The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
The Forest Service and local County representatives are seeking people from communities throughout Colorado, elected officials and special interest group representatives as nominees for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) Resource Advisory Committee (RAC).
Application forms must be received at the GMUG forest’s office ideally by Monday, June 15, 2009.
The RAC represents a wide range of interests and supports the GMUG-RAC and counties in reviewing and evaluating projects that are submitted under the Secure Rural Schools Act in compliance with Title II of the Act. The committee recommends which projects to fund and is responsible for coordinating with land management agencies and county officials. Projects are located in Mesa, Garfield, Delta, Montrose and Gunnison counties in Colorado.
The four-year term would begin upon appointment by the Secretary of Agriculture. Committee members serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel expenses. Members must be Colorado residents, preferably living in one of the five counties served by the RAC.
Meetings are held at least once and up to four times during the year within one of the five counties listed.
Each RAC consists of 15 members, split equally between the three categories listed below. There may also be a non-voting replacement member in each category. Applicants may apply in more than one category. The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will make the appointments to the RAC based on the applications received, striving to appoint members who have demonstrated the ability to work collaboratively with others of different viewpoints.
Category One:
• Organized labor or non-timber forest product harvester groups
• Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle, commercial recreation
• Energy and mineral development
• Commercial or recreational fishing
• Commercial timber industry
• Federal grazing permit holders or land use permit holders within the RAC area
Category Two:
• Nationally recognized environmental organizations
• Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations
• Dispersed recreation
• Archaeological and historical interests
• Nationally or regionally recognized wild horse or burro groups, wildlife or hunting organizations or watershed associations.
Category Three:
• State-elected office holders
• County or local elected officials
• American Indian tribal representatives from tribes within or adjacent to RAC areas
• School officials or teachers
• Citizens representing the affected public at large
Citizens interested in applying for RAC membership are encouraged to retrieve an application form and background check form (AD-755) on-line at www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug/SRS
Applications should be received by June 15, 2009 at Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, ATTN: Lee Ann Loupe, RAC Coordinator, 2250 Highway 50, Delta, CO 81416.
Applications must contain original signatures and complete information. For more information, contact Lee Ann Loupe at (970) 874-6717, lloupe@fs.fed.us.
