The Bureau of Land Management will hold a meeting of the Southwest Resource Advisory Council in Dolores on March 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dolores Public Lands Center, 29211 Colorado Highway 184.
The Southwest RAC is made up of partners with diverse backgrounds and interests who provide input and ideas into public lands management. They serve in an advisory capacity concerning the planning and management of BLM lands in the Southwest District.
Planned agenda include training for member participation on the Recreation RAC, recreation fee proposals and closeout of the Dominguez-Escalante Advisory Council.
“We look forward to gaining their perspectives during a robust discussion on a variety of topics at the meeting,” said Stephanie Connolly, BLM Southwest District Manager.
A half-hour public comment period will begin at 11:30 a.m. Individuals who want to make a statement during the public comment period should register with the BLM by sending an email to jbaranga@blm.gov by Tuesday, March 5, 2019.
Speakers should also submit a written copy of their statement at the meeting for the administrative record. Depending on the number of people wishing to comment and time available, the amount of time for individual oral comments may be limited.
The BLM maintains 38 chartered advisory committees located in the West. The committees were put on hold in 2017 pending a review by the Department of Interior, but they have since been reinstated.
“The RAC is back up and running after a two-year hiatus, and we look forward to hosting the next one in Dolores,” said BLM Tres Rios Field manager Connie Clementson.
RACs are sounding boards for BLM initiatives, regulatory proposals and policy changes. Each citizen-based 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.
“Resource councils are critical in assisting the BLM in continuing to be a good neighbor in the communities that the agency serves,” according to the council website.
Southwest RAC members represent a broad range of interests in three categories, with five members assigned to each category.
Category 1 members represent commercial interests or users such as livestock grazing,the energy industry, off-highway vehicle groups and commercial outfitters.
They are: Kathy Welt, energy and minerals; Mark Roeber, grazing; Lori Buck, outdoor recreation; Mark Austin, off-highway vehicle users; and John Reams, outdoors.
Category 2 members represent environmental organizations, archaeological and historical interests, wildlife organizations, wild horse and burro advocates, and dispersed recreation.
They are Joseph Neuhof, dispersed recreation; Jimbo Buickerood, environmental; Laurie Brandt, dispersed recreation; Tif Rodriguez, wild horse and burros; and Kathleen Steele, dispersed recreation.
Category 3 members represent government agencies and elected officials, tribes, academic institutions, and the public at large.
They are Christi Zeller, public at large; John Justman, elected official; Ernie Williams, public at large; Renzo DelPiccolo, Colorado Parks and Wildlife; and William Gleason, public at large.