Appointments made to BLM Resource Advisory Council for Northwest California (11-25-08)

News Release

For Release: November 25, 2008
Contact: Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332
CA-N-09-13

Appointments made to BLM Resource Advisory Council for Northwest California

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has announced appointments to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Northwest California Resource Advisory Council (RAC). The council advises the BLM on public land matters.

Newly appointed to the 12-member council is Tony Shaw, of Ukiah, who will represent the public at large.

Re-appointed were Don Klusman, of Yuba City; Kendall Smith, of Fort Bragg; and Ryan Henson, of Redding. Klusman represents off-highway vehicle users. Smith, a member of the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, represents local government interests. Henson represents national and regional environmental interests.

All appointments are for three-year terms.

The council next meets March 26-27, in Redding.

"Our resource advisory councils are excellent examples of a collaborative approach to public land management and conservation," said BLM California State Director Mike Pool. "I welcome our new and returning RAC members, commend them for their willingness to serve, and look forward to their counsel as we work together to improve the health and productivity of the public lands."

The Northwest California RAC, one of 24 such advisory councils in the United States, works closely with managers of the BLM’s Arcata, Redding and Ukiah field offices, providing expertise and insight on natural resource management issues.

The council represents a broad array of public land interests including commercial and dispersed recreation, off highway vehicle enthusiasts, forestry, environmental interests, Native American tribal interests, local government and the public at large.

The BLM, an agency of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for managing various uses such as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, minerals development and energy production while conserving the land’s natural, historical and cultural resources.

- BLM -