Nominations open for COLORADO BLM advisory council

Release Date: 03/26/10
Contacts: Jim Sample, 303-239-3861

The Bureau of Land Management in Colorado announced today that it is seeking public nominations for 15 open positions on its three Resource Advisory Councils, which advise the BLM on public land issues. The BLM will consider the nominations for 45 days after today, when the agency is publishing its formal call for nominations in the Federal Register.

The BLM’s Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), composed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, help the Bureau carry out its stewardship of 253 million acres of public lands. The Bureau, which manages more land than any other Federal agency, has 24 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located. Each RAC consists of 12 to 15 members with an interest 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 is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook that the BLM needs for its mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.

“I value the advice given to the BLM by these citizen-based Resource Advisory Committees, and I know that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar shares my view of their importance,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “The people who live, work, and recreate near or on BLM-managed lands deserve a formal voice on public land issues, and their input will enhance our agency’s ability to manage the public lands for multiple uses while conserving resources for future generations.”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 decisionmaking. All nominations must be accompanied by 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.

The 15 RAC positions open in Colorado are 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.

Persons interested in making nominations or being nominated should check with the BLM contact nearest their place of residence for a detailed description of the vacant positions on that particular RAC. The nomination form is available at BLM RAC Nomination 2010.

Nominations should be sent by May 10, 2010 to:

Front Range RAC
BLM Front Range District Office
Cassandra Cairns, RAC Coordinator
3028 East Main Street
Cañon City, Colorado 81212
719-269-8500
FAX 719-269-8599

Northwest RAC
David Boyd, RAC Coordinator
BLM Colorado River Valley Office
2300 River Frontage Road
Silt, CO 81652
970-876-9000
FAX 970-876-9090

Southwest RAC
Erin Curtis, RAC Coordinator
BLM Grand Junction Office
2815 H Road
Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
970-244-3000
FAX 970-244-3083
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http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/newsroom/2010/march/blm_colorado_opens.html