For Immediate Release: August 26, 2003
Contact: Hillerie Patton BLM 303-239-3671
Barb Perkins 303-239-3668
Vaughn Whatley 303-239-3766

Secretary Norton Announces New Appointments to BLM Resource Advisory Councils

DENVER – Interior Secretary Gale Norton announced today the appointment of several new members to Colorado’s three citizen-based Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that advise the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on public land issues.

"We value the concerns and input that the Colorado Resource Advisory Councils provide in helping us to manage our public lands," Norton said. "I welcome our news members and look forward to their commitment, expertise and counsel as we work to improve the health of our public lands."

Composed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, the BLM’s 24 Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) help improve the health and productivity of public lands across the West. Each RAC provides counsel and advice on public lands planning and management within the RAC’s jurisdictional boundary.

"RAC members bring diverse backgrounds and a wide range of perspectives to each of our councils," said BLM Director Kathleen Clarke. "This diversity results in a balanced outlook that helps the BLM carry out its multiple-use mission in Colorado and throughout the West."

Attached are the members of each Colorado RAC. The names of new appointments or reappointments are bolded. Information regarding upcoming RAC meetings will be announced as it becomes available.

The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages more land—262 million surface acres—than any other Federal agency. Most of the country's BLM-managed public land is located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, which has a budget of $1.8 billion and a workforce of 10,000 employees, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the Nation. The BLM's "multiple use" mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The BLM accomplishes this by managing for such resources as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, and energy and mineral development that helps meet the nation's energy needs, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on the public lands.

-BLM-

For additional information, please contact:

BLM Northwest RAC, Attention: Steven Hall, e-mail steven_hall@co.blm.gov
2815 H Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81506 (Phone 970.244.3052)

BLM Southwest RAC, Attention: Steven Hall, e-mail steven_hall@co.blm.gov
2815 H Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81506 (Phone 970.244.3052)

BLM Front Range RAC, Attention: Ken Smith, e-mail ken_smith@co.blm.gov
3170 E. Main St., CaZon City, CO 81212 (Phone 719.269.8553)

BLM Colorado State Office, Attention: Barb Perkins, e-mail barb_perkins@co.blm.gov
2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215 (Phone 303.239.3668)

BLM Colorado Resource Advisory Councils                                                                   August 2003