BLM Public Information Meetings To Be Announced Next Week

[bakerhab2003]

Mark your calendars, save these dates.

I have received advanced notice that the Twentynine Palms Base Expansion Withdrawal Notice will be published in the Federal Register early next week. That notice will include the announcement of two BLM public information meetings to discuss exactly what the withdrawal means. Explanation of terms, study timeline, etc.

Those two meetings are 'tentatively' scheduled for October 23 & 24. Locations and time to be announced, but they will most probably be held at LARGE facilities in towns at the east and west ends of the base.

Scoping meeting dates will also be announced shortly, these meetings will probably happen in the late November/December timeframe, and I have been told that there will be at least three.

Helen
PFJV

[kf6zpl]

Now is the time for all good people to begin assembling your comments.

Does that sound like a rudimentary typing exercise?? Maybe I am dating myself....

However, the time is coming for people to present their beliefs of what the future should look like WRT recreation in Johnson Valley.

It is time for solutions to be presented.

Emotional pleas are not going to receive a lot of attention.

From my perspective, those that can address core economic issues, military training, and renewable energy concerns and how they can co-exist with recreation are reality checks for all parties competing for access to public lands.

[TomJeeps]

John I told you about this and I'm hearing if we want to keep 3N69A on the San Bernardino National Forest we're going to have to fight for it, which was somewhat expected but the looming fight for JV is going to turn up the heat. This issue on the SBNF didn't come up till after the JV issue surfaced, SBNF is openly concerned about the "stress" this will put on similar terrain in that Forest, I fear they don't want to draw all the possible displaced users form JV. This could be the start of a very slippery slope, my fear is surrounding land managers will be faced with the same issue, pressure from the resource people to close terrain that possibly displaced users from JV may consider using...TJ

[Marie Brashear]

Spoke with BLM State Office and was told today there will be a news release and something posted on the CA BLM website about the segregation/withdrawal.

The only thing which is halted are new mining claims and any other NON discretionary action.

It does NOT stop or do anything to discretionary actions, ie. events and other recreational opportunities and existing mining and so on.

It is for two years......only until the EIS is completed.

The miltary will be required to come up with a plan to deal with private land owners, mine holders, solar and wind applicants any entity which has rights on the land which may wind up as their wants.

There will be 2 meetings, places not yet selected. BLM and the Military will be hosting the meeting to answer all the questions anyone might have.
Marie

[bakerhab2003]

News Release

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2008
Contacts: Stephen Razo (951) 697-5217; e-mail srazo@ca.blm.gov
CA-CDD-08-65

Public Meetings Planned for Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Withdrawal Application

The Bureau of Land Management and the Marine Corps will host public meetings on October 23 and 24 to present the proposal for possible expansion of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base and to discuss the legislative withdrawal process of the public lands in San Bernardino County. The locations, times, and formats for the meetings will be announced in the near future.

A Federal Register notice published today segregates the public lands identified by the Marines for possible expansion for two years. Under the segregation, the lands are no longer available for settlement, sale, and location of claims under the mining laws. However, the lands remain open to public access and recreation use.

The notice, available online at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/fed_reg_archives.html also explains the withdrawal process, which requires full environmental and public review and congressional approval as required by the 1958 Engle Act. The publication of the Federal Register notice begins a 90-day comment period regarding the proposed withdrawal.


After the comment period, the Marine Corps will be preparing a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for further public review to identify a range of alternatives for meeting the Corps' training requirements and analyzing the environmental impacts.

“We realize members of the public have concerns and questions about the proposed withdrawal and what the segregation means,” said Roxie Trost, BLM’s Barstow Field Office manager. “These meetings will provide a first-hand opportunity to have the proposal and subsequent opportunities for full public involvement explained,” she said.


The Department of the Navy, in accordance with the Engle Act, filed an application requesting the Secretary of the Interior to process a proposed withdrawal of public lands for military training and exercises involving the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms. The proposal seeks to withdraw approximately 366,000 acres of federal public land and, if eventually acquired, approximately 72,000 acres of non-federally owned property within the proposed withdrawal area.
-BLM-