Friday, July 22, 2011

Park County at odds with Forest Service over 1972 committee law

Shoshone National Forest officials believe that two consultants appointed by Park County and the Cody Conservation District don’t meet the requirements of a federal law on advising the agency on its new management plan. Earlier this year, Park County commissioners appointed Gregory Kennett, a consultant with Ecosystems Research Group, to advise the county during planning talks with the Shoshone National Forest. The Cody Conservation District also appointed as a consultant Jill Shockley-Siggins, a former Park County commissioner who also is employed by ERG. Shoshone National Forest Supervisor Joe Alexander, citing federal law, said the appointments don’t meet the criteria of the 1972 Federal Advisory Committee Act. In order to comply with the law and advise on the plan, Alexander said, Shockley-Siggins and Kennett must be employees of a state, local or tribal government. To meet the law’s requirements, he said, they’ll need to provide a letter from the county attorney explaining how they meet the definition of a county employee...more

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