County Payment Committees Information

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) formed Resource Advisory Committees (RAC) in western Oregon to comply with Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000. The legislation set a payment formula for local counties whose timber harvest receipts from federal lands had declined sharply.

BLM Committee members work collaboratively to review project proposals on lands that contain Oregon & California (O&C) Grant Lands or Coos Bay Wagon Road (CBWR) lands. They select projects and submit prioritized recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior to invest County-designated funds.

Committee members represent an array of interests, and members seek the long term benefit of public lands and economic stability in local communities. Western Oregon has five BLM District RACs:

Committee Projects

The RAC's designated federal officer (DFO) submits federal projects for the RAC to consider funding under Title II of the Act. No later than September 30, the DFO forwards to the Secretary of the Interior a description of projects that the RAC recommends funding by eligible counties.

Membership Categories

The Interior Secretary selects up to 15 members from within each Committee's geographic area, to ensure local representation. Membership is balanced to represent the stakeholders affected by the management of public lands.

Specifically, Committee members represent interests within the following three categories:

• Category One: organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups; developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities; energy and mineral development interests, or commercial or recreational fishing interests; the commercial timber industry; or people who hold Federal grazing or other land use permits, or nonindustrial private forest land owners within the area for which the committee is organized.
• Category Two: 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: persons that hold State elected office (or a designee); hold county or local elected office; represent American Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized; are school officials or teachers; or the affected public at large.

Need more information? Please contact the appropriate BLM District Office or

Pam Robbins, RAC Coordinator
BLM Oregon State Office
PO Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208
Phone: 503-808-6306
Email: PRobbins@blm.gov

General Information

• Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (PDF)
• Resource Advisory Committees
• RAC Areas Map (PDF)
• Official Payments Made to Counties
• O&C Counties Historical Information
• Oregon/Washington Citizen Advisory Groups