AMARGOSA VALLEY -- A renewable energy field tour of potential solar project sites in Amargosa Valley is on the agenda when the U.S. Bureau of Land Management Mojave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council meets in Pahrump Feb. 5-6.

The RAC is a group that includes a cross-section of users of public lands, including ranchers, the energy industry, commercial recreational users, wild horse advocates and government officials. The membership includes Nye County Commission Chairman Joni Eastley and Pahrump resident Claire Toomey.

Members of the RAC will leave from the Saddle West Hotel and Casino at 9 a.m., Feb. 5, for the Amargosa Valley tour, led by Jayson Barangan, natural resource specialist with the BLM Pahrump Field Office. They will discuss sensitive species, water and recreation issues around the Big Dune Area of Critical Environmental Concern, around which a few concentrated solar energy projects are planned.

After lunch at the Big Dune, members will have follow-up discussions and presentations on solar energy projects at 2 p.m. at the Saddle West Hotel meeting room. Panelists will include Pahrump BLM Field Office Realty Specialist Wendy Seley, Recreation Planner Marc Sanchez, geologist Dave Fanning and wild horse and burro specialist Jerrie Bertola.

Patrick Putnam, director of the new Pahrump BLM field office, will discuss Pahrump field office issues in general at 3 p.m.

John Hiatt, chairman of the Mojave-Southern Great Basin RAC, will welcome members and the public at 8 a.m. Friday. John Ruhs, Ely district manager, will discuss implementation of the resource management plan for the Ely BLM district. Gayle Marrs, assistant field manager of the Las Vegas field office, will discuss conservation transfers.

A review of land acquisitions under the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act is planned for 10:15 a.m.

After lunch, a presentation is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. on the Lincoln County archeological initiative. District and field manager reports will round out Friday's agenda.

The RAC will meet again April 24 at the Caliente Youth Center and June 25-26 at the Tonopah Convention Center.