The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Utah today announced that it is reopening the public call for nominations for four open positions on its citizen-based Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC). 

RACs provide advice and recommendations for the BLM to consider on a range of resource and land management issues.  The BLM maintains 38 such chartered advisory committees located in the West.  Each Council consists of 10 to 15 members from diverse interests in local communities, and they assist in the development of committee recommendations that address public land management issues.  RACs are critical in assisting the BLM in continuing to be a good neighbor in communities served by the Bureau. 

“RAC members provide valuable advice and recommendations on resource and land management issues in Utah” said Ed Roberson, BLM Utah State Director.  “Their input enhances the BLM’s ability to manage these lands for current and future generations of Americans.” 

An individual may self-nominate or nominate others to serve on a Council.  Nominees must be residents of the state or states where the RAC has jurisdiction and will be reviewed on the basis of their training, education, and knowledge of the Council’s geographic area.  Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making.  A letter of reference must accompany all nominations from any represented interests or organizations per the categories below, also a completed RAC application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications. 

The four positions open on the Utah RAC are in the following categories:

  • Category one (one position) – Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the commercial timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation.
  • Category two (two positions) – Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations.
  • Category three (one position) – 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.

A term on a RAC is for three years.  As published in a notice in the Oct. 1, 2018, Federal Register, the BLM will consider nominations for 30 days, until Oct. 31, 2018.  Please send nominations by Oct. 31, 2018, to the following address:  BLM, Attn:  Lola Bird, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101.  

Additional information and the application form are available at:  https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/utah/RAC.  For more information, please contact Lola Bird at lbird@blm.gov or 801-539-4033.