LAKE VIEW — The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday announced that it is seeking public nominations for open positions on 17 of its 36 Resource Advisory Councils (RAC), including the Southeast Oregon RAC which has eight seats opening in 2018.
The BLM’s RACs, composed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, help the Bureau carry out its multiple-use mission and stewardship of 245 million acres of public lands. The Bureau, which manages more land than any other Federal agency, has 36 RACs across the West. Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members with an interest or expertise in energy and mineral development, ranching, outdoor recreation, conservation, state and local government, tribal and cultural resources, and academia. The diverse membership of each RAC helps ensure that BLM land managers receive the varying perspectives they need to achieve their mission of managing the public lands for multiple uses.
The Southeast Oregon RAC has helped the BLM on many topics, including resource management planning, sage grouse, and wild horse and burro issues. The Southeast Oregon RAC covers the high desert portions of Burns, Lakeview and Vale Districts, including Lake, Harney and Malheur counties.
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 reviewed on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of the council’s geographic area.
The eight seats on the Southeast Oregon RAC include: Commercial Recreation, Transportation/Rights-of-Way, Commercial Timber, Dispersed Recreation, Environmental Organization, Wild Horse and Burro, Public-at-Large, and Elected Official.
To apply for a RAC position, complete the following steps:
1) Submit a completed application before Dec. 1, 2017;
2) Supply letters of reference demonstrating your ability to represent the specific interest area(s) for which you are applying; and,
More information about RACs and the application form can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council.
Submit application and letters to Larisa Bogardus, Lakeview BLM, 1301 S. G St., Lakeview, OR 97630.
