Public Invited to Propose Forest Projects for Funding

Silver City, NM; June 11, 2011 -- Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) issued the last call for proposals for special projects on Federal lands  under the 2008 Reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (http://tinyurl.com/67dthhg).

Deadline for proposals is close of business August 5, 2011.  The RAC will begin reviewing projects for possible funding recommendation during their meeting August 25, 2011.

Approximately $244,000 remain in funding.  These funds are limited to:  Catron ($16,797); Grant ($3,600); Hidalgo ($34,550); Lincoln ($5,159); Otero ($40,840); Sierra ($139,533); and Socorro ($2,999) Counties.  Projects must be located on, or benefit, the Cibola (Magdalena Ranger District), Coronado (Douglas Ranger District), Gila, or Lincoln National Forests.  Funding will be available no earlier than the fall of 2011.   The RAC will recommend Proposals and Title II monies to the Designated Federal Official (DFO) Al Koss based on each affected county’s available Title II monies. 

All applicants must contact the affected district office to get the support of the district ranger prior to submitting their proposal.  A letter of support is required as part of the proposal packet.  Please visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r3/offices  for a list of district offices.   There are two documents that need to be reviewed prior to submitting a proposal. They are the “Proposal Evaluation Criteria” and “Items Required for Proposal Packages.” These documents can be obtained from the district office or from the Southern New Mexico RAC Website at: http://tinyurl.com/692pg2d

The Secure Rural Schools legislation encourages cooperative agreements with willing Federal agencies, State and local governments, private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and other resource objectives consistent with the purposes of the Act that benefit resources on national forest system lands. 

The types of proposals eligible for funding may include:

·         Road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or obliteration;

·         Soil productivity improvement;

·         Improvements in forest ecosystem health;

·         Watershed restoration and maintenance;

·         The restoration, maintenance, and improvement of wildlife and fish habitat;

·         The control of noxious and exotic weeds; and

·         The re-establishment of native species.

Instructions for submitting proposals can be found on the RAC Website at:  http://tinyurl.com/5vcgegb.

Mail hardcopy proposals to Patti Turpin, RAC coordinator, Lincoln National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 3463 Las Palomas Rd, Alamogordo, NM 88310, after input has been received from the district office and include the items required by the RAC. 

The public is welcome to attend all RAC meetings, which are announced through the Federal Register and news releases in the local newspapers of record.  For more information on the RAC or to learn more about proposing projects, contact Al Koss, RAC-DFO, at 575-536-2250 or Patti Turpin, RAC Coordinator, at 575-434-7230.