[Federal Register: August 15, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 158)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43691-43692]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15au97-30]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

 
Committee of Scientists

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; establishment and request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Agriculture is establishing a Committee of 
Scientists, under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., to 
provide scientific and technical advice on improvements to the National 
Forest System land and resource management planning process. The 
Committee's report is due to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Chief 
of the Forest Service 4 months from its initial meeting, unless 
additional time is needed. Nominations of persons to serve on the 
Committee of Scientists are invited.

DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee of Scientists must 
be received in writing by September 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Nominations for membership on the Committee of Scientists 
may be sent via telefax to the Director, Ecosystem Management 
Coordination at (202) 205-1012 or via mail to the Director, Ecosystem 
Management Coordination, MAIL STOP 1104, Forest Service, P.O. Box 
96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jonathan Stephens, Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff, Forest 
Service, telephone: (202) 205-0948.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is hereby given that the Secretary of 
Agriculture intends to establish a Committee of Scientists. The purpose 
of the Committee of Scientists is to provide scientific and technical 
advice to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Chief of the Forest 
Service on improvements that can be made to the land and resource 
management planning process. The Committee will address such topics as 
how to consider the following in land and resource management plans: 
biological diversity, use of ecosystem assessments in planning, spatial 
and temporal scales for planning, public participation processes, 
sustainable forestry, interdisciplinary analysis, and any other issues 
the Committee identifies as relevant to land and resource management 
planning.
    The Committee of Scientists shall prepare a report and make 
recommendations to the Secretary and the Chief of the Forest Service on 
how best to accomplish sound resource management planning within the 
established framework of environmental laws and within the statutory 
mission of the Forest Service. The Committee's report shall be made 
available to the public. The Committee of Scientists shall also provide 
technical advice on the land and resource management planning process 
and provide material for the Forest Service to consider for 
incorporation into the revised planning regulations. The Committee 
shall also recommend improvements in Forest Service coordination with 
other Federal land management agencies or resource protection agencies, 
State and local government agencies, and tribal governments, in order 
to recognize the unique roles and responsibilities of each agency in 
the planning process.
    The Secretary has determined that the work of the Committee is in 
the public interest and relevant to the duties of the Department of 
Agriculture.
    The Committee of Scientists shall consist of no more than 12 
members and a Committee chair appointed by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. Officers or employees of the Forest Service may not serve 
as members of the Committee. The Committee of Scientists shall be 
composed of representatives who can prove insights into the major 
contemporary issues associated with the National Forest Management Act 
and its implementation. Members should represent scientific specialties 
and academic disciplines including, but not limited to, the following 
fields: forest and range ecology, fish and wildlife biology, 
silviculture, hydrology, natural resource economics, sociology, public 
participation and conflict management, ecosystem management, land 
management planning, and natural resource law. Collectively, the 
members should represent a diversity of disciplines and perspectives, 
have a knowledge of the National Forest

[[Page 43692]]

System, the National Forest Management Act, and the National Forest 
planning process. Nominations to the Committee should describe and 
document the proposed member's qualifications for membership on the 
Committee of Scientists.
    Appointments to the Committee will be made by the Secretary of 
Agriculture. Equal opportunity practices will be followed in all 
appointments to the Committee of Scientists. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the Committee have taken into account the needs of 
the diverse groups served by the Department, membership will include, 
to the extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to 
represent minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

Dated: July 18, 1997.
Christine Pytel,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-21725 Filed 8-14-97; 8:45 am]
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