TITLE 3600 - COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS FOR DEVELOPING RURAL AREAS
2/66 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 2
CHAPTER 3620 - RURAL DEVELOPMENT
3610.4 - Responsibility. The following personnel represent the Forest Service on State
Technical Action Panels:
Idaho
Forest Supervisor
Boise National Forest
Boise, Idaho 83702
Montana
Forest Management Branch Chief
Division of State and Private Forestry
Regional Office
Missoula, Montana 59801
North Dakota
Forest Supervisor
Custer National Forest
Billings, Montana 59103
The Department's objective is to have a Technical Action Panel in every county where
agriculture provides an important contribution to the local economy. Forest Service officers
should help other U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies form Technical Action Panels even if
local Rural Areas Development groups have not been formed.
Within their areas of responsibility, the Forest Supervisors shall assure Forest Service
representation for county or area Technical Action Panels. The Forest Service representative
shall be the Forest Supervisor, a staff officer, or a District Ranger. If a Technical Supervisor, a
staff officer, or a District Ranger. If a Technical Action Panel encompasses an area that involves
more than one Forest, the Forests concerned should jointly determine Technical Action Panel
membership. If necessary, the selection of such representation may be referred to the Regional
Forester for delegation.
TAP Responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to:
1. Responding to requests for technical assistance from RAD committees or other
community, county, or area development groups.
2. Serving as a coordinating unit to provide a unified approach to the Department's
services. (Services are available for planning and developing activities, including implementing
projects.)
3. Cooperating fully with, and making maximum use of technical, financial, and
educational resources.
4. Assisting in the formation of county or area RAD committees.
Forest Service TAP Members' Responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to:
1. Providing technical assistance in the preparation of Overall Economic Development
Plans (OEDP's), including:
a. Representatives of all local industries as members of the OEDP committee.
b. Recognition of all multiple use values of forest land.
2. Reviewing OEDP's to assure that all forestry and forest industry data are current,
accurate, complete, and forestry plans are adequate and feasible.
3. Developing adequate, factual information for suggesting and/or constructively
reviewing forestry development ideas which will:
a. Improve utilization of resources (i.e., if an area could support a stud mill,
present factual statistics and data substantiating the suggestion).
b. Increase and stabilize employment and the local economy.
c. Determine that there is no conflict with the President's broad soil, water, and
forest conservation policy or existing local conservation plans--rather, that they coincide.
4. Suggesting State Foresters' representatives on RAD committees and/or TAP's whenever
location of personnel makes this possible.
3615 - AREAS OF FORESTRY ASSISTANCE. The Forest Service and State Forestry
organizations, as land and resource management agencies, create jobs and hire people. This is a
major asset to rural communities.
Land Managers can:
a. Temporarily concentrate programed construction projects in areas where employment is
most needed.
b. Hire local people as much as they can.
c. Plan timber sales providing maximum opportunities for local people.
d. Locate existing markets and help develop new markets to stimulate harvesting and
processing special forest products.
e. Encourage expansion and diversification of local forest products plants through
providing basic resource and marketing information.
f. Coordinate plans for public forest lands with Overall Economic Development Plan
(OEDP) goals.
g. Provide access through public lands, wherever possible, to carry out local project
proposals.
h. Make local purchases of materials, supplies and services as often as possible.
i. Encourage special uses which would tend to broaden the local economic base within the
scope of area multiple use objectives.
j. Recognize and promote special recreational uses such as fall color tours, berry and
mushroom seasons, wildflower seasons, and other natural events.
k. Encourage and assist in the development of interpretive trails and tours, demonstration
areas, study areas for school and youth groups, and historical and scenic sites and areas.
l. Coordinate promotional efforts with private resorts and other recreational interests in the
locality.
m. Increase hunting and fishing opportunities through direct and indirect habitat
management, extensive access development (including foot trails), and sportsmen's maps.
n. Improve quality and quantity of local water supplies through intensive management of
critical watershed areas.
Members of local communities and Technical Action Panels can:
a. Promote the formation of Rural Areas Development (RAD) forestry committees and
participate in their meetings and projects.
b. Encourage local planning and participate in such planning.
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c. Suggest new ideas and project proposals based on factual information for RAD
committee consideration.
d. Supply basic information and technical assistance for OEDP's and project proposals.
e. Furnish realistic and accurate data in support of new or expanded forest-based industry
proposals.
f. Make studies and recommend feasibility of forestry and forest-based recreational project
proposals.
g. Cooperate in programs and efforts of allied agencies.
h. Promote forestry cooperatives and associations for resource development and
management and forest products processing and marketing where the need exists and conditions
are favorable.
i. Circulate information regarding the purpose, scope, and progress of RAD.
j. Provide leadership in local forestry matters.