An original member of the council and a former chairperson, Walt has been a key player in developing the Rangeland Standards and Guidelines, developing a formula for the use of range improvement funds, leading the opposition to the trading of federal oil leases for timber, and in other issues before the council over the past eight years. He has over 30 years of experience with the mining and minerals development industries and currently is president of his own consulting business. Walt has a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering, is a member of the California Society of Professional Engineers and a registered environmental assessor with the California Environmental Protection Agency.