For Immediate Release: August 31, 2004
Contact: Mel Lloyd: 970-244-3097

BLM seeks members for Colorado Canyons NCA Advisory Council

GRAND JUNCTION, CO—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking nominations to fill four vacancies on the Advisory Council for the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area (NCA) and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, a 123,300-acre natural resource gem located west of Grand Junction. Nominations are being accepted through Oct. 1, 2004.

The Colorado Canyons NCA Advisory Council played a key role in assisting the BLM throughout the development of the area’s recently issued Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP). Council members will continue to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior and BLM on implementing the RMP and effectively managing the area’s resources for the use and enjoyment of future generations.

Members are sought who are committed to working together with other broad interests for the long-term benefit of the Colorado Canyons NCA resources and those who enjoy and rely on them. Members serve without monetary compensation but are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses. The Advisory Council meets 6-10 times per year, including field trips, and nominees can expect to commit 40-50 hours annually for meetings, field trips, document reviews and other involvement. Membership positions being filled are for the following categories:

1) Member of, or nominated by, the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners.

2) Member of, or nominated by, the Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council (NWRAC).

3) Two members residing in, or within reasonable proximity to, Mesa County, Colorado with recognized backgrounds reflecting the purposes for which the NCA or Wilderness was established, as well as stakeholder interests affected by planning and management of the NCA and Wilderness.

Nomination forms may be obtained from the Grand Junction field office, or online at www.co.blm.gov/mcnca/index.htm, and mailed to Colorado Canyons NCA Manager, BLM Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Rd., Grand Junction, CO 81506. Individuals may nominate themselves or others, and nomination packets should identify the specific category of interest in the nomination letter and form, as well as describe the knowledge and experience qualifying that individual for membership. Letters of reference from the interests or organizations the nominee wishes to represent must accompany the nomination form. Nominations recommended by reviewing officials from Mesa County, NWRAC and BLM will be forwarded to the Secretary for membership selection.

The nomination period closes on Oct. 1, 2004 as announced in the Federal Register on Sept. 1, 2004.

For additional information, please contact Raul Morales, BLM Grand Junction associate field manager, at (970) 244-3066, or raul_morales@co.blm.gov; or Cathy Sherwood, information and technology technician, at (970) 244-3001, or cathy_sherwood@co.blm.gov.

-BLM-