ONF seeks committee members

Published 11:04 am Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Olympic National Forest Supervisor Reta Laford is inviting interested citizens to become nominees for the Olympic Peninsula Resource Advisory Committee.

The committee reviews and recommends land management projects that are on or adjacent to  Olympic National Forest. Projects are funded through the Secure Rural Schools program.

“Our vision is that advisory committee members are well-informed, fully engaged citizens who reflect the gender and ethnicity of their rural communities as well as representing the interests described in the Act,” Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell said.

The deadline for accepting applications has been extended to Aug. 15; all applications must be received or postmarked by Aug. 15.

The Olympic Peninsula RAC has vacancies in all three categories.

• Category A — represents organized labor, developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle use, commercial recreation activities, energy development, commercial timber industry and federal grazing or other land use permits.

• Category B — represents nationally recognized environmental organizations, regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations, dispersed recreation activities, archaeological and historical interests.

• Category C — represents state, county or local elected offices, American Indian tribes, school officials or teachers and the affected public-at-large.

A four-year term would begin upon appointment by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Committee members are not paid, though they are reimbursed for travel expenses.

Meetings are held one to four times each year within Thurston, Mason, Jefferson, Clallam or Grays Harbor counties.

Interested participants should submit the required AD 755 application, available on the forest’s website at www.fs.usda.gov/main/olympic/workingtogether/advisorycommittees.

Completed forms may be submitted in person or by mail to: Olympic National Forest, 1835 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia, WA 98512, attention: Susan Piper.

For more information, call 360-956-2435.