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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced that it is seeking public nominations for positions on 31 Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) nationwide. These citizen-based committees assist in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues.

The BLM maintains 38 such advisory committees formally chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Federal Policy and Land Management Act (FLPMA) across the West.  Of those committees, 31 are RACs and the remainder site or subject-specific Advisory Councils. Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members from diverse interests in local communities, and they assist in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues.

“Input from local communities and stakeholders is crucial towards improving our management of public lands. Our Wyoming Resource Advisory Council is designed to enable local leaders to provide us feedback on current issues, concerns and proposals,” said BLM Wyoming State Director Mary Jo Rugwell. “By including diverse membership from across the state, we further our goal of ensuring we receive a wide variety of public perspectives to guide our work.”

RACs are critical in assisting the BLM in continuing to be a good neighbor in communities served by the Bureau, 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.

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, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications. To access the Wyoming RAC application materials, visit www.blm.gov/wyoming-rac.

The Wyoming RAC has seven 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.

As published in a notice in today’s Federal Register, the BLM will consider nominations for 45 days, until Sunday, June 14. For more information, please contact Emmet Pruss, Wyoming RAC Coordinator, epruss@blm.gov, 307-775-6266.