Elko District Office
| Contacts: | Lesli Ellis | , 775-753-0386 | , lellis@blm.gov |
Elko BLM seeks nominations for Resource Advisory Council Members
ELKO, Nev. - The Elko District Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public nominations for five open positions on its Northeastern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council. The Northeastern Great Basin RAC covers public land resource areas in Elko, White Pine, Lander and Eureka Counties. The BLM will accept nominations until March 14, 2013.
The BLM’s Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), composed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, help the Bureau carry out its stewardship of 245 million acres of public lands. The Bureau, which manages more land than any other Federal agency, has 29 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located. Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members with an interest in public land management, including such individuals as conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, Tribal officials and academics. The diverse membership of each RAC is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook the BLM needs for its mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.
The positions open for appointment on the Northeastern Great Basin RAC are:
• One representative who holds a federal grazing permit or leases within the area for which the Council is organized.
• One representative from a nationally or regionally recognized environmental organization
• One representative who holds a state, county or local elected office
• One representative who is employed by a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources, land or water
• One representative who represents the affected public at large
Completed nominations for the Northeastern Great Basin RAC positions should be mailed to Lesli Ellis, BLM Elko District Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801. The phone number is 775-753-0386. This RAC holds meetings in the Elko, Eureka, and Ely areas.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Nominations should be made on the appropriate nomination form, which is available at any BLM office, or on the internet at www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/res/resource_advisory.html. Nominees must be a resident of Nevada. Nominees will be considered 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 resource decision-making. All nominations must include letters of reference from the represented interests or organizations; a completed nomination form; and any other information that addresses the nominee's qualifications.
The councils meet several times a year, usually quarterly, and provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM district managers and the state director, on management of the public lands within the council’s geographic area. It is the practice in Nevada to hold one joint meeting of all three Nevada RACs every year.
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.
Elko District Office 3900 E. Idaho St. Elko, NV 89801