| Contacts: | Erin Curtis, Public Information Officer, (970) 244-3097 |
BLM seeks members for New Dominguez-Escalante NCA Advisory Council
Grand Junction, CO -- The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations to fill 10 positions on the Advisory Council for the newly designated Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), a 209,610-acre natural resource gem located in parts of Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties that includes the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. Nominations are being accepted through Dec. 21, 2009.
The Dominguez-Escalante NCA Advisory Council will play a key role in assisting the BLM during the development of the NCA’s Resource Management Plan. Council members will provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior and BLM on matters regarding the preparation and implementation of an RMP for the area.
Members are sought who are committed to working together with other broad interests for the long-term benefit of the NCA resources and those who enjoy and rely on them. Individuals with interest or expertise in working with the geological, cultural, archaeological, paleontological, natural, scientific, recreational, wilderness, wildlife, riparian, historical, educational, and scenic values of the NCA, or with the water resources of the area, should consider submitting a nomination. Stakeholders who have an interest affected by the planning and management of the Conservation Area and Wilderness may also nominate themselves for consideration.
Members serve without monetary compensation but are reimbursed for travel and per diem expenses. The Advisory Council will meet a minimum of two times per year, although nominees can expect to meet much more frequently during key planning periods. Nominees can expect to commit 15-40 hours or more annually for meetings, field trips, document reviews and other involvement.
Membership categories are as follows:
One member shall be appointed after considering the recommendations of the Mesa County Commission;
One member shall be appointed after considering the recommendations of the Montrose County Commission;
One member shall be appointed after considering the recommendations of the Delta County Commission;
One member shall be appointed after considering the recommendations of the permittees holding grazing allotments within the Conservation Area or the Wilderness; and
Six members shall reside in, or within reasonable proximity to, Mesa County, Delta County, or Montrose County with backgrounds that reflect:
The purposes for which the Conservation Area or Wilderness was established; and
The interests of the stakeholders that are affected by the planning and management of the National Conservation Area and Wilderness.
Nomination forms may be obtained from the Grand Junction and Uncompahgre field offices or online at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/National_Conservation_Areas.html.
Complete nomination packets should be mailed to Dominguez-Escalante 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 or categories of interest in the nomination letter and form, as well as describe the knowledge and experience that qualifies the individual for membership. Letters of reference from the interests or organizations the nominee wishes to represent must accompany the nomination form. Final selections will be made by the Secretary of the Interior.
The nomination period closes on Dec. 21, 2009 as announced in the Federal Register on Nov. 20, 2009.
For additional information, please contact Katie A. Stevens, Dominguez-Escalante NCA Interim Manager, at (970) 244-3049.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM 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. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.
2815 H Rd Grand Junction, CO 81506