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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to seek nominations for five positions on BLM’s Alaska Resource Advisory Council (RAC), which advises the BLM on public land issues. As published in today’s Federal Register, the BLM will accept nominations for 45 days. The nomination period ends Oct. 10, 2016. Individuals who applied during the first call for nominations do not need to resubmit. All nominations from the first and second calls will be considered together during the review process. 

The BLM’s 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 34 RACs across the west, where most BLM-managed land is located. The current Alaska RAC consists of 15 members with an interest or expertise in public land management and includes such individuals as conservationists, oil and gas and mining representatives, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, and tribal officials. The diverse membership of the RAC helps ensure that BLM land managers get the varying perspectives they need to achieve their mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Nominees, who must be residents of the state where the RAC has jurisdiction, will be evaluated 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 RAC application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

Alaska has five positions open in the following categories:

• Category One (2 positions) – Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation.
   
• Category Two (2 positions) – Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations.
   
• Category Three (1 position) – 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; and the public-at-large.

To learn more about the BLM Alaska RAC and download an application, visit http://www.blm.gov/ak/rac or contact June Lowery, RAC Coordinator, at email:  jlowery@blm.gov or telephone (907) 271-3130.