Forest Service press release: More than $500 million for FY 2008 will be available to 41 states and Puerto Rico for improvements to public schools, road maintenance and stewardship projects under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS Act). For initial implementation of payments to states under the new law, critical deadlines must be met to ensure timely 2008 payments.

Each state must submit the following information to the Forest Service by November 14, 2008:  (1) each county's election to receive a share of the state payment under SRS, or a share of the state's 25-percent payment; and (2) for each county that elects to receive a share of the state SRS payment, the county's allocations for projects. Counties in states that receive transition payments must also make these elections and allocations.

State payments for fiscal year 2008 will be issued no later than January 15, 2009.