COOS BAY, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management’s Western Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet virtually January 26 to 27, 2023. The meetings will begin at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will conclude at 4:00 p.m. January 26, and 3:00 p.m. on January 27.
The Western Oregon RAC will be reviewing approximately 48 Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Title II funding proposals and recommending projects for funding. Approximately $2.8 million is available for distribution to projects that provide community-based solutions to pressing public lands challenges like wildland fire prevention, trash clean-up, watershed restoration, road maintenance, control of noxious weeds, and more.
Over the years, Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Title II projects have provided trail maintenance, culvert replacement or removal, soil improvement, vegetation/density management, wildfire hazard reduction, stream channel enhancement, control of noxious and exotic weeds, and opportunities for youth training and employment.
The Act’s Title II funds are designed to make investments in public lands and create additional employment opportunities through projects that improve the maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restore and improve land health and water quality. These projects are also designed to improve cooperative relationships among the people that use and care for public lands and the agencies that manage these lands.
“The Western Oregon RAC is made up of valuable partners who represent the diverse perspectives of Western Oregon communities,” said Roseburg District Manager Heather Whitman. “Their work on Secure Rural Schools Funding is critical for our local communities and we are excited to see which projects are recommended for funding,” continued Whitman.
The meetings are open to the public, with a public comment period scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on January 26 and 2:00 p.m. on January 27. Individuals who want to make a statement during the public comment period are encouraged to also submit a written copy of their statement at the meeting for the administrative record.
To participate in the meeting, please register:
https://blm.zoomgov.com/
or contact Megan Harper, RAC Coordinator, m1harper@blm.gov or at (541) 751-4353.
Western Oregon RAC meets multiple times a year and is one of several citizen advisory councils throughout Oregon and Washington. The RAC’s 15 members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior and represent a broad range of public land interests, including environmental, local government, recreation, timber, and commercial activity. The Western Oregon RAC advises the BLM’s Coos Bay, Medford, Roseburg, and Northwest Districts, and parts of the Lakeview District.
For more information about the Western Oregon RAC, visit:Â https://www.blm.gov/get-
— BLM
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
SPOKANE, Wash. — As part of its ongoing effort to support responsible renewable energy development on public lands, the Bureau of Land Management is holding a public scoping meeting in Spokane to solicit feedback on the recently announced programmatic environmental impact statement for the BLM’s utility-scale solar energy planning. The BLM is considering updates to its […]
PRINEVILLE, Ore. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently transferred a water tender to the Wheeler County Fire and Rescue Rangeland Fire Protection Association and a wildland fire engine to the Alfalfa Fire District to enhance their wildland firefighting capabilities. The equipment was transferred under BLM’s Rural Fire Readiness (RFR) program, which is designed […]
PORTLAND, Ore, — The Bureau of Land Management forestry program in western Oregon harvested over 272 million board feet of timber during fiscal year 2022, generating $68 million. Roughly half of that money will be shared with local communities to support schools, emergency response, and other municipal services. “We take our commitment to our communities and […]
PORTLAND, Ore. — Looking to try a new, exciting career in wildland fire? Whether you want to work outside or in the office, the Bureau of Land Management has various seasonal entry-level fire jobs for you to consider. The BLM protects over 16 million acres of public lands throughout Oregon and Washington. These lands range from forested lands […]
VALE, Ore. — Fuel breaks built by the Bureau of Land Management and partners helped stop last month’s Willowcreek Fire from growing even larger. This success demonstrates how proactive wildfire mitigation can limit wildfire damage, especially in areas where public lands and communities meet. Nearly 22 years ago, the BLM Vale District worked with local […]
