California
Land Use Planning
Peppergrass Flat, Ciervo Hills, Fresno County
Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment for the Southern Diablo Mountain Range and Central Coast of California and Associated Environmental Assessment. Go to the Hollister Field Office Desert Hills web page for the lastest information and postings.
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hollister Field Office, Hollister, California intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment for the Southern Diablo Mountain Range and Central Coast of California RMP with an associated Environmental Assessment (EA) to address the Panoche-Coalinga Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.
The Panoche-Coalinga ACEC stretches from the Panoche Hills southwards to Coalinga connecting a vast landscape of ancient desert-like habitats and open space with outstanding scenic and recreational values in the western San Joaquin Valley. These lands, administered by the BLM Hollister Field Office are known as the “San Joaquin Desert Hills.”
Notice of Intent (NOI) Federal Register (FR)
In 1976 Congress passed "The Federal Land Policy and Management Act", often referred to by its acronym of "FLPMA". With this act, Congress directed how BLM is to manage public lands. FLPMA specifies several key instructions for the Bureau, notably:
- that goals and objectives be established as guidelines for public land use planning, and that management be on the basis of multiple use and sustained yield unless otherwise specified by law;
- and that the public lands be managed in a manner:
- that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resources, and archaeological values;
- that where appropriate, will preserve and protect certain lands in their natural condition;
- that will provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife and domestic animals;
- and that will provide for outdoor recreation and human occupancy and use.
As prescribed by FLPMA, BLM prepares land use plans that identify goals and objectives for the management of public lands, and allocate certain kinds of uses.
Examples of land use allocations within the Hollister Field Office include:
- identification of lands to be leased for oil and gas development, and what stipulations may be attached to those actions;
- identification of lands available for livestock grazing, and how grazing will be managed;
- identification of lands available for sale or exchange; and
- identification of lands that warrant protection as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.
Resource Management Plans
The Bureau of Land Management calls its land use plans "Resource Management Plans" (RMPs). These plans prescribe management only on BLM managed public lands and federal mineral estate - they have no jurisdiction over private or state lands, or public domain managed by other agencies.
Resource management plans are built upon public involvement. Prior to preparation of the plan, the public is invited to help identify issues and concerns, they are briefed on proposals through open houses and public advisory councils, they are invited to comment on the draft plan, and if they feel that the proposed RMP is misguided, they may even protest the action in question. Once completed, an RMP may guide management for fifteen or more years.
Resource Management Plan for the Southern Diablo Range and the Central Coast of California
Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan
California Coastal National Monument Resource Management Plan
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Rick Cooper, Field Manager
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., M-F
Contact us by Email
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