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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Idaho reminds the public that it is seeking nominations for open positions on its Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) by this Friday, June 14. These citizen-based councils assist in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues.

The BLM maintains four such advisory councils in Idaho for the Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and Coeur d’Alene Districts. The RACs are formally chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Federal Policy and Land Management Act. Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members that represent diverse interests in local communities. The RAC members serve for three-year terms.  

“Resource Advisory Councils provide the BLM with vital ideas and input on current issues, concerns and proposals, and enable us to engage local communities and stakeholders to improve our management of public lands,” said John Ruhs, BLM Idaho State Director. “They offer individuals who are interested in and care about public lands an opportunity to learn more about how BLM manages them and to meet, get to know, and interact with other members of their communities with different perspectives.”

The RACs are critical to help the BLM continue to be a good neighbor in communities we serve, providing advice and recommendations on issues including land use planning, fire management, off-highway vehicle use, recreation, oil and gas exploration, noxious weed management, grazing issues, and wild horse and burro herd management issues. The Bureau’s goal is to ensure that the membership of each Resource Advisory Council encompasses a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds to guide the BLM’s work as effectively as possible.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on a RAC. Nominees, who must be residents of the state or states where the RAC has jurisdiction, will be reviewed based on their training, education and knowledge of the RAC’s geographic area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making. Letters of reference must accompany all nominations from any represented interests or organizations, a completed RAC application (available online at https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/GetInvolved_RACApplication.pdf) and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

Each of BLM Idaho’s four RACs has different positions open in the following categories:

• Category One – Representatives of organizations associated with energy/mineral development; Federal grazing permit holders; the timber industry; transportation or rights-of-way; off-highway vehicles users; and commercial and developed outdoor recreation.
• Category Two – Representatives of archeological and historic organizations; dispersed recreation users; wild horse and burros organizations; and nationally or regionally-recognized environmental organizations. 
• Category Three – Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; Indian tribes located within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized; academicians employed in natural resource management or natural sciences; employees of a state agency responsible for management of natural resources; and the public at large.

Following are the positions being recruited for each of BLM Idaho’s four RACs. Please send nominations by June 14, 2019, to the contact(s) listed below:

Boise District [Mike Williamson, 208-384-3393] – Three positions in Category 1, two positions in Category 2, and three positions in Category 3.

Coeur d’Alene District [Suzanne Endsley, 208-769-5004] – Two positions in Category 1, three positions in Category 2, and four positions in Category 3.

Idaho Falls District [Todd Kuck, 208-373-4006] – Four positions in Category 1, three positions in Category 2, and three positions in Category 3.

Twin Falls District [Heather Tiel-Nelson, 208-736-2352] – Four positions in Category 1, four positions in Category 2, and four positions in Category 3.

As published in a notice in the April 30, 2019, Federal Register, the BLM must receive RAC nominations by no later than June 14, 2019.  For more information, please contact Idaho State RAC Coordinator MJ Byrne at 208-373-4006.