Department of Agriculture January 22, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Southern Montana Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Columbus, Montana. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with Title II of the Act. Additional RAC information, including the meeting agenda and the meeting summary/ minutes can be found at the following Web site: www.fs.usda.gov/ custergallatin.

The El Dorado County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Placerville, California. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110- 343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with the title II of the Act. The meetings are open to the public. RAC information can be found at the following Web site: www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado.

The United States Department of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule to carry out Stewardship End Result Contracting Projects. This authority originated on a limited pilot basis and then was expanded through a succession of subsequent amendments and continued into Fiscal Year 2014. The enactment of section 8205 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (2014 Act) establishes permanent authority to conduct Stewardship End Result Contracting projects by adding a new section 604 to the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). Accordingly, this final rule sets forth the regulations implementing this permanent authority. These regulations generally follow the Forest Service policy and processes that have been in place for some time. The regulations revise existing Forest Service policy to provide greater uniformity in the administration of the various mechanisms used by the Forest Service to implement stewardship projects.