| Contacts: | Erin Curtis, Public Information Officer, (970) 244-3097 |
BLM Colorado Seeks Nominations to Southwest Resource Advisory Council
Montrose, CO -- The Bureau of Land Management Southwest District is seeking nominations for five open positions on the Southwest Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The 15-member citizen council is appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to advise BLM on public land management issues. Nominations must be received no later than May 10, 2010.
The five positions open on the Southwest RAC are in the following categories:
· Category One - (two open positions) Representative of livestock grazing, energy and mineral development, timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, or commercial recreation.
· Category Two - (one open position) Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, or wild horse and burro organizations.
· Category Three - (two open positions) Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources; representatives of Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized; representatives and employees of academic institutions who are involved in natural sciences; or the public-at-large.
The Southwest RAC is one of three RACs in Colorado and one of 24 RACs across the West. It includes the counties of Montrose, San Miguel, San Juan, Hinsdale, Sagauche, Dolores, Montezuma, La Plata, Conejos and Ouray and parts of Delta, Gunnison, Rio Grande and Mesa counties.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Southwest RAC nominees must be Colorado residents. Each will be judged on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of the council's geographical area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision making. All nominations must be accompanied by letters of reference from any represented interests or organizations; a completed background information nomination form; and any other information that speaks to the nominee's qualifications.
"I value the advice given to the BLM by these citizen-based Resource Advisory Committees, and I know that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar shares my view of their importance," said BLM Director Bob Abbey. "The people who live, work, and recreate near or on BLM-managed lands deserve a formal voice on public land issues, and their input will enhance our agency's ability to manage the public lands for multiple uses while conserving resources for future generations."
The nomination form and information about the Southwest RAC are available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Resources/racs.html or contact Erin Curtis, BLM Public Affairs Specialist, at 970-244-3097 or erin_curtis@blm.gov.
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. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
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