PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary must create advisory councils of 10 to 15 people who represent the main local interests about land use and public land management in the council’s area. At least one member must be an elected local official who serves the area. Councils should not overlap. Appointments follow rules the Secretary makes and must follow chapter 10 of title 5. Each council must meet at least once a year when the Secretary calls the meeting. Members are unpaid but get travel and per diem for those meetings. Councils may advise the Secretary on land use planning, classification, keeping, management, and disposal of public lands in their area and on other matters the Secretary refers. The Secretary must also set rules, including public hearings when needed, so governments and the public get notice, can comment, and can take part in planning and managing public lands.

Title 43, §1739

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Establishment; membership; operation

The Secretary shall establish advisory councils of not less than ten and not more than fifteen members appointed by him from among persons who are representative of the various major citizens’ interests concerning the problems relating to land use planning or the management of the public lands located within the area for which an advisory council is established. At least one member of each council shall be an elected official of general purpose government serving the people of such area. To the extent practicable there shall be no overlap or duplication of such councils. Appointments shall be made in accordance with rules prescribed by the Secretary. The establishment and operation of an advisory council established under this section shall conform to the requirements of chapter 10 of title 5.

(b)Meetings

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, each advisory council established by the Secretary under this section shall meet at least once a year with such meetings being called by the Secretary.

(c)Travel and per diem payments

Members of advisory councils shall serve without pay, except travel and per diem will be paid each member for meetings called by the Secretary.

(d)Functions

An advisory council may furnish advice to the Secretary with respect to the land use planning, classification, retention, management, and disposal of the public lands within the area for which the advisory council is established and such other matters as may be referred to it by the Secretary.

(e)Public participation; procedures applicable

In exercising his authorities under this Act, the Secretary, by regulation, shall establish procedures, including public hearings where appropriate, to give the Federal, State, and local governments and the public adequate notice and an opportunity to comment upon the formulation of standards and criteria for, and to participate in, the preparation and execution of plans and programs for, and the management of, the public lands.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is Pub. L. 94–579, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2743, known as the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “chapter 10 of title 5.” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (86 Stat. 770).” 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–514 substituted in first sentence “shall establish” for “is authorized to establish”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Termination of Advisory CouncilsAdvisory councils established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a council established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such council is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a council established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided for by law. See section 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

§1739 Advisory Councils