Max Baucus: “before I conclude, I just want to say a brief comment about the relationship between title III and the Resource Advisory…”

“before I conclude, I just want to say a brief comment about the relationship between title III and the Resource Advisory Committees formed under title II. Unlike the projects in title II, the projects in title III are essentially local concerns. While they relate to the lands that are held in trust for the American people, the title III projects are not in any sense ``federal'' projects. Items such as county planning and zoning have always been seen as local matters and it is not the intent of this legislation to change that framework. For that reason we have not given the Resource Advisory Committees the same role in title III as they have in title II. Under Section 204(a) of the bill, the Secretary may make a decision to approve a project only if it is submitted to the Secretary by the Resource Advisory Committee. By contrast, under title III, the counties approve the projects and the Resource Advisory Committee serves in an advisory capacity.”