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group membership,send out meeting invita- group. FACA only applies to Federal agencies, <br /> tions, or host the meeting. Ensure that the so if a Tribal, State,County, or local agency or <br /> BLM does not manage or control the group's public interest group is willing to put the col- <br /> agenda. Limit the BLM's role to that of a group laborative group together, control membership, <br /> participant;avoid taking a leadership role in and set up meetings,the BLM can participate <br /> the group. If facilitation is necessary to run without violating FACA. <br /> meetings,encourage the group to hire a neutral <br /> facilitator who is not connected with the BLM. • In some situations, the BLM can form a work- <br /> Funding the group or holding a disproportion- ing group as a subcommittee of a preexisting <br /> ate number of the group's meetings on BLM Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) or other <br /> property may be seen as indicators of manage- FACA-chartered advisory committee. Make <br /> ment or control. sure the working group always reports to the <br /> RAC or chartered committee and not directly to <br /> 2. If the BLM establishes,manages, or controls the the BLM. <br /> group, ensure that its purpose is not to create <br /> group advice or render specific group recom- • Sometimes group advice is not the desired <br /> mendations to the agency. Seek only informa- outcome—the BLM only needs input from a <br /> tion, not advice,from the group as a whole. variety of public stakeholders. Or sometimes <br /> Seek advice only from individual members the BLM needs to educate the community about <br /> within the group;make clear to the group that its programs and decisions. Here the best ap- <br /> you will not accept advice from the group as a proach may be to hold town hall-style meetings <br /> whole and that the purpose of the meeting is not with open public participation. Such meetings <br /> to establish group-based advice on the issues. will not violate FACA as long as the BLM is <br /> Ensure that meetings that are not ad hoc are well not seeking group advice, but rather is sharing <br /> publicized and membership remains open to all. information or seeking a range of advice from <br /> A town hall-style meeting works well. individuals. <br /> •Alternatively, if you wish to have a central role What Else Should 1 Know? <br /> in the formation and agenda of the group, consider The BLM has a more in-depth guidebook <br /> pursuing a charter for a FACA committee. Refer to and other resources available online at <br /> your Solicitor's Office for when you need a charter http://www.blm.gov/adr to help you navigate <br /> or your Committee Management Officer(CMO) for through FACA in designing,convening,and <br /> details on how to charter a FACA committee. participating in ADR-based collaborative <br /> community working groups. You can also <br /> Alternatives to FACA-Chartered Groups seek advice about FACA from your Solicitor's <br /> Office and information about how to charter a <br /> • The BLM can establish a working group with FACA committee from your FACA Committee <br /> solely government entities—other Federal, Management Officer(CMO). You should also <br /> Tribal, State,and local government employees consult the BLM's advisory committee regulations <br /> working in their official capacities. if you charter or manage a FACA committee or <br /> subcommittee. Other resources,including <br /> • One of the non-Federal entities involved can relevant FACA documents and a case <br /> take the lead in organizing and setting up the law database,are available on GSA's website <br /> at http://www.gsa.gov. <br /> Meetings of ADR-based collaborative community working groups should <br /> adhere to general open government criteria: invite the public to meetings; <br /> publish timely notice in local forums; accept public comments; and keep <br /> records of group meeting minutes, attendance, and other documents used <br /> by the group. <br /> • <br />