The U.S. Bureau of Land Management seeks nominations for members of regional advisory councils in Colorado.

“The resource advisory councils are the cornerstones of our engagement with the communities where we manage public lands,” said BLM Colorado State Director Doug Vilsack. “Our bureau’s ability to administer and conserve these lands for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations of Americans relies heavily on the advice we are given from the resource advisory councils.”

The BLM seeks nominations for existing and upcoming vacancies on its Northwest, Southwest and Rocky Mountain resource advisory councils.

The councils each consist of 15 members with diverse interests in public land management, including conservationists, ranchers, outdoor recreationists, state and local government officials, tribal representatives and energy industry representatives.

The councils provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on such issues as fire management, grazing, land use planning, off-highway vehicle use, oil and natural gas development, noxious weed management and wild horse and burro herd management.

Councils include representatives from each of three categories:

Category one – Persons that hold federal grazing permits or leases within the area for which the council is organized; representatives of energy and mineral development; the commercial timber industry, and interests associated with transportation or rights-of-way, off-highway vehicle use or commercial recreation.

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

Category three – Persons who hold state, county or local elected office; are employed by a state agency responsible for the management of natural resources, land, or water; representatives of Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the resource advisory council is organized; are employed as academicians in natural resource management or the natural sciences; and representatives of the public.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others to serve on advisory councils. Nominees will be selected based on their training, education and knowledge of the council’s geographical area. All nominations must be accompanied by letters of reference from any represented interests or organizations; a completed background information nomination form; and any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

Nominations to U.S. Bureau of Land Management resource advisory councils must be submitted with 30 days after the notice publishes in the Federal Register. The nomination application is available online. For more information about serving on the Northwest Colorado resource advisory council, contact Elijah Waters at (970) 570-0042 or ewaters@blm.gov. Additional information about resource advisory councils is available at www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advisory-council/near-you/colorado.