JIM HANCOCK, District Manager of the Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville, Oregon, District Office has been named Outstanding Public Land Professional for 1998 by the Public Lands Foundation.

Foundation President George Lea announced the selection crediting Hancock with outstanding and relentless dedication by insisting that the highest of professional standards were followed and by always being ready to take on new and innovative ways to produce better natural resource conditions.

“Jim’s career has always taken a back seat to the perseverance needed to do the job right.  He has exhibited great leadership in elevating the improvement in watershed riparian conditions to a national level, often under adversarial and controversial conditions,” Lea said.  “He championed the establishment of program efforts that have resulted in on-the-ground improvement in watershed conditions across the western states that have brought national awards for Jim and his staff.

“Early in his career, Jim played a key role in the development of more than 200 livestock grazing Environmental Impact Statements in an effective manner despite much opposition.  Many of these plans were completed with Jim’s assistance and provide the foundation and direction for livestock management today on the public lands.”

“Accomplishing these and other public land programs has not been easy,” according to Lea.  “For example, Jim has exemplified courage and tireless effort in completing complex land exchanges.  As a result, the public has significantly improved recreational opportunities and legal access to some of the finest river frontages on the Deschutes and John Day Rivers in central Oregon.”  Jim has also supported many collaborative efforts with the U.S. Forest Service on five national forests in central and eastern Oregon.  These efforts include joint BLM-Forest Service Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) and have improved government efficiency and public service through national ‘pilot office’ efforts with the Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests.