Advisory Committees

Objective

The Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (Recreation RAC) of the Eastern Region will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture through a designated federal official (DFO) concerning recreation fees on national forest lands.

Recreation RAC Role

The Recreation RAC makes recommendations to the DFO of the Eastern Region. The DFO is responsible for bringing the recommendations forward to the Regional Forester who will make final decisions.  The Recreation RAC is composed of a diverse group of 11 citizens, which allows for sharing of knowledge and personal experience. Council members consist of three distinct groups:

• Category One:  Five people who represent recreation users, one in each position: summer motorized, summer non-motorized, winter motorized, winter non-motorized, and hunting and fishing.
• Category Two: Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate: motorized outfitter and guides, non-motorized outfitter and guides, and local environmental groups.
• Category Three:  Three people, one in each position: State tourism official, a person who represents affected local government interests, and a person who represents affected Tribal Nations' issues.

To be useful by the Forest Service, recommendations by the Recreation RAC should fall within the sideboards established by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), the Federal Advisory Council Act, and any other pertinent guiding legislation or direction.  As stated in the Recreation RAC charter, members provide recommendations to Forest Service officials on matters including, but not limited to: 

1. The implementation of a standard amenity recreation fee or an expanded amenity recreation fee or the establishment of a specific recreation fee site;
2. The elimination of a standard amenity recreation fee or an expanded amenity recreation fee;
3. The expansion or limitation of the recreation fee program;
4. The implementation of or elimination of non-commercial, individual special recreation permit fees; and
5. The implementation of fee level changes (increases or decreases). 

Although the Recreation RAC will make recommendations to the DFO, the public at-large will be given opportunities to participate as well. All Recreation RAC meetings will be open to the public; however non-committee members will not be able to participate directly in committee discussions or exercises unless invited.

Recreation RAC members will be responsible for being accessible to others, and for bringing forward ideas they receive.

Following the Regional Forester decisions, the Recreation RAC will be encouraged to monitor the implementation process and actions taken.

Member Responsibilities

1. Represent interests of appropriate groups by 1) generating information necessary from interest groups, and 2) keeping your constituency informed of progress.
2. Determine whether general public support exists for their recommendation.  Documentation of public support will be provided to the Recreation RAC.
3. Understand and agree to meeting commitments. This is highly important because if the correct make-up of members is not attending a meeting, recommendations cannot be made.  According to the charter:

4. Work in a team setting and be open to discussing and understanding differing viewpoints.
5. Give everyone a chance to speak and withhold judgment on an idea presented by others until it has a chance to be developed.
6. Focus on issues, needs and opportunities, not on personalities, people, or firm positions.
7. Speak concisely and listen without interrupting.
8. If problems or concerns arise about how the Recreation RAC is operating, members should make these known to the Recreation RAC or facilitators first and attempt to resolve them within the Recreation RAC structure. This will help to avoid undermining the process.

The Recreation RAC helps the Forest Service be more effective by

• Bringing stakeholder concerns and interests to the table;
• Carrying information back to the stakeholders
• Alerting the Forest Service to emerging issues
• Sharing technical and professional knowledge with the Forest Service and other council members
• Attending meetings
• Being a hands on, problem solving group

Summary of Duties

Duties of the DFO:

While Recreation RACs make recommendations to the Regional Forester, the DFO is the federal employee designated by the agency to implement the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.  The DFO, or an officer or employee of the Federal Government, must be present during each Recreation RAC meeting.  The DFO is authorized, whenever he/she determines it to be in the public interest, to adjourn any such meeting. No Recreation RAC will conduct any meeting in the absence of that officer or employee.

• Approve or call both the Recreation RAC and any subcommittee meetings; 
• Approve the agendas;
• Attend the meetings;
• Adjourn the meeting when such an adjournment is in the public interest; and
• Chair the meeting in absence of a Chairperson selected by the Recreation RAC.

Duties of the Agency (including, but not limited to):

• Orient new committee members;
• Ensure notices of meetings are posted in the Federal Register at least 15 days in advance;
• Ensure notices of meetings are posted in local newspapers at least 5 days in advance;
• Ensure public participation opportunities in open advisory committee meetings;
• Maintain the records, reports, transcripts, minutes, appendices, working papers, drafts, studies, agendas, or other documents which are made available for public inspection and copying at a single location in the agency until the advisory committee ceases to exist;
• Maintain detailed minutes;
• Maintain records of costs;
• Ensure committee members are reimbursed for travel and per diem costs;
• Track committee recommendations and obtaining agency responses; and
• File Annual Report to Congress.

Duties of the Chairperson:

The Chairperson shall be selected by a majority vote of Recreation RAC members for a period of time that the Recreation RAC determines.  Duties include, but are not limited to: 

• Presides over committee meetings and must be familiar with the openness provision of the Federal Advisory Committee Act;
• Certifies the accuracy of all minutes; and
• Works with the DFO in the formation of agendas.

Question 1 – What is the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA)?

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA), signed into law in December 2004, authorizes the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to establish, modify, charge and collect recreation fees at Federal recreation lands and waters.

Question 2 – What is the Eastern Region RRAC?

The Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) is an “Advisory Committee” as established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which has certain requirements to ensure that federal agencies receive broad and balanced input into their decision-making process. REA requires the establishment of RRACs by state or region, to provide recommendations concerning recreation fee proposals on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. RRAC recommendations are considered by the Forest Service who, ultimately, is responsible for making decisions about recreation fees.

Question 3 - Is there currently a functioning Eastern Region RRAC?

No, the last Eastern Region RRAC last met in Spring 2018.  At this time all member terms have expired.

Question 4 – How will the Eastern Region RRAC be re-established?

The establishment of the RRAC is guided by provisions contained in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act and Federal Advisory Committee Act. Generally, it involves a series of public outreach steps including a mandatory notice in the Federal Register and recruitment of nominees from organizations representing key recreational interests.

Question 5 - When does the Region anticipate re-establishing the RRAC?

Key target timeframes include:

• Recruitment and outreach – December 2023– May 2024
• Submittal of nomination package to the Department for review – June 2024
• Selection and notification to members – Summer 2024
• RRAC meeting - Fall 2024

Question 6 - What States does the Eastern Region RRAC cover?

The Eastern Region RRAC provides recommendations for the Forest Service and BLM on recreation fee matters in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

Question 7 - What kinds of fees do RRACs consider?

RRACs provide recommendations on implementing or eliminating standard amenity fees, expanded amenity fees, and non-commercial individual special recreation permit fees; expanding or limiting the recreation fee program; and fee level changes (increases or decreases).

RRACs do not make recommendations on recreation fee sites operated by a concessionaire or contractor, commercial permits such as outfitting and guiding, or Forest Service special use permits issued for group events such as bike races.

Question 8 - Who serves on a RRAC?

A total of 11 members will serve on each RRAC:

• Category One: Five people who represent recreation users, one in each position: summer motorized, summer non-motorized, winter motorized, winter non-motorized, and hunting and fishing.
• Category Two: Three people who represent interest groups that include as appropriate: motorized outfitter and guides, non-motorized outfitter and guides, and local environmental groups.
• Category Three: Three people, one in each position: State tourism official, a person who represents affected local government interests, and a person who represents affected Tribal Nations' issues.

Question 9: If an individual is currently serving on a Resource Advisory Committee, can they be selected for the regional RRAC?

No. Members can only serve on one Resource Advisory Committee at a time.

Question 10 - What are the responsibilities of individual committee members?

Through by-laws each RRAC may identify unique responsibilities for members. In general, some are:

• Represent interests of appropriate groups by receiving pertinent information from and sharing discussions with interest groups.
• Consider whether or not general public support exists for a recommendation.
• Understand and agree to meeting commitments.
• Work in a team setting and be open to discussing and understanding differing viewpoints.
• Give everyone a chance to speak and withhold judgment on an idea presented by others until it has a chance to be developed.
• Focus on issues, needs and opportunities, not on personalities, people, or firm positions.

Question 11 - How does the RRAC interact with the Forest Service?

The RRAC has a “Designated Federal Official” or DFO who serves as a liaison to the Forest Service. The DFO will:

• Approve or call both the RRAC and any subcommittee meetings;
• Approve the agendas;
• Attend the meetings;
• Adjourn the meeting when such an adjournment is in the public interest; and
• Chair the meeting in absence of a Chairperson selected by the RRAC.

Question 12 - When and where do the RRACs meet?

Each RRAC meets at least once annually or as often as is determined necessary. The location and length of meetings will be determined by the DFO and Chairperson and will be shared with members. Meetings may be in-person, virtual, or a combination of the two.

Question 13 - How are meetings conducted?

Each RRAC may identify the specific methods or requirements by which meetings are run and majority or consensus decisions are reached. However, REA does state that:

• A quorum, 8 members, must exist for the RRAC to hold an official meeting.
• A majority of members from each of three member groups (at least 7 members) must be present to make recommendations; and
• A majority of total members (at least 6 members) must be present to make decisions such as nominating a chairperson or forming a subcommittee.

Question 14 - Are RRAC members paid or compensated for travel to meetings?

RRAC members do not receive compensation; however, they are reimbursed for transportation, lodging and meal expenses when attending an in-person meeting.

Question 15 - How long do members serve?

Members will serve two to three years. A member cannot exceed two consecutive terms.

Question 16 - Can members be reappointed to the RRAC or are they limited to one term?

The Secretary of Agriculture may choose to appoint RRAC members to additional terms.

Question 17 - What is the RRAC Charter?

The charter is the document that officially identifies the membership, duties, costs, meeting requirements and any special instructions for the RRACs. This national document is renewed every two years.