Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the Truckhaven/Desert Cahuilla and Ocotillo Wells General Plan

COMMENTS DUE: Feb 13, 2008

The California Department of Parks and Recreation (CDPR), as Lead Agency, is preparing a General Plan and associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Truckhaven/Desert Cahuilla area and the Ocotillo Wells District. The CDPR has prepared this Notice of Preparation (NOP) pursuant to Section 15082 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. The purpose of the NOP is to inform agencies and the public that an EIR is being prepared for this project and to invite specific comments on the scope and content of the EIR. Agencies should comment on the elements of the environmental information that are relevant to their statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed project. The project description, location, and possible environmental effects are contained in this NOP.

For additional information, see: http://www.muirnet.net/?p=481

If you use the Truckhaven area, please send your comments. Specific "talking points" should include:

Your use of Truckhaven:
-- number of years
-- number of times per year
-- number of days per visit

Is your use:
-- single
-- family (number in family)
-- group (number in group)

How do you use the area?
-- Type of camping
- motorhome
- trailer
- tent
- other
-- Type of recreation
- 4x4
- ATV
- dirtbike
- other

What makes Truckhaven unique for your recreation experience?

Are you willing to volunteer to help manage the area?
-- volunteer opportunities include such activities as volunteer trail patrol and resource protection projects.

Please send your written response to:

Chris Moore, Senior Project Manager
EDAW, Inc
1420 Kettner Boulevard, Suite 500
San Diego, California 92101

also, please send copies to me at:

john@muirnet.net or

MUIRNet
PO Box 1057
Lakeside, CA 92040

Can/should we comment if we're not users...but wish to be in the future? Any good speaking points for us to comment?

Hey John,

Is there a place online I can look at a a copy of the EIR so I can make substantive comments?

http://www.muirnet.net/?p=481

This is a Notice of Preparation. As such, it is the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) equivalent of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Notice of Intent.

In other words, the agency has issued a notice that they will engage in a review of known issues and issues they are made aware of to develop a management plan for the area.

At this time, there is no EIR (Environmental Impact Review) to look at and provide objections or support.

This is a "scoping" period where the agency is looking for information about how the area is used and what issues are expected.

That means that IF you are a user of the area, you should definitely comment.

If you are not a user of the area and expect to use the area, you should comment with your expectations of use based on the outline I provided.

This tactic applies to ANY notice of intent that impacts a recreation opportunity.

Whether it is the Clearwater Forest in Idaho or the Moab Management Plan, IF YOU VALUE YOUR OFF HIGHWAY RECREATION EXPERIENCE; SPEAK UP!!!!!

NOW IS THE TIME to express how you use or would want to use the area under review.

I know how I'd use the Clearwater NF. I know how I use the Flathead NF.....just looking for good talking points so I can help with another letter for someone else's home turf! :D

Basically, method of use is the same whether is is the Clearwater, Flathead or Truckhaven.

Okay, there are significant differences. (I spent a number of childhood days in the Clearwater NF and have fond memories of the Selway River and Red River Hot Springs and they are very different from the desert areas of southern California.)

However, the core issue is you have an expectation of recreation that you would like to see happen.

Being extremely close to the Truckhaven situation, my posting is geared to the multitude that do or have visited the area.

If I were to take a higher level approach, I would say that appropriate comments from outside the area would talk about your expectation of having a quality recreation experience enjoying the world-famous opportunities for 4x4 recreation offered by Truckhaven.

And, your visit would include <xxx> family/friends to enjoy the quality recreation opportunity and the unique geography of the area.

Basically, expressing that you would like to use the area for its noted reaction opportunities is a plus. And, the points about "how" you would use the area are important.

BTT printed out my letter today.

BTT

Please note the comment due date of Feb 13.

A copy of my comments is available at:

http://www.muirnet.net/Public/Drop-Box/ca4wdc/truckhaven-gp.doc

Your letters are important.

Let State Parks know how you use and have used the area.

Additional information about providing comments to proposed actions is available at:

http://www.muirnet.net/4x4voice/index.php/civics-101/35-writing-letters-comments/69-providing-comments