Resource Advisory Committees Information

Purpose of the Resource Advisory Committees

Resource Advisory Committees have formed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Oregon in response to Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000--Public Law 106-393 (the Act). The Act established a five-year payment schedule to local counties in lieu of funds derived from the harvest of timber on federal lands, which have dropped dramatically over the past 10 years. The Act creates a new mechanism for local community collaboration with federal land management activities in the selection of projects to be conducted on federal lands or that will benefit resources on federal lands using O&C/County funds under Title II of the Act.

The Committee members review project proposals and make recommendations on spending the county-designated funds to the Secretary of the Interior (or Agriculture for Forest Service Committees.) Committee members represent a variety of interests and are committed to working collaboratively for the long term benefit of public lands and local communities.

Oregon BLM Resource Advisory Committees

Five Resource Advisory Committees have been formed for western Oregon BLM districts that contain Oregon & California (O&C) Grant Lands and Coos Bay Wagon Road (CBWR) lands. The Forest Service established Resource Advisory Committees for combinations of National Forests throughout the nation. The BLM Resource Advisory Committees are as follows.

The Salem District Resource Advisory Committee advises federal officials on the management of federal lands within the Salem District boundary and includes Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill Counties.
The Eugene District Resource Advisory Committee advises federal officials on the management of federal lands within the Eugene District boundary. The area covers Benton, Douglas, Lane, and Linn Counties.
The Roseburg District Resource Advisory Committee advises federal officials on the management of federal lands within the Roseburg District boundary and includes Douglas, Lane, and Jackson Counties.
The Medford District Resource Advisory Committee advises federal officials on the management of federal lands within the Medford District and Klamath Falls Resource Area in the Lakeview District. The area covers Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine Counties and small portions of west Klamath County.
The Coos Bay District Resource Advisory Committee advises federal officials on the management of federal lands within the Coos Bay District and includes Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Lane Counties.

Nominations for Vacant Alternate Positions

The Oregon/Washington BLM is currently soliciting nominations for vacant alternate positions to the Coos Bay, Eugene, Roseburg, and Salem Resource Advisory Committees. In accordance with the Committee Charters, the role of an alternate is to fill vacancies that occur when a primary member leaves the Committee.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others. The term for the alternate positions is for three years. Nominees must reside within one of the counties that are (in whole are part) within the BLM District boundaries of the Committee(s) on which membership is sought. A person may apply for and serve on more than one Resource Advisory Committee.

Nominees will be evaluated based on their education, training, and experience working with the interest area they choose to represent, and their knowledge of the geographic area covered by the Committee. Nominees must also have demonstrated a commitment to collaborative resource decision making. All nominations should be accompanied by letters of reference from represented interests or organizations and a completed nomination application, as well as any other information that speaks to the nominee's qualifications.

Completed nomination forms and letters of reference should be postmarked to the appropriate BLM District Office. The Secretary of the Interior will make the appointment of alternates to the Committees.

Committee projects

The Resource Advisory Committee's designated federal officer (DFO) shall submit federal projects to be considered for funding under Title II of the Act to the Resource Advisory Committee. The Committee members shall review the federal projects and transmit their recommendations on those projects to the DFO on or before September 1. No later than September 30, the DFO will submit to the Secretary of the Interior, or his designee, a description of projects that the Resource Advisory Committee recommends undertaking using funds reserved by eligible counties for expenditure pursuant to Title II of the Act and within the Committee's geographic jurisdiction.

Qualifications for membership

The qualifications for membership on each Resource Advisory Committee are determined by the Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary must select 15 members, plus six alternates, who reside within the Committee's geographic jurisdiction to ensure local representation. As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act and Section 205(d) of the Act, members must be balanced and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands.

Specifically, Committee members shall be representative of the interests of the following three categories:

Category One - representatives of organized labor, developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle use, energy and/or mining development, timber industry, or holders of federal grazing permits.
Category Two - representatives of environmental and resource conservation organizations, with a focus on wildlife and/or fisheries resources, dispersed recreation, archeological and historic interests, and wild horse and burro groups.
Category Three - representatives of State, county and local government, Native American Tribes, school officials or teachers, and the public-at-large.

Need more information? Please contact the appropriate BLM District Office or

Pam Robbins, RAC Coordinator
BLM Oregon State Office
PO Box 2965
Portland, OR 97208
Phone: (503) 808-6306
Email: Pam_Robbins@or.blm.gov