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ANCHORAGE – The Bureau of Land Management announced today that Rosie Barr of Anchorage has been appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewel, to the BLM-Alaska Resource Advisory Council (RAC). Ms. Barr represents Alaska Native organizations and is currently Senior Director of Lands for NANA Regional Corporation. Part of her responsibility with NANA is to manage their 2.2 million acres of corporate land. An Alaska Native, born in the NANA region, she grew up in a family of reindeer herders who lived entirely off the land and its abundant natural resources. 

The RAC is still seeking public nominations for five open positions. The RAC advises the BLM on public land issues. The BLM will consider nominations through May 23, 2014. Applicants that applied within the last 90 days do not need to apply again.

The BLM-Alaska RAC has 5 positions open in the following categories:

Category One (2 positions) – Representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, commercial recreation and public land ranchers.

Category Two (2 positions) – Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, and dispersed recreation activities.

Category Three (1 position) – Representatives of state, borough, or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources; representatives of Alaska Native Tribes, organizations or groups; representatives and employees of academic institutions who are involved in natural sciences; and the public-at-large.

“The advice given to the BLM by these citizen-based Resource Advisory Councils is a vital part of the BLM’s collaborative approach to land management,” said BLM-Alaska State Director Bud Cribley. “Citizen input enhances our agency’s ability to administer and conserve these lands for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations of Americans.”

To learn more about the BLM-Alaska RAC and download an application, visit http://www.blm.gov/ak/rac or contact Thom Jennings, RAC Coordinator, at email: tjenning@blm.gov or telephone (907) 271-3335. 

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Nominees, who must be residents of Alaska, will be judged on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of Alaska. 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. 

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 29 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located. The Alaska RAC consists of 15 members with an interest or expertise in public land management, including such individuals as conservationists, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, Tribal officials, and academics. 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.