Resource Advisory Council Meeting Scheduled
Organization
BLM Office:
Idaho Falls, ID-- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet June 6-7, 2016 in Idaho Falls, Idaho at the BLM/Forest Service Office located at 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
On Monday, June 6, the meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. with an orientation for new members, where they will learn about the development of the Resource Advisory Councils and their roles and responsibilities. Each field office; Salmon, Challis, Pocatello and Upper Snake, will provide a quick overview of their unique challenges. The rest of the RAC will convene following lunch at 1:00 p.m.
Monday’s afternoon session will cover sagebrush focal area withdrawals from hard rock mineral mining to protect sage grouse and an update on bighorn/domestic sheep. Guest speakers will provide the RAC with an overview of bighorn sheep in Idaho, how Idaho Department of Fish and Game manage the species, disease transmission between bighorn sheep and domestic sheep and developing BLM policy.
On Tuesday, June 7, RAC members will meet at the office at 8:30 to review sage grouse policy before heading to the field to look at several different allotments in the Medicine Creek area and discuss Lands with Wilderness Characteristics.
The RAC meets three to four times a year to advise the BLM on issues of importance to the public. The 15 members of the RAC represent a wide variety of commercial, conservation, recreation, academic, Tribal and other interests. The Idaho Falls District has field offices in Challis, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Salmon.
RAC meetings are open to the public, and the public may address the RAC from 1:00-1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 6, 2016. Interested persons may make oral statements to the RAC during this time or submit written statements for consideration by the RAC. For more information, contact Sarah Wheeler, RAC coordinator, at 208-524-7550.
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.