory Committee,” said Randy Moore, Pacific Southwest Regional Forester. “We will value their recommendations and count on their expertise and willingness to help. Our shared goal is improved outdoor recreation experiences for visitors and a healthy economy for our rural communities.”

Interested individuals must complete an application and provide background information supporting their qualifications to represent at least one of the identified interest groups. Applications are available at: https://go.usa.gov/xy3jX.

Completed applications are due by Aug. 1, 2019 and must be mailed to: USFS Region 5- Recreation RAC Nomination Attn: Matthew Boisseau, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592, or emailed to matthew.boisseau@usda.gov.

###

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.