The Lolo National Forest is recruiting applicants to be nominated for the Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) that was established as required by the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Recruitment activities will end on February 15, 2025. People of all ethnicities, races, gender, disability status, and age are encouraged to apply.
The RAC exists to improve collaborative relationships between the public and the USDA Forest Service. The primary role of the committee is to review project proposals and make recommendations to the Designated Federal Officer for the RAC on the expenditure of Title II funds provided via the Secure Rural Schools Act. Title II funds are used for projects on federal lands such as infrastructure maintenance, forest stewardship, and land and water quality.
Committee members must reside within the State of Montana, and to the extent practicable, reside within or have a vested interest in Mineral County. Membership will have balanced and diverse representation and include individuals who are recreation users, members of environmental organizations, elected officials, Tribal representatives, school officials, timber industry, the public at-large, and other interest groups.
Applicants will be evaluated based on their education, training, and experience working with the interest area they represent, their knowledge of the geographic area covered by the Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee, their demonstrated commitment to collaborative decision making, and their contribution to the balance and diversity of the committee. A portion of the applicants will be nominated for the committee and final membership will be selected by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Completed application packets should be submitted prior to February 15, 2025. Selected candidates will serve a four-year term, expected to begin in late 2025. Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee business is normally conducted during two or three meetings per year. Meetings usually last two to three hours in length and are held in-person or virtually, depending on the needs of the committee members.
More information about the Mineral County Resource Advisory Committee and how to apply for committee membership can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lolo/workingtogether/advisorycommittees or by contacting the Mineral County RAC Coordinator, at (406) 329-3804 or r1_lolo_www@usda.gov.
For more information about the Lolo National Forest, please visit the website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/lolo or follow updates on Facebook and X.
About the Forest Service: The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages the 193 million acres of National Forest System land, provides stewardship assistance to non-federal forest landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.
