News Release

For Release: February 27, 2009   
Contact: Joanna Wilson, 208-524-7550

BLM Seeks Nominations for Resource Advisory Council

IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Bureau of Land Management’s Idaho State Office is calling for public nominations to five openings on its Idaho Falls Resource Advisory Council (RAC) this year. The BLM will consider nominations for 45 days after Friday, February 27, 2009, when the agency publishes a general notice about RAC openings in the Federal Register. 

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to the RACs, which advises the BLM on public land issues. Nominees, who should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative resource decision making, must be residents of the state or states in which the RACs have jurisdiction. The BLM, which has 24 RACs across the West, will evaluate nominees based on their education, training, experience and their knowledge of the geographical area of the RAC. 

The following must accompany all nominations: letters of reference from represented interests or organizations; a completed background information nomination form and any other information that demonstrates the nominee's qualifications. Nomination forms are available at area BLM District or Field Offices and on-line. 

Each council has 15 members who are appointed to a three-year term, and represent one of three general interest categories: 

• Category 1 seeks members who are holders of federal grazing permits, representatives of energy and mineral development, timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use or commercial recreation. 
• Category 2 is composed of representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological or historic interests, dispersed recreation users or wild horse and burro organizations.
• Category 3 consists of state, county or local elected officials, employees of a State agency responsible for the management of natural resources, members of an American Indian Tribe, academicians involved in natural sciences, or representatives of the public-at-large. 

The Idaho Falls District RAC has two vacancies in Category 1, one vacancy in Category 2 and two vacancies in Category 3. Nominations for the RAC/s should be sent to the BLM office contact listed below: 

Idaho Falls District
Attn: Joanna Wilson
1405 Hollipark Drive
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401
208-524-7550 

The BLM manages more land – 256 million surface acres – than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, and cultural resources on the public lands.