For Immediate Release: January 16, 2008
Contact: Mel Lloyd BLM 970-244-3097

BLM seeking seasonal employees now

MONTROSE, Colo. — The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) are now seeking seasonal employees for the 2008 field season.  Current vacancy announcements can be found online at www.usajobs.opm.gov, where applications can also be submitted electronically.  The BLM, an agency of the Department of the Interior responsible for the management of our nation’s public lands, has non-fire seasonal opportunities for work in such program areas as recreation, range management, archaeology, and biology.  Entry-level technician and park ranger positions in these program areas are needed this spring in the Montrose area, with start dates in April and May.  Seasonal staff bolsters BLM’s workforce during the summer months and enables the agency to accomplish required trail maintenance, field surveys and assessments, and visitor outreach, just to name a few.

“We depend heavily on our summer workforce, which is usually made up of local students and those who have wintertime commitments but are free during the summer to take on another job,” Field Manager Barb Sharrow said.  “It can be hard work and make for some long days, but you won’t find a better work setting or more satisfying job than working to improve and protect your public lands.”

To review and apply for open vacancy announcements with the BLM, go to www.usajobs.opm.gov.  In the boxes under “Search Jobs,” enter the following:
· What:  type in a key word and/or the job of interest to you
· Where:  type in “Western U.S.,” For example:  Recreation Technician, Western U.S.
· Click on the “Search” button

Several jobs will appear; select the job you are interested in and apply online.  In the application itself, you can indicate up to seven different locations where you are interested in working.  Montrose must be indicated in order for our local BLM field office to consider you as an applicant.  The following are potential opportunities:  park ranger (river patrol, fee collection), recreation technician (off-highway vehicles, fee collector, maintenance), biology technician (plants, wildlife), range technician (weeds, general), archaeology technician, and forestry technician. 

Applicants must be 18 years of age, hold a valid driver’s license, and pass a security clearance.  For additional information, contact Linda Nelson, at (970) 240-5343, at UFO in Montrose, or go to www.usajobs.opm.gov. 

The Uncompahgre Field Office is responsible for the management and stewardship of more than 900,000 acres of public lands in southwestern Colorado.  The varied landscapes, ranging from red rock deserts to pinyon-juniper woodlands to river terrain, provide a wealth of resources and opportunities for public use and enjoyment.  The 62,844-acre Gunnison Gorge NCA encompasses diverse landscapes including dramatic and unusual adobe badland formations, sprawling sagebrush flats, rugged oak brush and pinyon-juniper covered slopes, and colorful canyons surrounding the spectacular Gunnison Gorge river canyon.  The Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, at nearly 18,000 acres, is famous for technical (Class III-IV) and remote rafting and kayaking experiences, and outstanding Gold Medal trout fishing.  For more information on the UFO and Gunnison Gorge NCA, visit www.blm.gov/co. 

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