For Immediate Release: October 19, 2001             CA-610-02-06
Contact:  Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220 or Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4616

BLM Issues Order to Temporarily Close Routes in Edwards Bowl Area

In an effort to reduce impacts to private property, sensitive resources and desert tortoise habitat, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a decision record to temporarily close approximately 3,200 acres of public lands to motorized vehicle use within the Edwards Bowl area, located north of the El Mirage Recreation Area and the town of Adelanto in San Bernardino County.

BLM is implementing the closure 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.

This interim closure is effective immediately and will remain in effect until a record of decision is signed for the West Mojave Plan, which is expected to be signed in June 2003.  BLM determined the closure is necessary to provide additional protection for the desert tortoise, a state and federally listed threatened species.  Authority for the closure is found in 43 Code of Federal Regulations 8341.2(a).

Copies of the decision record (DR) are available at the BLM's Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311, or calling (760) 252-6000. The DR is also available online at www.ca.blm.gov/cdd/lawsuit.html.

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.

For more information or a map of the closure area contact BLM's Barstow Field Office at (760) 525-6000.

 -BLM-