BLM News Release: BLM Seeks Nominations to Resource Advisory Councils

The Bureau of Land Management announced on January 25, 2012, that it is seeking public nominations for open positions on its 29 Resource Advisory Councils, which advise the BLM on public land issues. As advertised in the Federal Register, the BLM will consider nominations for 45 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 29 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located. Each RAC consists of 10 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 Councils,” 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.”

_ndividuals 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.

Each of the 29 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.

For more information on specific vacancies in your area please contact your local BLM office. 

Nevada has three RACs: the Mojave-Southern Great Basin, the Sierra Front-Northwestern Great Basin and the Northeastern Great Basin. Each RAC consists of a 15-member advisory panel that provides advice and recommendations to the BLM on resource and land management issues for 48 million acres (67 percent of the state) of BLM-administered lands in Nevada.