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The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for its Missouri Basin and Western Montana Resource Advisory Councils for existing and upcoming member vacancies.

All resource advisory councils consist of 15 citizens with diverse interests in public land management, including conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, and energy industry representatives. The councils provide advice to the Bureau of Land Management on public land issues.

“We’re looking for members who are passionate about their public lands and want to play a direct role in the development of public lands policy,” said Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas State Director Sonya Germann. “Diverse representation on our resource advisory councils helps us make well-informed decisions that represent the broad variety of public lands wants and needs of our constituencies.”

The Bureau of Land Management, which manages more land than any other federal agency, works with resource advisory councils across the West. The diverse membership of each resource advisory council aims to achieve a balanced outlook that the Bureau of Land Management needs for its mission, which is to manage public lands for multiple uses and sustained yield.

Resource advisory councils are critical in assisting the Bureau of Land Management continue 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.

The resource advisory councils seek nominations positions in three categories, as follows:

• 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 resource advisory council is organized; representatives and employees of academic institutions who are involved in natural sciences; and the public-at-large.

Nominations must be submitted by Aug. 21, 2023. To access the nomination application, go to https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2022-05/BLM-Form-1120-19_RAC-Application.pdf.  For more information about serving on the resource advisory councils, please contact Ann Boucher, Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas State Office, at 406-896-5011 or aboucher@blm.gov.

More information about the Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas’ resource advisory councils is available at https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/montana-dakotas. 

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. The Bureau of Land Management will evaluate nominees based on their training, education and knowledge of the resource advisory councils’ geographical area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making. All nominations must include letters of reference from any represented interests or organizations, a completed background information nomination form and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.