Recreation Resource Advisory Committees

What does a Recreation RAC Do?

The Recreation RAC provides recommendations on recreation fee proposals on federal lands managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

What kinds of fees do Recreation RACs consider?

The Recreation RACs do 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).

Recreation RACs 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 or BLM special recreation permits issued for group events such as bike races.

Who serves on a Recreation RAC?

A total of 11 members will serve on each Recreation RAC:

• Category One: Five people who represent recreation users and include as appropriate: winter motorized, winter non-motorized, summer motorized, summer non-motorized, and hunting and fishing.

• Category Two: Three people who represent interest groups that include, as appropriate: motorized outfitters and guides, non-motorized outfitter and guides, local environmental groups.

• Category Three: Three people, one in each position: State tourism official, a person who represents affected local government interests, a person who represents affected Indian tribes’ issues.

What are the responsibilities of individual committee members?

1. Represent interests of groups by generating information necessary from interest groups, and sharing discussions as appropriate.

2. Understand and agree to meeting commitments: 

   • A quorum, 8 members, must exist for the Recreation RAC to hold an official meeting.

   • A majority of members from each of three member groups (at least 7 members) must be present and agree to make recommendations.

3. Work in a team setting and be open to discussing and understanding differing viewpoints.

Are Recreation RAC meetings open to the public?

Yes. Recreation RACs are chartered committees and therefore will include a public comment period. However non-committee members will not be able to participate directly in committee discussions or exercises unless invited.

How will the public know about Recreation RAC meetings?

All meetings of must be published in the Federal Register 15 days before the meeting as well as announced through local media. These announcements include a tentative agenda for the meeting and public comment time, so people can determine whether or not they would like to attend. In addition, links to all meeting announcements, agendas and notes will be available at each Recreation RAC website.

Are Recreation RAC members paid?

Recreation RAC members do not receive compensation; however, they are reimbursed for transportation, lodging and meal expenses.

How long do members serve?

Members will serve either two or three year terms.

Can I be reappointed to the Recreation RAC or am I limited to one term?

The Secretary of Agriculture may choose to appoint Recreation RAC members to one additional term.

How long will the Recreation RACs last?

Recreation RACs will be in place as long as the REA exists, which has been extended until September 2017.  

What is the Recreation RAC Charter?

The charter (PDF, 245 KB) is the document that officially identifies the membership, duties, costs, meeting requirements and any special instructions for the Recreation RACs. This document is renewed every two years.

Can members give input on items other than recreation fees?

Recreation RAC members are members of the public and can give comments and opinions, on an individual basis, on any aspect of Forest Service or BLM management. However, in terms of the formal recommendation process as described in the REA, Recreation RACs are limited to the roles and duties outlined in their charter.

What are replacements?

Replacements will also be chosen from those who apply for Recreation RAC positions. Replacements will be asked to serve on the Recreation RAC if a position becomes vacant. They do not serve if a member must be absent from a meeting.

Who can nominate?

You may nominate yourself, someone from your organization or anyone else who you believe would serve the needs of the Recreation RAC.

What do you do with recreation fee revenue?

Check out the national, regional and local accomplishment reports to see how and where funds were spent.

Recreation RAC Role

The Recreation RAC makes recommendations to the Forest Service and/or BLM on recreation fee proposals.   Recommendations 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 and BLM 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).

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:

   • A quorum, 8 members, must exist for the Recreation RAC 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.

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

Duties

Duties of the DFO:

While Recreation RACs make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary has designated the duties of DFO to the Regional Forester, who may assign another Forest Service representative as DFO. 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.