BLM's Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council to meet virtually May 17, 19, 21
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
Medford, Ore. – The Bureau of Land Management’s Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet virtually May 17, 19, 21, 2021.
The Western Oregon RAC will be reviewing more than 40 Secure Rural School Title II funding proposals and recommending projects for funding. Up to $3.6 million is available for distribution to projects that provide community-based solutions to pressing public lands challenges like wildland fire prevention, trash clean-up, watershed restoration, road maintenance, control of noxious weeds and more. Over the years, Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act projects have provided trail maintenance, culvert replacement or removal, soil improvement, vegetation/density management, wildfire hazard reduction, stream channel enhancement, control of noxious and exotic weeds, and opportunities for youth training and employment.
Title II funds are designed to make investments in public lands and create additional employment opportunities through projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restore and improve land health and water quality. These projects are also designed to improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for public lands and the agencies that manage these lands.
“The Western Oregon RAC is made up of valuable partners who represent the diverse perspectives of Western Oregon communities,” said Medford District Manager Elizabeth Burghard. “Their work on Secure Rural Schools Funding is critical for our local communities and we are excited to see which projects are recommended for funding,” continued Burghard.
The meeting runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. The meetings are open to the public, with a public comment period scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on May 17. Individuals who want to make a statement during the public comment period are encouraged to also submit a written copy of their statement at the meeting for the administrative record. To participate in the meeting, please register: https://blm.zoomgov.com/ or contact Kyle Sullivan, RAC Coordinator, ksullivan@blm.gov or at (541) 618-2340.
The Western Oregon RAC meets multiple times a year and is one of several citizen advisory councils throughout Oregon/Washington. The RAC’s 15 members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior and represent a broad range of public land interests, including environmental, local government, recreation, timber, and commercial activity. The Western Oregon RAC advises the BLM’s Coos Bay, Medford, Roseburg, Northwest Districts, and parts of the Lakeview District.
For more information about the Western Oregon RAC, visit: https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/oregon-washington
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.