Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan & Environmental Impact Statement

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The Hollister Field Office has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA).  The CCMA RMP will replace the existing planning decisions for the approximately 63,000 acres of public land contained in the 1984 Hollister RMP and the associated CCMA RMP Amendments.  The Environmental Protection Agency has been a cooperating agency in this effort because of concerns expressed by EPA and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control regarding the potential for human health risks from exposure to naturally occurring asbestos in the area.  In May 2008, EPA completed an asbestos exposure evaluation study in the CCMA.  The study was designed to provide information on the exposure levels from various types of activities in the CCMA.  Initial results from the EPA study indicated that an environmental impact statement would be necessary to consider the new information and a range of management options for the CCMA. Accordingly, BLM agreed to work with EPA and the public to appropriately respond to the health risk information in the CCMA Asbestos Exposure and Human Health Risk Assessment (EPA 2008).

CCMA RMP/EIS STATUS UPDATE:

Due to the complexity of evaluating health risk for a wide range of alternatives, and working with other local, State, and Federal governments, the Draft RMP/EIS has taken longer to complete than anticipated.

The Hollister Field Office is working with the Department of Interior to release the Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Draft CCMA RMP/EIS, which will be accessible on-line using the links below once the NOA is published in the Federal Register.

Upon release of the Draft RMP/EIS, BLM will announce dates and locations for at least three public meetings (in San Jose, Hollister, and Coalinga) through a BLM News Release and on this webpage at least 15 days prior to the first meeting. Letters announcing availability of the Draft RMP/EIS and public meeting information will also be sent to people on the CCMA Mail List.

Public comments on the Draft RMP will be gathered by BLM, and a Proposed RMP/Final EIS will be developed that responds to public comments on the Draft RMP/EIS and incorporates changes, as needed. Based on the length of the public comment period (90 days), interagency review requirements, and the public protest period (30 days), a final decision is not likely to be completed until Summer 2010.

The final Record of Decision for the Clear Creek Management Area RMP will replace the current Temporary Closure Order for the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

The Clear Creek Management Area RMP/EIS will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies.  The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.

Some of the major issues that will be addressed in this planning effort include: impacts to public safety and human health from naturally occurring asbestos and past mining activities; management of the San Benito Mountain Research Natural Area; resource management objectives and desired conditions; wildland and prescribed fire management, livestock grazing, motorized and non-motorized recreation management; lands available for disposal or of interest for acquisition; and potential for energy development.

Federal Register Notices

• Notice of Availability of the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, California

• Notice of closure to all forms of entry and public use of approximately 31,000 acres of public lands within the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA), referred to as the Serpentine Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC) and portions of adjacent BLM-administered lands, located in southern San Benito County and western Fresno County, California.

• Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Clear Creek Management Area, California 

 News Releases

• BLM Seeks Public Comments on Clear Creek Draft Plan
• BLM Releases Scoping Report for Clear Creek Management Area
• Discussing the future of Clear Creek
• BLM Seeks Public Input for Clear Creek Management Area Resource Management Plan
• Open House and Public Meeting Planned for Clear Creek Asbestos Health Risk Presentation
• BLM Issues Immediate Temporary Closure of Clear Creek Management Area
• BLM Seeks Public Input for Clear Creek Management Area Resource Management Plan

 Public Comment Meetings

Dates & Locations (TBD)

Planning Documents    Links to the following documents will be updated as they are completed.

• Public Scoping Report
• Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement
• Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement
• Record of Decision for the CCMA Resource Management Plan

Planning Area Map

Please contact Sky Murphy, Hollister Field Office Environmental Planning Specialist, for more information.

Bureau of Land Management
Hollister Field Office
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023
Phone: (831) 630-5000
Fax: (831) 630-5055
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Contact us by Email