BLM Extends Comment Period for Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Business Plan

Due to numerous requests by the public, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has extended the comment period for the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) Business Plan. Email comments will now be accepted until 8 a.m. Nov. 30, 2012 and may be submitted to ISDRAsubgroup@blm.gov.

The draft business plan will be presented to the Desert Advisory Council (DAC) during a public meeting in El Centro on Saturday, Dec. 1. The public will have an additional opportunity to comment there as well.  For more information on location and times visit the DAC website: www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/rac/dac.html.

The public is encouraged to provide comments and any ideas during this extended comment period.

The draft business plan released in September describes how the existing fee program revenue is unable to sustain current levels of emergency medical services, search and rescue, law enforcement, and maintenance necessary for visitor safety in the recreation area. Since 2007, costs at the dunes have continuously increased, while users have not paid off-site fee increases since 2004.  The BLM wants to keep the dunes open and maintain visitor services. The draft plan is available online here: http://blm.gov/4qkd.

The Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area is the largest world class off-highway vehicle recreation area in the United States.  Generations of families come to the dunes every year to enjoy our public lands and share the social experience with family, friends, and America’s youth.

Follow the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area on Facebook for all the latest dunes news at www.facebook.com/BLMImperialSandDunes.

California Desert District   22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553