PLEASE SEE THE REVISION/CLARIFICATION TO THIS NEWS RELEASE DATED 10/23/01

For Immediate Release: October 19, 2001        CA-610-02-07
Contact:  Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220
                 or Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4616

BLM Decision Temporarily Closes Certain Routes in CDCA

In an effort to reduce impacts to sensitive resources and desert tortoise habitat, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a decision record to temporarily close to vehicle use specified routes of travel in the lower Chemehuevi Valley in San Bernardino County and all driveable washes in eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial counties.  All the routes are on public lands within the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA).

These interim closures are effective immediately, and will provide additional protection to the threatened desert tortoise (a Federally listed species) and its habitat.  Authority for the closure is found in 43 Code of Federal Regulations 8341.2(a).

BLM is implementing the closures as part of a settlement agreement reached in response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Sierra Club, and the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility regarding the Endangered Species Act.

As specified in the settlement agreement, all these temporary closures will remain in effect until BLM consults with the Fish and Wildlife Service as required by the Endangered Species Act and completes the Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert (NECO) Plan now being developed with full public participation.

The affected areas include:  

Certain routes on public lands in the lower Chemehuevi Valley in San Bernardino County would also be closed to all motorized use.  These closures would continue until final route designations can be approved and implemented through the NECO Plan.  For more information contact BLM's Needles Office at (760) 326-7000.

All driveable washes on public lands in eastern San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial counties not identified as specific motorized vehicle routes in the Draft NECO plan (released for public review on February 23, 2001) will be closed to all motorized vehicle use.  These closures will continue until final route designations can be approved and implemented through the NECO Plan. For more information contact BLM's Palm Springs Field Office at (760) 251-4800.

Fire, emergency, or law enforcement vehicles official use are exempt from the closures.  In addition, on certain specific routes, valid mining claim holders are exempt from the closure to access their claims.

The decision may be appealed through Monday, November 26, 2001, to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, Office of the Secretary, in accordance with regulations contained in 43 CFR Part 4.  The decision records, maps and supporting environmental documents are available from each BLM office as described.  The documents also are available online at www.ca.blm.gov/cdd/lawsuit.html.

-BLM-