Link: http://www.usda.gov/2005/12/0547.xml Release No. 0547.05 Jim Brownlee (202) 720-4623 Dan Jiron (202) 205-1134 ROADLESS AREA CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO HOLD FIRST MEETING THIS WEEK WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2005 - U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service will convene the first meeting of the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee, whose charge is to provide advice and recommendations to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns on implementing the State Petitions for Inventoried Roadless Area Management Rule adopted by USDA last May. The 13-member committee will meet on Dec. 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Forest Service's headquarters (Sydney R. Yates Federal Building, 201 14th Street SW). The committee's mission includes reviewing petitions submitted by states, seeking consensus, identifying issues and providing the Secretary with advice and recommendations on implementing the rule. The first meeting is an organizational meeting. Members will discuss their consensus-building mission, institute administrative procedures and plan future reviews. The committee will not be reviewing any state petitions for managing inventoried roadless areas at this initial meeting. The rule established a process to provide governors an opportunity to establish or adjust management requirements for National Forest System inventoried roadless areas within their states. USDA is accepting state petitions until November 13, 2006. After a petition is received, the committee has 90 days to review it and provide recommendations to the Secretary. The meeting will be held in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. For more information, visit www.roadless.fs.fed.us. # USDA News oc.news@xxxxxxxx 202 720-4623 ---------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to webservices@xxxxxxxx and reference your email address.
