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Date:  March 2, 2009 Contact:  Mary Apple (406) 896-5258 BLM Seeking Nominees to Resource Advisory Councils The Bureau of Land Management’s Montana State Office is calling for public nominations to 16 openings on its Western Montana, Central Montana, and Eastern Montana Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) this year. The deadline for nominations is April 13, 2009. Individuals may nominate themselves or others to the RACs, which advise the BLM on public land issues. Nominees, who should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative resource decisionmaking, 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. All nominations must include a letter(s) of reference from the represented interests or organizations, a completed background information nomination form, and any other information that demonstrates the nominee's qualifications. The background information form is available on the internet at www.blm.gov/mt. Each council has 15 members who serve staggered three-year terms.  Council membership must reflect a balanced representation of the various interests and users of the public lands.  These include persons who represent the following categories: Category 1 - holders of federal grazing permits; energy and mineral development; timber industry; transportation or rights-of-way; off-highway vehicle use; or commercial recreation; Category 2 – nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations; dispersed recreation; archeological and historic interests; or wild horse and burro groups; and Category 3 - elected state, county or local government; employees of state agencies responsible for management of natural resources; Native American tribes; academicians involved in natural sciences; and the public-at-large. Following are the categories for which the BLM is seeking nominations.  Nominations should be mailed to the appropriate field manager. Western Montana: Three openings in Category 1; one opening in Category 2; and one opening in Category 3.  Rick Hotaling, Butte Field Manager, 106 N. Parkmont, Butte, MT, 59701, 406/533-7600.  Central Montana: Two openings in Category 1; two openings in Category 2; and one opening in Category 3.  Stan Benes, Lewistown Field Manager, 920 NE Main Street, Lewistown, MT, 59457, 406/538-1900.  Eastern Montana: Two openings in Category 1; two openings in Category 2; and two openings in Category 3.  One of the openings in Category 3 must be filled by an elected official. The other is for a one-year.  Elaine Raper, Miles City Field Manager, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT, 59301, 406/233-2800.  ###