RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

SEC. 205. RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES. (a) Establishment and Purpose of Resource Advisory Committees.— (1) Establishment.—The Secretary concerned shall establish and maintain resource advisory committees to perform the duties in subsection (b), except as provided in paragraph (4). (2) Purpose.—The purpose of a resource advisory committee shall be to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the land management agencies consistent with the purposes of this Act. (3) Access to resource advisory committees.—To ensure that each unit of Federal land has access to a resource advisory committee, and that there is sufficient interest in participation on a committee to ensure that membership can be balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed, the Secretary concerned may, establish resource advisory committees for part of, or one or more, units of Federal lands. (4) Existing advisory committees.—Existing advisory committees meeting the requirements of this section may be deemed by the Secretary concerned, as a resource advisory committee for the purposes of this title. The Secretary of the Interior may deem a resource advisory committee meeting the requirements of subpart 1784 of part 1780 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, as a resource advisory committee for the purposes of this title. (b) Duties.—A resource advisory committee shall— (1) review projects proposed under this title by participating counties and other persons; 114 STAT. 1619 (2) propose projects and funding to the Secretary concerned under section 203; (3) provide early and continuous coordination with appropriate land management agency officials in recommending projects consistent with purposes of this Act under this title; and (4) provide frequent opportunities for citizens, organizations, tribes, land management agencies, and other interested parties to participate openly and meaningfully, beginning at the early stages of the project development process under this title. (c) Appointment by the Secretary.— (1) Appointment and term.—The Secretary concerned, shall appoint the members of resource advisory committees for a term of 3 years beginning on the date of appointment. The Secretary concerned may reappoint members to subsequent 3-year terms. (2) Basic requirements.—The Secretary concerned shall ensure that each resource advisory committee established meets the requirements of subsection (d). (3) Initial appointment—The Secretary concerned shall make initial appointments to the resource advisory committees not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (4) Vacancies.—The Secretary concerned shall make appointments to fill vacancies on any resource advisory committee as soon as practicable after the vacancy has occurred. (5) Compensation.—Members of the resource advisory committees shall not receive any compensation. (d) Composition of Advisory Committee.— (1) Number.—Each resource advisory committee shall be comprised of 15 members. (2) Community interests represented.—Committee members shall be representative of the interests of the following three categories: (A) five persons who— (i) represent organized labor; (ii) represent developed outdoor recreation, off highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities; (iii) represent energy and mineral development interests; (iv) represent the commercial timber industry; or (v) hold Federal grazing permits, or other land use permits within the area for which the committee is organized. (B) five persons representing— (i) nationally recognized environmental organizations; (ii) regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations; (iii) dispersed recreational activities; (iv) archaeological and historical interests; or (v) nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups. (C) five persons who— (i) hold State elected office or their designee; 114 STAT. 1620 (ii) hold county or local elected office; (iii) represent American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized; (iv) are school officials or teachers; or (v) represent the affected public at large. (3) Balanced representation.—In appointing committee members from the three categories in paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned shall provide for balanced and broad representation from within each category. (4) Geographic distribution—The members of a resource advisory committee shall reside within the State in which the committee has jurisdiction and, to extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall ensure local representation in each category in paragraph (2). (5) Chairperson.—A majority on each resource advisory committee shall select the chairperson of the committee. (e) Approval Procedures.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), each resource advisory committee shall establish procedures for proposing projects to the Secretary concerned under this title. A quorum must be present to constitute an official meeting of the committee. (2) A project may be proposed by a resource advisory committee to the Secretary concerned under section 203(a), if it has been approved by a majority of members of the committee from each of the three categories in subsection (d)(2). (f) Other Committee Authorities and Requirements.— (1) Staff assistance.—A resource advisory committee may submit to the Secretary concerned a request for periodic staff assistance from Federal employees under the jurisdiction of the Secretary. (2) Meetings.—All meetings of a resource advisory committee shall be announced at least one week in advance in a local newspaper of record and shall be open to the public. (3) Records.—A resource advisory committee shall maintain records of the meetings of the committee and make the records available for public inspection.