The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Utah has announced that it is extending the public call for nominations for two (2) open positions representing environmental, historical, archaeological, dispersed recreation and wild horse groups on its 15-member Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The RAC advises the BLM on public land issues. The BLM will consider the nominations until July 8 , when the agency is publishing its formal call for nominations in the Federal Register.
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 28 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.”
“The RAC has been an excellent way to keep citizens engaged in the resource issues facing the public lands in Utah,” said BLM Utah state director Juan Palma. “BLM managers look forward to having more Utahans become involved in this collaborative process, bringing fresh ideas to the table.”
Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Nominees, who must be residents of the state 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 two 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.
Nomination forms are available from BLM offices and from our website at https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/res/resource_advisory.html. The BLM consults with Utah Governor Herbert before forwarding its recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior for final decision.
The Utah BLM RAC members generally serve three-year terms. However, one of the vacant positions (Environmental) is to complete the term of a member who resigned from the Council. The expiration date of this term will be September 2012.
Nominations should be sent by July 8, 2011, to Sherry Foot, Special Programs Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101, (801) 539-4195.