Bureau of Land Management Seeks Nominations to the Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council
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LAKEVIEW, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it is seeking public nominations for positions on the Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council. These citizen-based councils assist in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues.
The BLM maintains RACs chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Federal Policy and Land Management Act (FLPMA) across the West. Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members from interests in local communities.
“The Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council provides the BLM with vital feedback on current issues, concerns, and proposals, and enable us to engage with stakeholders to improve our management of public lands,” said Lakeview District Manager Todd Forbes. “Our goal is to ensure that the membership of the Southeast Oregon RAC encompasses a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds to offer diverse opinions that help inform our decisions.”
The BLM maintains RACs as a means of gaining expert advice, ideas, and diverse opinions on issues including land use planning, fire management, off-highway vehicle use, recreation, oil and gas exploration, noxious weed management, grazing issues, and wild horse and burro herd management issues. The RACs support the Bureau’s commitment to building a shared conservation stewardship legacy in the communities it serves.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on a RAC. Nominees, who must be residents of the state or states where the RAC has jurisdiction, will be reviewed based on their training, education, and knowledge of the RAC’s geographic area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making. Letters of reference must accompany all nominations from any represented interests or organizations, a completed RAC application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.
The Southeast Oregon has nine different positions open in the following categories:
- Category One – Representatives of organizations associated with energy/mineral development; Federal grazing permit holders; the timber industry; transportation or rights-of-way; off-highway vehicle users; and commercial and developed outdoor recreation.
- Category Two – Representatives of archeological and historic organizations; dispersed recreation users; wild horse and burros organizations; and nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations.
- Category Three – Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; Indian tribes located within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized; academicians employed in natural resource management or natural sciences; employees of a state agency responsible for management of natural resources; and the public at large.
As published in a notice in the Federal Register, the BLM will consider nominations for 30 days until October 21, 2021.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.