by Marcia deChadenedes

SJI National Monument

The San Juan Islands National Monument has gotten to work with the Resource Management Planning effort, which is anticipated to be a four-year plus effort. An important component of this process is the involvement of the Monument Advisory Committee. This team of twelve individuals represent a spectrum of the interests of the region, and how those concerns apply to managing these public lands.

We had a terrifically successful recruitment period for the team that exists now, but committee position terms last only three years. In order to keep a core team involved we are cycling out four positions a year for the next three years. We are grateful for the energies of the public who have filled these four seats this year, and they are certainly welcome to reapply.

This is a great opportunity for folks to be engaged directly in the planning process, representing the community of those specific interests. We have held two day-long meetings thus far and expect to meet again four more times by October.

Other ways that the public can participate in the creation of the management plan is by communicating with the Monument Advisory Committee, privately or at their public meetings, and at our public scoping meetings, the first are coming up the second week of March, in Anacortes, on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan. Look for our notices of dates and times!

Nominations are being accepted for:

• One member representing recreation and tourism interests.

• One member representing wildlife and ecological interests.

• One member representing cultural and heritage interests.

• One member representing education and interpretation interests.

The application deadline is March 20, 2015. Nomination forms can also be picked up at the Spokane District Office or the BLM’s Lopez Island Office at 37 Washburn Place, Lopez Island, WA 98261, by calling 509-536-1200, or from the website: www.blm.gov/or/rac/sanjuanac.php.

The BLM will review the applications and submit recommended nominees to the Secretary of the Interior, who has the responsibility for making the appointments. Appointed members must reside in the state of Washington. Resource advisory committees generally hold meetings four times a year. Although members serve without monetary compensation, travel and per diem expenses are reimbursed.

The National Monument encompasses approximately 1,000 acres of public land spread across a uniquely beautiful archipelago of over 450 islands, rocks and pinnacles. The National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation to protect BLM-administered lands with historic, cultural, natural and scientific significance.

To learn more about the National Monument, the makeup of the Monument Advisory Committee and representatives for the various categories, see www.blm.gov/or/rac/sanjuanac.php.

For more information on the committee or to discuss alternate ways you can be a participant in the National Monument planning effort, contact me at 468-3051, ormdechade@blm.gov.