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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public nominations for positions on the Northern California District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) and the California Desert District District Advisory Council (DAC). These regional citizen advisory councils assist in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues.

“The BLM values feedback provided by our important citizen advisory councils on management of public lands in their local communities,” said BLM California State Director Karen Mouritsen. “Our goal is to hear from a diversity of voices that will help enable us to better engage communities, partners and other interested stakeholders on the management of public lands in California.”

The BLM maintains citizen advisory councils under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Federal Policy and Land Management Act, and other relevant laws as a means of gaining expert advice, ideas, and diverse opinions 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 councils support the Bureau’s commitment to building a shared conservation stewardship legacy in the communities it serves.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on the Northern California District RAC or the California Desert District DAC in southern California. Nominees, who must be residents of the councils’ jurisdiction, will be reviewed based on their training, education, and knowledge of the council’s geographic area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making. Letters of reference from any represented interest or organization must accompany all nominations. Nominations must include a completed application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

Members serve on both California citizen advisory councils 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 citizen advisory council 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.

For the RAC in northern California, the BLM is seeking to fill two positions under Category One, two positions under Category Two, and two positions under Category Three. For the DAC in southern California, the BLM is seeking to fill one position under Category Three. Applications previously submitted in response to the January 17, 2020 and May 2, 2019 calls for nominations to the southern California DAC need not be re-submitted.

As published in a notice in the Federal Register, the BLM will consider nominations until November 13, 2020.  For more information on the northern California RAC, or to send a nomination, contact Jeff Fontana, (530) 252-5332 or jfontana@blm.gov. For more information on the southern California DAC, or to send a nomination, contact Michelle Van Der Linden, (951) 697-5217 or mvanderlinden@blm.gov. For general information about BLM’s citizen advisory committees, contact Carrie Richardson at (202) 501-2634.