For Release: February 20, 2003

Contact: Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220; E-MAIL: dasanche@ca.blm.gov
CA-CDD-03-26


BLM Seeks Nominees for California Desert District Advisory Council

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking nominations of people to serve on BLM's California Desert District Advisory Council for the 2004-2006 term.

The five positions to be filled include one representative each for environmental protection, renewable resources, and public-at-large, and two for elected officials representing local/county government. Council members serve three-year terms and may be nominated for reappointment to serve a second three-year term.

The Council is comprised of 15 members who represent the broad range of public land use interests in the California Desert. Council members advise BLM California Desert District Manager Linda Hansen on policies and programs regarding the BLM-managed public lands throughout southern California. The Council meets in formal session three to four times each year in various locations, and serve without compensation except for reimbursement of travel expenditures incurred in the course of their duties.

Any group or individual may nominate a qualified person. Qualified individuals also may nominate themselves. Applications must include the name of the nominee, work and home addresses and phone numbers, fax number, a biographical sketch that includes the nominee's work and public service record and applicable outside interests that qualify him or her for the position, and the specific category of interest in which the nominee is best qualified to offer advice to the BLM.

All nominations must include letters of reference from represented interests, organizations or elected officials. Nominees will be evaluated based on their education, training, and knowledge of BLM, the California Desert District, and the issues involving BLM-administered public lands within southern California.

Section 309 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to involve the public in planning and issues related to the management of BLM administered lands. The Secretary also selects council nominees consistent with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which requires nominees appointed to the council be balanced in terms of points of view and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands.

BLM also tries to balance the Council geographically, recommending appointment of qualified representatives from areas throughout the California Desert District. The District covers portions of eight counties, and includes 11.5 million acres of public land in the California Desert Conservation Area and 300,000 acres of scattered parcels in San Diego, western Riverside, western San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties.

Nominations for the California Desert District Advisory Council must be received by Saturday, August 30, 2003, and should be sent to the District Manager, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, Calif. 92553. The three-year term would begin January 1, 2004.

For more information or to request a nomination form contact Mr. Doran Sanchez at (909) 697-5220.