BLM Withdraws Clear Creek Mineral Entry

The Bureau of Land Management has withdrawn about 29,000 acres of public land in Central California from mineral entry to minimize human health risks from airborne asbestos fibers associated with mining activities.

The withdrawal is in the portion of Clear Creek Management Area designated as the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) in southern San Benito County and western Fresno County. 

The BLM ordered the temporary closure of the public lands in the Clear Creek Serpentine ACEC on May 1, 2008, in response to a human health risk assessment by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The assessment concluded disturbance to the soils in the ACEC releases asbestos into the air, creating a significant health risk to the users, and the concentration of asbestos in the breathing zone is directly related to the degree that an activity disturbs the soil and creates dust.
 
“Public Land Order 7795, approved on August 1, 2012, withdraws 28,953 acres, more or less, of public lands from location and entry under the United States mining laws to minimize impacts to human health and the environment from asbestos emissions from mining operations in the Clear Creek Management Area’s Serpentine ACEC,” said Rick Cooper, BLM Hollister Field Office manager.

The area was temporarily withdrawn in 2010 while various studies and analyses were made to support a final decision. This withdrawal extends the temporary withdrawal to 20 years.

For more information, contact Realty Specialist Christine Sloand, Bureau of Land Management Hollister Field Office, 20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, Calif.  95023.  Telephone (831) 630-5022 or e-mail christine_sloand@blm.gov.
 

Central California District   2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825