For Release: September 30, 2005
Contact: Lesly Smith, 831-630-5015
CCal-05-90

BLM Releases Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendment and Final Environmental Impact Statement for Clear Creek Management Area

The Bureau of Land Management has released the proposed resource management plan amendment (RMPA) and final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA). The proposed RMPA and FEIS would affect approximately 63,000 acres of public lands in San Benito and Fresno counties.

"This document is the result of over ten years of public input and participation" says Hollister Field Office Manager George Hill. "We deeply appreciate the time people have taken to help us identify management issues and concerns, and to review and comment on the draft resource management plan amendment and draft EIS released last year."

The proposed RMPA and FEIS would designate routes and areas for motorized vehicle access and identify boundaries of the expanded San Benito Mountain Research Natural Area (RNA). The document also incorporates acquired lands made through previous land tenure adjustments into the Clear Creek Management Area specifically for route and area designation.

A 30-day public protest period on the proposed plan amendment and final EIS begins on September 30, 2005 and runs through October 31, 2005. During this period any person who participated in the planning process and has an interest that may be adversely affected by approval of the decisions that amend the RMP for the CCMA may submit a protest. Decisions that can be protested are:

• Designation of barren areas as open to off-road vehicle use.
• Adoption of the criteria for designating routes
• Designation of the San Benito Mountain Research Natural Area boundaries

Protests must be postmarked by October 31, 2005. Instructions for filing a protest with the director of the BLM may be found at 43 CFR 1610.5 and are outlined below. A protest may raise only those issues that were submitted for the record during the planning process. E-mail and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail, postmarked by the close of the protest period.

The protest must contain:

a. The name, mailing address, telephone number, and interest of the person filing the protest.
b. A statement of the issue or issues being protested.
c. A statement of the part or parts of the plan and the issue or issues being protested.
d. A copy of all documents addressing the issue(s) that the protesting party submitted during the planning process or a statement of the date they were discussed for the record.
e. A concise statement explaining why the protestor believes the BLM state director's decision is believed to be wrong.

All protests must be in writing and mailed to the following address:

Regular Mail:
Director (210)
USDI Bureau of Land Management
Attention: Brenda Williams
P.O. Box 66538
Washington, D.C. 20035

Overnight Mail:
Director (210)
USDI Bureau of Land Management
Attention: Brenda Williams
1620 L Street, N.W., Suite 1075
Washington, D.C. 20036

The director will promptly render a decision on the protest. The decision will be in writing and will be sent to the protesting party by certified mail, return receipt requested. The decision of the director shall be the final decision of the Department of the Interior.

Decisions on the designation of routes are not subject to protest under the planning regulations. Route designation decisions may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals after the record of decision is signed.

Your interest in planning for the public lands within the CCMA is appreciated.

For additional information contact the Hollister Field Office at 831-630-5000.

-BLM-

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Hollister Field Office, 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, CA 95203