Tule Springs Advisory Council Estabished

Date: February 19, 2016
Contact: Jon Burpee, 702-902-0431

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

TULE SPRINGS FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT News Release

For Immediate Release: February 19, 2016
Release No.: 2016-01
Contact: Jon Burpee, 702-902-0431

TULE SPRINGS ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED

LAS VEGAS –The U.S. Secretary of the Interior has appointed 10 community members to the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Advisory Council. The council will provide the Secretary of the Interior guidance for the management of the monument, including advisement on the preparation and implementation of a park management plan.

The appointed members include:

• The Honorable Benny K. Tso, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe
• Victor A. Rodriguez, Nellis Air Force Base
• Dr. Joshua W. Bonde, State of Nevada
• Marci D. Henson, Clark County
• Mayor Pro Tem Steven D. Ross, City of Las Vegas
• Jill K. DeStefano, City of North Las Vegas
• Mauricia M. M. Baca, the conservation community in Southern Nevada
• Robert M. Brown, a resident of Clark County with a background that reflects the purposes for which the Monument was established
• Arthur H. Wolf, a resident of Clark County with experience in the field of paleontology.
• Eric G. Scott, a resident of San Bernardino County with experience in the field of paleontology

"The advisory council will provide crucial advice for the development of the park and the protection of these amazing resources," said Jon Burpee, park superintendent. "In addition to these council members, there will be vitally important roles that other members of the community will fill to create an amazing national park right here in the Las Vegas Valley."

The council will meet two to four times per year, and meetings will be announced in advance and made open to the public. Burpee will serve as the Designated Federal Officer for the Council, and is in the process of establishing when and where the 2016 meetings will be held.

"This is an exciting next step in the process of standing up this national park unit.I am thrilled to get to work with such a talented group of people on the advisory council and look forward to building Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument with the community.I will work with the council to schedule an upcoming first meeting. I can't wait to get started," said Burpee.

-NPS-