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The Bureau of Land Management today announced that it is seeking public nominations for open positions on 15 Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), which advise the BLM on public land issues.  This request also applies to BLM’s Carrizo Plain National Monument (California) Advisory Council. As published in a notice in the Federal Register, the BLM will consider nominations for 30 days.

The BLM’s RACs, composed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, help the Bureau carry out its stewardship of 245 million acres of public lands.  The Bureau, which manages more land than any other Federal agency, has 31 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located.  Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members with an interest or expertise in public land management, including such individuals as conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, Tribal officials, and academics.  The diverse membership of each RAC helps ensure that BLM land managers get the varying perspectives they need to achieve their mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.

“As a land-management agency that carries out a multiple-use mission, the BLM seeks out and values diverse input from citizens who care about the stewardship of America’s public lands,” said BLM Colorado State Director Ruth Welch.  “This input advances our efforts in managing uses of and protecting resources on the public lands.”

Those who have already submitted a nomination in response to the first call for nominations (published in the Federal Register on February 3, 2015, (80 FR 5785)) do not need to resubmit. All nominations from the first and second calls will be considered together during the review process.  Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council.  Nominees, who must be residents of the state or states where the RAC has jurisdiction, will be judged on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of the council’s geographical area.  Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making.  All nominations must be accompanied by letters of reference from any represented interests or organizations, a completed RAC application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

Each of the 15 RACs has different positions open in the following categories:

• Category One – Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation.
• Category Two – Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations.
• Category Three – Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources; representatives of Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized; representatives and employees of academic institutions who are involved in natural sciences; and the public-at-large.