Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt – photo: Dan Wilson

(Best Syndication News) WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today appointed San Bernardino County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt to the Bureau of Land Management's California Desert District Advisory Council.

Supervisor Mitzelfelt will participate on the Council starting tomorrow representing local governments during a three-year term of appointment.

"I would like to thank the Interior Secretary for the opportunity to serve on this vital panel," said Supervisor Mitzelfelt. "I look forward to working with the Council to address the critical issues involving local government and the federal land management agencies including renewable energy development, road systems, solid waste disposal, law enforcement and emergency services."

The Council was established by Congress through the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.

Mitzelfelt received the written nominations from U.S. Representatives Jerry Lewis and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, who noted that Mr. Mitzelfelt's First Supervisorial District has one of the largest areas of Federal public lands within any jurisdiction in the United States.

"Supervisor Mitzelfelt's long record of service brings a wealth of experience involving public lands to the Council," wrote Representative McKeon. "The Supervisor's understanding of the views from local governments throughout the California Desert Conservation Area will be reflected in the experienced input he will offer to the BLM."

Fifteen representatives from various agencies and groups comprise the Bureau's Desert District Advisory Council. Council members advise BLM field office managers in Ridgecrest, Needles, Barstow, Palm Springs, El Centro and the desert district office in Moreno Valley on management of the California Desert District. The California Desert District covers portions of eight counties and includes over 10 million acres of public land including the California Desert Conservation Area.

Supervisor Mitzelfelt's other formal leadership activities in the area of public lands include his vice chairmanship of the Quad State Local Governments Authority and his membership on the Public Lands Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties and the multi-agency Desert Managers Group.

By David Zook