December 9, 2009 – BLM has published a Draft Resource Management Plan and associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA), which is approximately 75,000 acres of public lands in San Benito and Fresno Counties , California .  The Draft RMP/EIS would carry forward the designation of the existing 30,200-acre Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) to “minimize human health risks from exposure to asbestos and reduce airborne emissions of asbestos.”  The ACEC, which is home to many popular OHV routes, was temporarily closed last year as a result of BLM’s finding regarding asbestos.  Should the RMP/EIS be approved, OHV use would be permanently prohibited in the ACEC.  Outside the ACEC, the Draft RMP/EIS would designate the Tucker, Condon, and Cantua Zones as “limited” vehicle use areas with 30 miles of designated routes.  Vehicle use in those areas would be limited to full-size vehicles and ATV/UTV use only on designated routes.

Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS will be accepted until March 5, 2010.  It is important that OHV enthusiasts get involved in the designation process by contacting BLM staff.  Comments may be sent by email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , by fax to: 831-630-5055 or by mail to: 

BLM Hollister Field Office
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister , CA 95023

Additional information found online:
Original Federal Register Notice
Full Text of Draft RMP/EIS, Maps and Related Documents

For further information, please contact Sky Murphy in BLM’s Hollister Field Office at 831-630-5039.

Marine officials have asked the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to set aside 442,000 acres adjacent to the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms so the service can study those parcels for the proposed expansion.

“Together with the [Bureau of Land Management] and the Federal Aviation Administration, we will study the best path forward for the Marine Corps to meet its training requirements, while analyzing and weighing the impact of the various alternatives on natural and socioeconomic resources,” Corps officials said in a news release.

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
          Contact:  Don Amador
          Phone:  925-625-6287; 925-783-1834
          Date:    May 1, 2008

RECREATION WRONGLY TARGETED IN CLEAR CREEK CLOSURE

BOISE, ID - May 1 - Recreation groups expressed dismay at the surprise announcement that federal agencies are closing approximately 31,000 acres of public land in Central California .  The Clear Creek Management Area ("CCMA"), located in San Benito County and managed by the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"), is one of the most popular off-highway vehicle recreation sites in the West.

BLM yesterday announced it would immediately close roughly half of the CCMA as a result of a new EPA report alleging an increased long-term cancer risk associated with recreational activities in the CCMA.  The CCMA contains a form of naturally occurring asbestos known as Coalinga chrysotile.  Despite years of study and intensive use of the area, EPA's latest report apparently makes new findings determining the risk levels to be above the range that EPA considers acceptable.

"We dispute not only these findings, but the manner in which they have been presented and imposed upon the public," said Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, a recreation advocacy group.  "This topic has been debated at length, and highly-motivated special interests have ruthlessly scoured any population spending even a trivial amount of time at the CCMA.  The simple fact is that asbestos-related disease does not show up in any of these populations.  Period.  We are reviewing the EPA report to see what compels this new finding and immediate closure, but anticipate taking quick and decisive action," Amador concluded.

# # #

The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000 individual members and 1,200 organization and business members, for a combined total of over 600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742. http://www.sharetrails.org

A Perspective on California Wilderness

Wilderness in California sounds good; we all love to go in to the wilderness to experience nature in our own way.  Federal Wilderness is different, Federal wilderness is an oppressive law that locks up vast areas of our state.  You cannot even ride a bike in a federal wilderness area.

Here are two publications that explain what Federal Wilderness legislation can do to an area of California.

Please take time to read them and share them with a friend then rethink what Wilderness dose to California.

Forests and Biodiversity

California's Wildlife