BLM LAW ENFORCEMENT

"Shooter ends up in prison" (The Union Democrat, 05/04/2004)
"In a show of solidarity, 12 law enforcement officers were in court...for the sentencing of a 21-year Groveland man who admitted shooting at a U.S. Bureau of Land Management ranger in October." Shooter will have to serve at least 15 years of 18-year sentence.
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=14092

"Law Enforcement Day is Saturday" (Barstow Desert Dispatch, 5/7/2004)
Sponsored by several agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, "[t]he event will feature such activities as child fingerprinting, face painting, contests, police car rides, child safety information and a bicycle rodeo."
http://www.desertdispatch.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1083936639,99136,

CEMEX SAND/GRAVEL MINE

"Judge OKs Cemex Mine; Santa Clarita to Appeal" (Los Angeles Times, 05/04/2004)
"A federal judge approved plans Monday for a mine that could extract 56.1 million tons of sand and gravel from a canyon near Santa Clarita, despite the objections of environmental groups and local governments."
http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/la-me-cemex4may04,0,4953035.story?coll=ktla-newslocal-1

"Judge signs decree for mine permit" (Antelope Valley Press, 05/04/2004)
"The settlement, or consent decree, directs the county to issue mining permits for a 78 million ton aggregate mine in Soledad Canyon and ends the mining company's litigation against the county for denying the permit in February 2002."
http://www.avpress.com/n/tusty5.hts

"Officials grit teeth as judge OKs mine" (LA Daily News, 05/03/2004)
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~20954~2125134,00.html

"Judge Green Lights Mega-Mine" (The Santa Clarita Signal, 05/04/2004)
http://www.the-signal.com/News/ViewStory.asp?storyID=4593

Update: "McKeon Sets Talks to Limit Mine" (The Santa Clarita Signal, 5/7/2004)
"The day after a federal judge cleared the way for a giant open-pit mine in Soledad Canyon, U.S. Rep. Howard P. 'Buck' McKeon got the major players to agree to a new round of talks aimed at reducing the scope of the project, a spokesman said Thursday.
'The congressman has been in contact with the Bureau of Land Management, TMC (Cemex) and the city,' said....McKeon’s press deputy. 'He’s very pleased with their cooperation. There is a meeting set'."
http://www.the-signal.com/News/ViewStory.asp?storyID=4611

"Expanded area for tiny toads?" (Los Angeles Daily News, 04/30/2004)
"Federal wildlife officials have expanded the proposed critical habitat in the Santa Clarita Valley for a rare 2-inch toad to include land near the planned Cemex sand and gravel mine....[T]he designation likely would not affect the mine proposal, but officials will consult with Cemex representatives to make sure protections are in place for the toad....Nevertheless, the city of Santa Clarita, battling the mine proposal, was encouraged."
http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20949%257E2119698,00.html

OTHER MINERALS ON PUBLIC LANDS

"Supervisors debate mining" (Imperial Valley Press, 5.5.2004)
"...[R]esidents have been growing steadily less patient with the high volume of trucks moving gravel and other products from pits at the foot of the Coyote Mountains....talks are continuing between the county, BLM and several of the operators about solving the problems, even after a notice was served to one company that was breaking operating parameters."
http://ivpressonline.com/articles/2004/05/05/front/news01.txt

BLM hosts 3rd annual Seminar for Federal Oil and Gas Operators
More than 70 representatives from major and independent oil and gas companies, industry associations, contractors and other agencies attended the all-day event. The seminar addressed responsibilities of operators on federal leases and provided up-to-date information on leasing, permitting, assignments/transfers, bonding and field operations. It also focused on BLM's inspection, idle well and royalty rate reduction programs.
One participant said, "Today was another building block of cooperation." The Bakersfield Field Office offers the seminar each spring, because it is an effective forum for the Bureau and oil industry customers, clarifying responsibilities and answering questions.

WILDFIRE DANGER

"High Desert wildfire threat greater now than last year" (Barstow Desert Dispatch, 04/30/2004)
"Firefighters from the Bureau of Land Management are responsible for protecting 4 million acres of desert between the San Bernardino National Forest line to the Nevada state line."
http://www.desertdispatch.com/cgi-bin/newspro/viewnews.cgi?newsid1083330808,9093,

"Fire Safe Council progress reported" (Ukiah Daily Journal, 05/01/2004)
"The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council is moving forward -- and not a moment too soon. It is anticipated that fire season will be declared early this year -- by mid May -- in Northern California."
http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/Stories/0,1413,91~3089~2122204,00.html

"Questions to be answered at McCloud Firesafe Council meeting" (Mount Shasta Herald, 05/05/2004)
"McCloud's Firesafe Council has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, May 13th at 6 p.m. at the McCloud Fire Hall, and community members are encouraged to attend....As part of the National Fire Plan in California, grants are provided by the Sacramento Regional Foundation of the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management."
http://www.mtshastanews.com/articles/2004/05/05/news/news06.txt

"Fire frustrates firemen" (Yuma Sun, 05/05/2004)
"Statewide and California firefighters battled an ongoing wildland fire...that forced law enforcement officers to shut down Interstate 8 for nearly three hours....In order to help prevent devastating fires this coming fire season, Bureau of Land Management officials are preparing to enact fire restrictions for 2.5 million acres of land along the Colorado River that have a high risk of catching fire...." Restrictions will apply to both California and Arizona sides of the river.
http://yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_10972.shtml

Update: "Bend Fire now fully contained" (Yuma Sun, 5/7/2004)
http://yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_11012.shtml

"Wildfire Awareness Week Event - CDF to demonstrate firefighting techniques on the ground and from the air" (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection news release, 5/5/2004)
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) will kick off Wildfire Awareness Week with a demonstration of firefighting drills in the foothills outside of Sacramento on Monday May 10, 2004. BLM will also participate.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/newsbytes/temp_issues/155_xtra_cdfaware.html

"Crews battling wildfire near Poison Lake" (BLM California news release, 05/05/2004)
Fire broke out earlier this week.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/05/nr/NCnews58_fire.html

LAND USE PLANNING

"South Yuba River planning meeting May 11" (BLM California news release, 05/06/2004)
Everyone interested in the future of the South Yuba River is invited to attend a public meeting between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm, Tuesday evening, May 11, 2004 in Grass Valley to continue work on a comprehensive management plan for the 39-mile stretch of the South Yuba River between Englebright Lake and Spaulding Dam.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/05/nr/CCnews27_syuba.htm

"BLM Seeks Desert District Advisory Council Nominations" (BLM California news release, 05/07/2004)
The BLM is seeking nominations for five southern Californians with an interest and knowledge of the California Desert and its natural resources to serve on its California Desert District Advisory Council for the 2005-2007 three-year term.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/05/nr/CDDnews45_dac.html

"BLM schedules meetings to review proposed routes of travel plan amendment" (BLM California news release, 04/28/2004)
The BLM has scheduled five meetings to brief the public on an environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impacts (FONSI), and a proposed routes of travel plan amendment for the Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert (NEMO) routes planning area, which encompasses approximately 1 million acres of public lands in Inyo, San Bernardino and Mono counties. (Repeated from last week's News.bytes.)
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/04/nr/CDDnews38_NEMO_routes_of_travel_meetings_schedule.html

PRESERVATION, USE ON PUBLIC LANDS

"Conservancy brings protection to new acreage" (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 5/3/2004)
"Tribes: The 2,500 acres include petroglyphs and pictographs that were at risk of being vandalized....The new preserve is on formerly private land that will be managed by the Bureau of Land Management."
http://www.pe.com/localnews/desertpass/stories/PE_News_Local_oldwoman04.5815b.html

"BLM to co-sponsor Native American Conference" (BLM California news release, 05/06/2004)
The-two day Native American conference, May 21-22, 2004, is entitled, "Sacred Lands - What Is Sacred? Who Decides? Why We Care." Sessions will cover history, Native American culture and spiritual values, archaeology, and the management of sacred Indian places on public and private lands in the California desert.
http://www.ca.blm.gov/news/2004/05/nr/CDDnews42_conf.html

"Closed mine becomes bat abode" (Smithsonian Magazine/Associated Press in Riverside Press-Enterprise, 4/29/2004)
"Where miners used to dig, an endangered bat now flourishes, highlighting a new use for abandoned mineral sites....In the past, mining companies preferred to seal off spent mines for public safety. Then, a decade ago, Bat Conservation International, Inc., and the federal Bureau of Land Management started the Bats and Mines Project to make some nonworking mines accessible to flying - but not bipedal - mammals."
http://www.pe.com/lifestyles/stories/PE_Fea_Living_own_mine.581e5.html

"Keep public lands open to the public" (Nevada Appeal, 05/03/2004)
Editorial: "While respecting the Bureau of Land Management's desire to protect rare and sensitive artifacts, we have to wonder just where the line should be drawn on restricting access to public lands."
http://www.nevadaappeal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040430/Opinion/104300015

HEADLINES AND HIGHLIGHTS

"Bill Calvert, bolt cutters and the long road home" (Sacramento Bee, 05/02/2004)
"It all began when Bill Calvert, who was on the road a lot selling garage door openers, had trouble getting back to his ranch in the Yuba Goldfields, along the Yuba River near Marysville. By the late 1980s much of the land around his ranch had been acquired by a large Texas-based conglomerate, Centex, that had begun to mine the Goldfields' immense reserves of gravel."
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/9151116p-10076656c.html

"Current job openings - BLM California"
BLM California job listings on USAJOBS Web site.
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9blm-ca.asp

ANSWER TO WILDLIFE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Answer: (d) Foothill yellow-legged frogs can be identified by a pale-colored triangular patch on the tip of their snouts.
Learn more about the Foothill yellow-legged frog in our BLM California online wildlife database (Note: the Wildlife Database is hosted on the Department of Interior's secure Web server - see note under "Selected Upcoming Events" below):
https://doi1.ios.doi.gov/blmcawildlife.nsf/siteurl/56827650?OpenDocument