Northwest Oregon Resource Advisory Council

***The Northwest Oregon RAC was consolidated on 03/05/20 to the Western Oregon RAC. The information on this page will remain available for historic purposes.***

The Northwest Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) provides advice and recommendations on all aspects of public land management, including Secure Rural Schools Title II recommendations, to the BLM's Salem and Eugene Districts. The jurisdiction of the Northwest Oregon RAC includes BLM-managed lands in Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington, and Yamhill Counties.

The Secretary of the Interior appoints a total of 15 citizens to staggered three-year terms on the Council; therefore one-third of the member terms expire each year.

Members of this new RAC have been appointed to represent the following three interest groups:

• Category One: Five members who represent energy and mineral development (with a special emphasis on transportation or rights-of-way interests); the commercial timber industry; organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups; developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation (with a special emphasis on commercial or recreation fishing); or Federal grazing or other land permits or represent nonindustrial private forest land owners.
• Category Two: Five members who represent nationally recognized environmental organizations; regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations; dispersed recreational activities; archaeological and historical interests; or nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups, wildlife or hunting organizations, or watershed associations.
• Category Three: Five members who hold state elected office; hold county or local elected office; represent Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the Council is organized; are school officials or teachers with knowledge in natural resource management or the natural sciences; or represent the affected public-at-large and/or are employed by a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources, land or water.

The Northwest RAC meetings are announced in the Federal Register at least two weeks prior their meeting(s). All RAC meetings are open to the public, and each meeting includes time for the public to present or comment on issues for RAC consideration. The next meeting will take place on October 13, 14 and 20 of 2016.

• Federal Register Notice Establishing New Western Oregon RACs

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, Title II

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Title II funds are managed by Federal agencies. The RAC recommends how these funds will be spent. The Act defines a wide variety of activities that can be accomplished with Title II funds. Project applicants are not limited to Federal agencies such as the BLM, any individual or organization can submit an application. However, the project must benefit Federal lands or resources. The Secure Rural Schools Act (SRS Act) was reauthorized by section 524 of P.L. 114-10 and signed into law by the President on April 16, 2015.

• BLM Seeks Project Proposals for Secure Rural Schools Title II Funding 

Title II funds

The SRS Act funding includes approximately $950,000 within the NW Oregon RAC in Title II funding for FY 2015 (FY 2016 payment year), which can be used to complete special restoration projects on Federal lands proposed by resource advisory committees.

• April 2016 Approved SRS Title II Projects
• November 2016 Approved SRS Title II Projects
• September 2017 Approved SRS Title II Projects

Full Funding Amount under section 524 of P.L. 114-10

Section 524 would retain the annual decrease in the full funding amount currently provided in section 3(11)(C) of the SRS Act, which provides that for FY 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, the full funding amount shall be 95% of the full funding amount for the preceding fiscal year. Accordingly, the full funding amount for FY 2014 (FY 2015 payment year) would be 95% of the amount for FY 2013, and the full funding amount for FY 2015 (FY 2016 payment year) would be 95% of the amount for FY 2014.

• 2000 Authorizing Legislation 
• 2015 Re-authorizing Legislation 

BLM Secure Rural Schools Title II Project Coordinators

Northwest Oregon District: Pat Johnston, 541-683-6181

Title II Deadlines

Full proposals must be submitted to the Eugene or Salem District Office by close of business on July 22, 2016.

• Call for Title II Projects 
• Secure Rural Schools Title II Funding Grant Application