WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for existing and upcoming member vacancies in nine Resource Advisory Councils. The Councils provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on local public land use planning and management within designated geographic areas. 

Each citizen-based Council generally consists of 10 to 15 members from diverse interests in local communities including ranchers, environmental groups, Tribes, state and local government officials, academics, and other public land users. 

Resource Advisory Councils across the West assist BLM by providing advice and recommendations on local public land use planning, fire management, off-highway vehicle use, recreation, oil and gas exploration, noxious weed management, grazing, wild horse and burro herd management, etc. 

Individuals may nominate themselves or others. The BLM will evaluate nominees based on 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 include letters of reference from any represented interests or organizations, a completed background information nomination form, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications. 

The Resource Advisory Councils accepting nominations and their BLM contacts are:  

Arizona contact Dolores Garcia at dagarcia@blm.gov 

Central California contact Philip Oviatt at poviatt@blm.gov 

Northwest (Colorado) contact JD Emerson at jemerson@blm.gov 

Rocky Mountain (Colorado) contact Levi Spellman at lspellman@blm.gov 

Southwest (Colorado) contact D. Maggie Magee at dmagee@blm.gov 

Northern New Mexico contact Jamie Garcia at jagarcia@blm.gov 

Southern New Mexico contact Winifred Brown at wabrown@blm.gov 

Southeast Oregon contact Lisa McNee at lmcnee@blm.gov 

Western Oregon contact Megan Harper at m1harper@blm.gov 

For more information or to submit a nomination application, please email the designated Resource Advisory Council contact listed above. Nomination applications must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2024.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for positions that are or will soon become vacant on its California Desert District Advisory Council (DAC), Central California Resource Advisory Council (RAC), and the Northern California District Resource Advisory Council. A notice was also published in the Federal Register.

The councils consist of citizens with diverse interests in public land management, including conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, Tribal members, and energy industry representatives. The councils provide advice to the BLM on public land issues.

“Resource advisory councils assist the BLM with recommendations for a dynamic portfolio of programs from conservation to renewable energy,” said Acting BLM California State Director Gordon Toevs. “I appreciate our council members for their dedication and willingness to come together and provide advice on the BLM’s management decisions.”

The BLM, which manages more land than any other federal agency, has advisory councils located across the West. The diverse membership of each council is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook that the BLM needs for its mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.

The councils are critical in assisting the BLM in continuing to be a good neighbor in communities served by the bureau, providing advice and recommendations 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 management issues.

The descriptions for RAC positions are as follows:

• Category One – Holders of Federal grazing permits or leases within the area for which the RAC is organized; represent interests associated with transportation or rights-of-way; represent developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities; represent the commercial timber industry; or represent energy and mineral development.
• Category Two – Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical interests, dispersed recreational activities, and nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups.
• Category Three – Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; employees of a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources, land, or water; representatives of Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized; employees of academic institutions who are involved in natural resource management or the natural sciences; and the public-at-large.

Completed and signed applications, letters of reference, and any other information that addresses the nominee’s qualifications must be submitted by August 16. Candidates can download a copy of the nomination application online.

For more information about serving on a resource advisory council, please contact the applicable district representative shown below:

California Desert DAC:

Kate Miyamoto, Public Affairs Officer, BLM California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262; phone: 760-883-8528; or email: kmiyamoto@blm.gov.

Central California RAC

Philip Oviatt, Acting Public Affairs Officer, BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 35126 McMurtrey Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93308; phone: 661-432-4252; or email: poviatt@blm.gov.

Northern California RAC

Jeff Fontana, Public Affairs Officer, BLM Northern California District Office, 6640 Lockheed Dr., Redding, CA 96002; phone: 530-252-5332; or email: jfontana@blm.gov.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on an advisory council. Nominees must be residents of California and will be judged based on 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 nomination form; and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

More information about the RACs is available online.

The Bureau of Land Management’s Northwest and Southwest Colorado districts are seeking public nominations for 10 open positions on their Resource Advisory Councils, which advise the BLM on public land issues.

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.  Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members with an interest in public land management, including such individuals as conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, Tribal officials and academics.  The diverse membership of each RAC is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook that the BLM needs for its mission, which is to manage the public lands for multiple uses.

“Each of the RACs lend their unique combination of geographic and resource expertise to inform the BLM’s decisions,” said Acting BLM Director Mike Pool.  “The members of our RACs help our field offices by acting as sounding boards in all types of resource management issues.  They are a tremendous resource for field managers across the West.”

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

The descriptions for RAC positions are as follows:

Category One – 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 – Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations.
Category Three – 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.

In the Northwest District, five positions are open, including one position in Category 1, two positions in Category 2 and two position in Category 3.  Nominations for the Northwest District RAC (Colorado River Valley, Grand Junction, Kremmling, Little Snake and White River field offices) must be submitted by March 14 to the Bureau of Land Management, Attn:  David Boyd, 2300 River Frontage Rd., Silt, CO 81652. Additional requirements and nomination forms can be found by going to the BLM website or by calling Boyd at 970-876-9008.

In the Southwest District, five positions are open including two Category 1 positions, one Category 2 position and two Category 3 positions. Nominations for the Southwest District (Gunnison, Tres Rios and Uncompahgre field offices) RAC must be submitted by Thursday, March 14 to the Bureau of Land Management, Attn:  Shannon Borders, 2465 S. Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401.  Additional requirements and nomination forms can be found by going to the BLM website or by calling Borders at 970-240-5399.