Nominations Reopened for Dominguez-Escalante NCA Advisory Council (05-23-10)

Grand Junction, CO -- The Bureau of Land Management has reopened the nomination period for the Advisory Council for the newly designated Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area through June 20, 2010. The reopening is being done to comply with BLM procedure now that the charter for the Advisory Council has been approved.

The BLM is seeking nominations to fill 10 positions on the council for the NCA, a 209,610-acre natural resource gem located in parts of Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties that includes the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness.

The original nomination period ended on Jan. 4, 2010. All those who submitted nominations during the original nomination period will be considered and do not need to submit another nomination package.

The Advisory Council will assist the BLM during the development of the NCA’s Resource Management Plan. Members are sought who are committed to working together with other broad interests for the long-term benefit of the NCA resources.

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:
o the purposes for which the Conservation Area or Wilderness was established; and
o 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/denca.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.
 
For additional information, please contact Katie A. Stevens, Dominguez-Escalante NCA Interim Manager, at (970) 244-3049.