FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DOI - 2051 - Arizona Resource Advisory Council - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Arizona Resource Advisory Council	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	2051
Original Establishment Date	10/1/1995	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.blm.gov/get-involved/resource-advis...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	15
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	BLM Arizona State Director
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	11/9/2023	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Raymond
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/9/2025	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	M
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Suazo
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(602) 417-9200
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(602) 417-9398
Specific Establishment Authority*	Federal Land Policy and Management Act, Sec. 309	Designated Federal Officer Email*	rmsuazo@blm.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	10/21/1976
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC) has worked for the last several years on a number of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) programmatic issues, including ongoing land use planning efforts and associated travel management plans. The RAC also serves as the Recreation Resource Advisory Council (RRAC) and has implemented a process to review and make recommendations to the Designated Federal Official for BLM and the U.S. Forest Service for recreation fee proposals as required by the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act of 2004.
How is membership balanced?*	The RAC is composed of 15 members distributed in a balanced fashion among the following groups and within those groups. Specific interests include: Category I - those holding Federal grazing permits or leases, interests associated with transportation or rights-of-way, developed outdoor recreation, OHV users, or commercial recreation activities, commercial timber industry, or energy and mineral development. Category II - nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, dispersed recreation activities, archaeological and historical interests, or nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and burro interest groups. Category III - state, county, or locally elected office-holders, employee of a State agency responsible for the management of natural resources, Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the RAC is organized, are employed as academicians in natural resource management or the natural sciences, or represent the public-at-large.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The RAC typically meets quarterly. RAC meetings have generated some positive dialogue on issues concerning local and statewide constituents, including shared conservation stewardship; recreation and public access; support for local economies and jobs; working landscapes; wild horse and burro management; ongoing land use planning efforts in Arizona; the U.S./Mexico border land issues; Arizona water strategy; energy projects; and travel management planning. The meetings continue to provide the RAC and public participants with current information on BLM programs and policies, including the implementation of the new administration priorities.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The purpose of the RAC is to enable Arizona citizens to have a meaningful say in how public lands are managed for multiple use. The RAC provides advice on a broad array of resource, economic and social issues that confront land managers and local communities. The local stakeholders provide important perspective on how public lands can be best managed for the benefit of the American people.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open to the public. Notices of the meetings are published in the Federal Register, posted on the BLM Arizona public website and social media sites and distributed to local media statewide.
Recommendation Remarks	The Arizona RAC met October 29-30, 2024, and December 11-12, 2024.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	BLM-Arizona managers take RAC feedback into account, especially regarding the use of best practices in natural resource management processes. BLM managers highly regard the RAC's input into land use planning, allocation of resources, setting priorities and decision making in general.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Recommendations have assisted BLM Arizona with the development of program strategies that promote effective natural resource management under the context of the BLM's multiple use mission and legal and budget restraints. These include strategies for Arizona water, border, tribal, recreation, energy, partnerships, volunteers, and the National Landscape Conservation System.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Although there is an associated cost of travel and per diem reimbursements for most RAC members, as well as the cost of federal employee support of the RAC, the wealth of knowledge, expertise, and experience they provide is extremely valuable and helpful to the BLM in managing and maintaining the health and productivity of Arizona's public lands and ensuring the bureau remains responsive to citizens.	Grants Review Comment	N/A
Number Of Recommendations*	130	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	The RAC made 61 BLM recreation fee recommendations in FY25. They include *Phoenix District Office Recreational Shooting Sites Business Plan: establish new recreation fees for use of the Phoenix District’s recreational shooting sites at Baldy Mountain, Church Camp Road, Narramore Road, Saddleback Mountain, and Table Mesa recreational shooting sites in Maricopa County, and Box Canyon Recreational Shooting Site in Pinal County; new Individual Special Recreation Permit fees for use of the recreational shooting sites for a one-day permit, an individual monthly permit, and an individual annual permit. *Arizona Strip Field Office Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area Business Plan: increase recreation fees for 108 overnight individual and group sites and the day use fee for the Virgin River Campground. *Paria Canyon/Coyote Buttes Special Management Area and White Pocket Business Plan for increased special recreation permit fees for day use at Coyote Buttes North, Coyote Buttes South, and Paria Canyon; overnight use at Paria Canyon; and a new day use fee at White Pocket. *Kingman Field Office Amenity Fee Site Business Plan for fee increases for 23 individual campsites, 1 group campsite, and a dump station fee at the Burro Creek Campground; for 16 individual campsites and 1 group campsite; and 4 individual campsites at the Windy Point Campground. *Lake Havasu Field Office Amenity Fee Site Business Plan for increased fees for 73 boat access campsites for watercraft for day use and watercraft overnight use; for the Lake Havasu Shoreline Sites annual pass; 26 total campsites at the Crossroads Campground; the day use fee at the Bullfrog Day Use Area; and 8 campsites at the Quail Hollow Campground. *Phoenix District Campgrounds Business Plan: expanded amenities fees for 60 individual campsites and two large group sites at the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site and Campground; establishment of expanded amenity fees for the proposed campgrounds to be constructed within the next 3-5 years at Table Mesa, Boulders OHV Area, Emery Henderson, and Estrella Wayside sites. *Stateline Campground Business Plan for increased recreation fees for 8 campsites. *Safford Field Office and Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area Recreation Fee Sites and Areas Business Plan: increase in the Individual Special Recreation Permit fee at the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness; increase in Recreation Use Permit fees for 10 individual campsites at the Fourmile Canyon Recreation Site, 7 campsites at the Owl Creek Campground, and 13 campsites at the Riverview Campground; an increase in the Individual Special Recreation Permit fee at the Hot Well Dunes Recreation Area; an increase in the Individual Special Recreation Permit fee at the Gila River Boat Put-In; and establish a Recreation Use Permit fee for the Indian Bread Rocks Recreation Area. *Tucson Field Office Recreation Fee Sites and Areas Business Plan: establish a Day Use Standard Amenity fee and a site-specific Agency Annual Pass for the Gila River Recreation Sites and an Expanded Amenity fee, a Group Site fee for >50 people, and a Group Site fee for <50 people for 29 campsites in the Christmas and Shores Campgrounds at the Gila River Recreation Sites; establish an Individual Special Recreation Permit for undeveloped camping areas; establish a Day Use Standard Amenity Fee for Empire Ranch Headquarters and the Airstrip Day Use Site, a Site-Specific Agency Annual Pass, Overnight Camping Individual Special Recreation Permit fee for 6 campsites, an Expanded Amenity Fee for developed group sites for >75 people and group sites for <75 people in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area; establish a Day Use Standard Amenity fee, a site-specific Agency Annual Pass, and an increased Backcountry Individual Special Recreation Permit Fee at the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. *Yuma Field Office (YFO) Amenity Fee Site Business Plan: increase the Day Use Standard Amenity Fee, the Overnight Occupancy Expanded Amenity Fee; and a Site-Specific Agency Annual Pass for 7 sites in the Yuma Field Office. *Yuma Field Office Long Term Visitor Areas Business Plan: increases long-term and short-term Special Recreation Use fees at the Imperial Dam and La Posa Long Term Visitor Areas.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	75.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Not all of the recommended recreation fees have been implemented to-date by the BLM.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	25.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	N/A	Access Other	Yes
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	A webpage is maintained on BLM-Arizona's external homepage, with the RAC and Recreation RAC meeting announcements, minutes, Federal Register Notices, charter, membership makeup, and news releases regarding RAC meetings and call for nominations to the RAC, recreation RAC protocol, business cycle and meeting minutes, and letters of recommendation.
Agency Feedback Comment*	The BLM Arizona management team provides the RAC with comprehensive feedback on how it uses the RAC recommendations in its Arizona strategies and specific management actions. The BLM also invites the RAC to get more specifically involved in the implementation phase of resource management plans and/or development of environmental analyses documents. In addition, the Recreation RAC receives periodic review of recreational fee issues and request for advice before formal fee proposals come to their full RAC meetings.	Narrative Description*	The Arizona RAC is a collaborative partner with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide advice on its multiple use resource programs on Arizona public lands from a stakeholder, environmental, and industry perspective. The RAC is very involved in helping the BLM meet its strategic goals of resource protection, resource use, recreation, and serving communities. The RAC has contributed its leadership and expertise in several priority areas of BLM Arizona's public land management, including the implementation of the Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Administration, developing land use and travel management plans, promoting recreational opportunities, providing advice on access and off-highway vehicle use issues and resolutions, and providing advice on BLM Arizona strategies for renewable energy development, water, WH&B, the National Landscape Conservation System, and border security.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$47,614.59	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$20,000.00
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*	$7,985.54	5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*	$836,355.00	7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$891,955.13	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$20,330.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/23/2025 1:48 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.15
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*	0.37	Est Cost Remarks	Estimated Federal Register costs are affiliated with a meeting notice during FY26.
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Rural Development Agriculture Animals Fish and Wildlife Energy Natural Resources Land Conservation and Preservation Grazing Areas Land Management and Use National Parks, Sites, Trails, Recreational Areas Monuments Water Water Use

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