For Immediate Release: July, 29, 2002
Contact: Doran Sanchez (909) 697-5220; E-MAIL: dasanche@ca.blm.gov
CA-610-02-71

Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Proposed Plan Amendment Published

The Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert (NECO) Proposed Coordinated Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been released for public review and comment. The planning area encompasses about 5.5 million acres in eastern San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial Counties.

The document describes and analyzes the proposed plan amendments and alternatives for managing threatened/endangered/sensitive species and habitats on federal lands administered by the BLM, Joshua Tree National Park , and the U.S. Marine Corps Chocolate Mountains Aerial Gunnery Range. Development of the plan began in 1994. BLM is the lead agency for the Plan.

The NECO plan will amend BLM's 1980 California Desert Conservation Area plan, and fulfills the BLM's responsibilities under the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the 1969 National Environmental Act and the 1973 Federal Endangered Species Act. The plan also will complement the existing Joshua Tree National Park General Management Plan and Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan, and serve as a basis for a biological resources management plan for the Chocolate Mountains Aerial Gunnery Range.

The plan will provide for strategic, ecosystem-comprehensive management, including a programmatic biological opinion for the desert tortoise, provide for desert tortoise recovery, reduce the need to further species listings, and streamline the processing of land use permits.

The draft NECO plan was published February 26, 2001. The proposed plan and FEIS include public comments received by BLM in writing or at public hearings, along with the BLM responses to the comments received.

Copies or letters announcing the document's availability are being mailed to agencies and all who commented on the draft environmental impact statement. Printed or digital copies on compact disk are available upon request. Review copies are available at local libraries in Barstow, Needles, San Bernardino and Twentynine Palms, and is available online at http://www.ca.blm.gov/cdd/neco.htm.

Notice of availability of the NECO final proposed plan and EIS will be published in the Federal Register Friday, August, 2, 2002. The 30-day public protest period will end Tuesday, September 3, 2002. Protests should be submitted to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Director, Bureau of Land Management (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 66538, Washington, D.C. 20240 (regular mail) or 1620 L Street, NW, Room 1075, Washington, D.C. 20036 (overnight mail). Procedures for filing a protest are clearly outlined in the front of the NECO document.

For more information or to request a copy of the Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Proposed Coordinated Management Plan and FEIS contact BLM project lead Dick Crowe at (909) 697-5216.

-BLM-

California Desert District Office - 6221 Box Springs Blvd, Riverside, California - (909) 697-5220