PUBLIC LANDS -- The Idaho Panhandle Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) is seeking applicants to fill up to 11 vacancies in the 15-member group.

Committee members participate in collaborative decision making and distribution of funding for some projects on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.  The committee’s duties include recommending projects and funding to improve forest health, watersheds, roads and facilities on or adjacent to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest.

Past projects include noxious weed control, road realignment, trail construction and improvement, timber management support, and the restoration of fish passage to restore native species.

Members must be a resident of Idaho and should reside within Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Shoshone or Benewah County.

RAC committee members will be officially appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture for a term of four years and must be able to commit to the committee responsibilities of several full-day meetings each year.  These committees are designed to be balanced and diverse with equal representation from industry, environmental groups, recreation groups, elected officials, and local residents.

Vacancies will be filled for each of the following categories:

Category A (two vacancies):

• organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups;
• developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities;
• energy and mineral development, or commercial or recreational fishing interests;
• commercial timber industry; or
• Federal grazing permit or other land use permit holders or represent non-industrial private forest land owners within the area for which the committee is organized.

Category B (five vacancies):

• 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 C (four vacancies):

• state-elected office holder (or a designee);
• county or local-elected office holder;
• American Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized;
• area school officials or teachers; or
• affected public-at-large.

Applicants will be evaluated based on their training and experience working in the interest group they represent, their demonstrated commitment to collaborative decision-making, and their contribution to the balance and diversity of the RAC.

The Idaho Panhandle RAC is meeting on Friday, March 11, at 9 a.m. at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID.

People interested in serving on the Idaho Panhandle RAC, or would like more information about the responsibilities of the RAC, can visit the Idaho Panhandle National Forest website or contact Shoshana Cooper, Idaho Panhandle RAC Coordinator, at (208) 765-7211 or smcooper@fs.fed.us.

Applications are due April 30, 2016.