Sedona AZ (September 17, 2010) – The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors voted to make approximately $538,000 available for FY 2010-11 Forest Projects from funds authorized by Public Law 106-393, the Secure Rural School and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, as amended in 2008.
Public Law 106-393 allows eligible counties to increase the amount of their forest fee receipts in exchange for committing a part of the funds to forest-related projects. Under provisions of the prior forest fee program, counties received annual payments that were based on timber sales on federal forest land. The funds were designated for schools and roads within each county.
Public Law 106-393 requires counties to direct 80%-85% of total forest fee receipts for schools and roads, but allows counties to allocate between 15% and 20% of total receipts for eligible Forest Projects. For 2010-11, the Board has authorized funding at the 20% level.
Project proposals from both inside and outside County government will be considered. Although eligible projects do not have to be conducted on federal land, they must be forest-related and fit into one of the following categories:
- Carry out activities under the Firewise Communities program to provide to homeowners in fire-sensitive ecosystems education on, and assistance with implementing, techniques in home siting, construction and landscaping that can increase the protection of people and property from wildfires.
- Reimburse the participating county for search and rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting, that are –
- Performed on Federal land after the date on which the use was approved
- Paid for by the participating county
- Develop community wildfire protection plans in coordination with the appropriate Secretary concerned.
The deadline for submission of applications for 2010-11 funding is December 3, 2010. Applications will initially be screened for funding eligibility and submitted to the Board of Supervisors for review and preliminary funding determinations.
Final allocations may be approved following publication of the preliminary project list and a 45-day notice and comment period. Distribution of funds for approved projects is scheduled to take place on or before April 16, 2011.
For more information or to obtain an application, contact Donna Fagan, Budget Manager at 928-442-5366 or Chris Moran, Administrative Assistant in Cottonwood, at 928-639-8110 and request a PL 106-393 Forest Project Funding Request Form, 2010-11 Funding Cycle.
Program information and application forms are also available on the Yavapai County web site at www.co.yavapai.az.us.
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