[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 43, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 43CFR1784.6-1]

[Page 28-29]
 
                    TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS: INTERIOR
 
    CHAPTER II--BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 
PART 1780_COOPERATIVE RELATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                    Subpart 1784_Advisory Committees
 
Sec. 1784.6-1  Resource advisory councils--requirements.

    (a) Resource advisory councils shall be established to cover all 
lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, except where--
    (1) There is insufficient interest in participation to ensure that 
membership can be fairly balanced in terms of the points of view 
represented and the functions to be performed; or
    (2) The location of the public lands with respect to the population 
of users and other interested parties precludes effective participation.
    (b) A resource advisory council advises the Bureau of Land 
Management official to whom it reports regarding the preparation, 
amendment and implementation of land use plans for public lands and 
resources within its area. Except for the purposes of long-range 
planning and the establishment of resource management priorities, a 
resource advisory council shall not provide advice on the allocation and 
expenditure of funds. A resource advisory council shall not provide 
advice regarding personnel actions.
    (c) The Secretary shall appoint the members of each resource 
advisory council. The Secretary shall appoint at least 1 elected 
official of general purpose government serving the people of the area to 
each council. An individual may not serve concurrently on more than 1 
resource advisory council. Council members and members of a rangeland 
resource team or other local general purpose subgroup must reside in 1 
of the States within the geographic jurisdiction of the council or 
subgroup, respectively. Council members and members of general purpose 
subgroups shall be representative of the interests of the following 3 
general groups:
    (1) Persons who--
    (i) Hold Federal grazing permits or leases within the area for which 
the council is organized;
    (ii) Represent interests associated with transportation or rights-
of-way;
    (iii) Represent developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle 
users, or commercial recreation activities;
    (iv) Represent the commercial timber industry; or
    (v) Represent energy and mineral development.
    (2) Persons representing--
    (i) Nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations;
    (ii) Dispersed recreational activities;
    (iii) Archeological and historical interests; or
    (iv) Nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro 
interest groups.
    (3) Persons who--
    (i) Hold State, county or local elected office;
    (ii) Are employed by a State agency responsible for management of 
natural resources, land, or water;
    (iii) Represent Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for 
which the council is organized;
    (iv) Are employed as academicians in natural resource management or 
the natural sciences; or
    (v) Represent the affected public-at-large.
    (d) In appointing members of a resource advisory council from the 3 
categories set forth in paragraphs (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this 
section, the Secretary shall provide for balanced and broad 
representation from within each category.
    (e) In making appointments to resource advisory councils the 
Secretary shall consider nominations made by

[[Page 29]]

the Governor of the State or States affected and nominations received in 
response to public calls for nominations pursuant to Sec. 1784.4-1. 
Persons interested in serving on resource advisory councils may nominate 
themselves. All nominations shall be accompanied by letters of reference 
from interests or organizations to be represented.
    (f) Persons appointed to resource advisory councils shall attend a 
course of instruction in the management of rangeland ecosystems that has 
been approved by the Bureau of Land Management State Director.
    (g) A resource advisory council shall meet at the call of the 
designated Federal officer and elect its own officers. The designated 
Federal officer shall attend all meetings of the council.
    (h) Council charters must include rules defining a quorum and 
establishing procedures for sending recommendations forward to BLM. A 
quorum of council members must be present to constitute an official 
meeting of the council. Formal recommendations shall require agreement 
of at least a majority of each of the 3 categories of interest from 
which appointments are made.
    (i) Where the resource advisory council becomes concerned that its 
advice is being arbitrarily disregarded, the council may request that 
the Secretary respond directly to such concerns within 60 days of 
receipt. Such a request can be made only upon the agreement of all 
council members. The Secretary's response shall not constitute a 
decision on the merits of any issue that is or might become the subject 
of an administrative appeal, and shall not be appealable.
    (j) Administrative support for a resource advisory council shall be 
provided by the office of the designated Federal officer.

[60 FR 9958, Feb. 22, 1995]