2010-15775. Reopening the Call for Nominations for Certain Resource Advisory Councils

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The purpose of this notice is to reopen the nomination period for certain Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RAC). The RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their geographic areas.

DATES:

All nominations must be received no later than July 29, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

See “SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION” for the address of BLM offices accepting nominations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Allison Sandoval, Bureau of Land Management, Correspondence, International, and Advisory Committee Office, 1849 C Street, NW., MS-401 LS, Washington, DC 20240; [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) (43 U.S.C. 1739) directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to involve the public in planning and issues related to management of lands administered by the BLM. Section 309 of FLPMA directs the Secretary to establish 10- to 15-member citizen-based advisory councils that are consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The rules governing RACs are found at 43 CFR subpart 1784. As required by FACA, RAC membership must be balanced and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands. These include three categories:

Category One—Holders of Federal grazing permits and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle use, and commercial recreation;

Category Two—Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historic organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations; and

Category Three—Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state agency responsible for management of natural resources; representatives of Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the council is organized; representatives of academia who are employed in natural sciences; and the public-at-large.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Nominees must be residents of the state in which the RAC has jurisdiction. The BLM will evaluate nominees based on their education, training, experience, and knowledge of the geographical area of the RAC. Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative resource decision-making. The Obama Administration prohibits individuals who are currently federally registered lobbyists to serve on all FACA and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils. 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 addresses the nominee's qualifications.

Simultaneous with this notice, BLM state offices will issue press releases providing additional information for submitting nominations, with specifics about the number and categories of member positions available for each RAC in the state. If you have already submitted your nomination materials for 2010 you will not need to resubmit. Nominations for RACs should be sent to the appropriate BLM offices listed below:

Alaska

Alaska RAC

Ruth McCoard, Alaska State Office, BLM, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513, [phone];

Alternate: Pam Eldridge, [phone].

Arizona

Arizona RAC

Deborah Stevens, Arizona State Office, BLM, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, [phone].

California

Central California RAC

David Christy, Mother Lode Field Office, BLM, 5152 Hillsdale Circle, El Dorado Hills, California 95762, [phone].

Northeastern California RAC

Jeff Fontana, Eagle Lake Field Office, BLM, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, California 96130, [phone].

Northwestern California RAC

Jeff Fontana, Eagle Lake Field Office, BLM, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, California 96130, [phone].

Idaho

Boise District RAC

MJ Byrne, Boise District Office, BLM, 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705, [phone].

Twin Falls District RAC

Heather Tiel-Nelson, Twin Falls District Office, BLM, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho 83301, [phone].

Montana and Dakotas

Dakotas RAC

Lonny Bagley, North Dakota Field Office, BLM, 99 23rd Avenue West, Suite A, Dickinson, North Dakota 58601, [phone].

Eastern Montana RAC

Mark Jacobsen, Miles City Field Office, BLM, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, Montana 59301, [phone].

Nevada

Sierra-Front Northwestern Great Basin RAC

Rochelle Francisco, Nevada State Office, BLM, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Reno, Nevada 89502, [phone].

Oregon/Washington

Eastern Washington RAC; John Day-Snake RAC; Southeast Oregon RAC

Pam Robbins, Oregon State Office, BLM, 333 SW First Avenue, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97204, [phone].

Utah

Utah RAC

Sherry Foot, Utah State Office, BLM, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101, [phone].

Certification Statement: I hereby certify that the BLM Resource Advisory Councils are necessary and in the public interest in connection with the Secretary's responsibilities to manage the lands, resources, and facilities administered by the BLM.

Robert V. Abbey,

Director.