The Bureau of Land Management continues to seek public nominations for positions on four Resource Advisory Councils in Oregon. As published in a notice in the Federal Register, the BLM is considering nominations for 30 days, until Dec. 1, 2017.

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. 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.

"Restoring trust in the federal government and being a good land manager are two of my top priorities at Interior, and state and local input, particularly in communities surrounding public lands, is imperative to building trust," said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. "Nobody knows the land better than the people who live and work it. Council members provide a valuable service to the Department and offer a variety of perspectives that assist in solving land and resource use issues."

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. Nominees should also demonstrate a commitment to consensus building and collaborative decision-making. All nominations must be accompanied by letters of reference from any represented interests or organizations, a completed RAC application, and any other information that speaks to the nominee's qualifications.

The Southwest Oregon RAC, Southeast Oregon RAC, and John Day/Snake RAC have different positions open in the following categories:

Category One -- Public land ranchers and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation.

Category Two -- Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations.

Category Three -- 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.

In addition, the Steens Mountain Advisory Council has eleven positions open for public nomination:

* a person interested in fish and recreational fishing in the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area;
* two persons who are grazing permittees on Federal lands in the CMPA;
* two persons who are recognized environmental representatives, one to represent the State as a whole and one from the local area;
* a person who has no financial interest in the CMPA to represent statewide interests;
* a person who participates in mechanized or consumptive recreation in the CMPA, such as hunting, fishing, or off-road driving;
* a recreation permit holder or representative of a commercial recreation operation in the CMPA;
* a person to serve as the State government liaison to the Council;
* a private landowner within the CMPA; and
* a member of the Burns Paiute Tribe.

Questions, nominations and completed applications for RACs should be sent to the appropriate BLM offices listed below:

John Day-Snake RAC: Lisa Clark, BLM Prineville District Office, 3050 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754, 541-416-6864.

Southeast Oregon RAC: Larisa Bogardus, BLM Lakeview District Office, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630, 541-947-6237.

Southwest Oregon RAC: Christina Breslin, BLM Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504, 541-618-2371.

Steens Mountain Advisory Council: Tara Thissell, BLM Burns District Office, 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, OR 97738, 541-573-4519.

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The agency's mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America's public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Diverse activities authorized on these lands generated $75 billion in sales of goods and services throughout the American economy in fiscal year 2016--more than any other agency in the Department of the Interior. These activities supported more than 372,000 jobs.