BLM holds public meetings on Clear Creek Management Area – Hundred of Off-Roaders Attend
Public meetings held the past two weeks by the Bureau of Land Management on the future of Clear Creek Management Area drew hundreds of people to Coalinga, Hollister and Santa Clara.
Rick Cooper, Hollister Field Office manager, gives opening remarks to attendees at the Holister meeting.
Last night’s public meeting began with an open house where the public could gather information, talk with BLM specialists, and provide written comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Following the open house, the BLM gave a brief introduction followed by an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Although oral comments were noted on flip charts, BLM will only respond to written public comments in the proposed RMP and final EIS. Comments must be postmarked or received by BLM no later than March 5, 2010.
The CCMA encompasses approximately 63,000 acres of public lands in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties.
The CCMA draft RMP/EIS was developed through a public planning process and considers seven alternatives. The primary issues addressed are public health risk from asbestos exposure in CCMA, recreation, protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources, energy and mineral development, land tenure adjustments, and other planning issues identified during the public scoping process.
The draft RMP/EIS is available on-line for public review at the BLM Hollister Field Office webpage. Compact disks of the document are available by request from the Hollister Field Office at the address above. For additional information contact the Hollister Field Office at (831) 630-5000.
More details on the meeting:
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsbytes/2010/416xtra_ccma_mtngs.html
More:
“People fight to open San Benito County recreation site” (KION-TV Monterey, 1/15/10)
“Thursday night in Hollister, nearly 300 angry recreationists voiced their concerns over a closed piece of land in San Benito County. Clear Creek is a recreational site located South of Hollister and East of King City. People all over the area go there to dirt bike, hunt, gem collect, etc. In 2008, the Bureau of Land Management closed the area because of high asbestos levels found in the dirt.” Includes video.
http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11827197
“Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement” (BLM-California, Hollister Field Office)
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/CCMA_RMP.html
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Category: Access Issues
