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KANAB, Utah – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced that it is seeking public nominations for five citizens’ advisory councils affiliated with specific sites on the BLM’s National Conservation Lands and for the North Slope Science Initiative (NSSI) Science Technical Advisory Panel (STAP). These citizen-based committees assist in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is seeking up to fifteen new members for the GSENM Monument Advisory Committee.

The five Councils, which are formally chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Federal Policy and Land Management Act (FLPMA), provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the development and implementation of management plans in accordance with the statutes under which the sites were established. The STAP advises the NSSI Oversight Group on technical issues such as identifying and prioritizing inventory, monitoring, and research needs across the North Slope of Alaska and the adjacent marine environment.

The five Advisory Councils include the California Desert District Advisory Council and the Carrizo Plain National Monument Advisory Council, both of which are located in California; the Steens Mountain Advisory Council located in Oregon; the San Juan Islands National Monument Advisory Committee located in Washington; and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Advisory Committee located in Utah.

The Councils and the STAP have successfully demonstrated that consensus-driven recommendations often lead to sustainable outcomes that benefit long-term public land planning and management of National Conservation Land sites.  This inclusive approach is proven successful and often enjoys a high level of public support. These Councils and the STAP consist of 10 to 15 members that represent unique site-specific interests as defined in the Federal Register Notice Supplementary Information.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on a Council or the STAP. Nominees will be reviewed based on their training, education, and knowledge of the specific geographic area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making. Nominations and completed applications should be sent to the appropriate BLM office. All nominations from represented interests or organizations must include a completed application, letters of reference, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

As published in a notice in the Federal Register, the BLM will consider nominations received through June 14, 2019. For more information, please contact Ryan Sutherland, rrsutherland@blm.gov or 801-539-4089. Additional information and the application form are available at: https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-me/utah/mac. 

Nominees should note the interest area(s) they are applying to represent on their application. All applications must be accompanied by letters of reference that describe the nominee's experience and qualifications to serve on the Grand Staircase-Escalante MAC from any represented interests or organizations, a completed MAC application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee's qualifications.

Nominations are being accepted for the following positions:

• An elected official from Garfield County representing the County;
• An elected official from Kane County, representing the County;
• A representative of State government;
• A representative of Tribal government with ancestral interest in the Monument;
• A representative of the educational community;
• A representative of the conservation community;
• A representative of developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities, including, for example, commercial or recreation fishing;
• A representative of dispersed recreation;
• A livestock grazing permittee operating within the Monument to represent grazing permittees;
• A representative of private landowners;
• A representative of local business owners;
• A representative of the public-at-large, including, for example, sportsmen and sportswomen communities;
• A member with expertise in systems ecology;
• A member with expertise in systems paleontology;
• and a member with expertise in archaeology or history.

Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question for the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.