BLM invites public input on Mojave Trails National Monument Management Plan
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NEEDLES, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public input to inform a monument management plan for the approximately 1.6-million-acre Mojave Trails National Monument in San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
The Mojave Trails National Monument was designated by Presidential Proclamation 9395 in February 2016 to protect the site’s cultural and historic resources and maintain its diverse natural and scientific values for the benefit of all Americans. The proclamation emphasizes protection of the area’s unique geology, trails and travel routes, paleontology, ecological research and desert connectivity, rare plants and wildlife species, and World War II historical legacies.
The BLM’s management plan will focus on preserving and protecting the monument’s cultural, physical, social, biological, historic and scientific objects and values. This planning effort also seeks nominations for areas of critical environmental concern within the planning area. The proposed plan will amend the California Desert Conservation Area Plan, as necessary.
Publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register initiates a 45-day public scoping comment period that closes on June 20.
“Public input will help guide the development of the monument plan and identify issues, planning criteria, concerns, potential impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be considered in the environmental analysis,” said Mojave Trails National Monument Manager Noelle Glines-Bovio. “The comment period will provide the public with an important opportunity to help with the monument planning process.”
The BLM will hold one virtual meeting and three in-person meetings to provide information and answer questions on the planning effort; written comments will be accepted at the meetings and formal comments can also be submitted in the manner outlined below.
In-person meetings will be held in an open-house format. The BLM invites members of the public to attend any of the four public scoping meetings as scheduled:
- Wed., May 24 at 6 p.m. PT – Virtual meeting via Zoom. Register to attend here; participants will receive a confirmation email containing a unique link to join the meeting.
- Tues., May 30 at 6 p.m. – Comfort Suites conference room, 2571 Fisher Blvd., Barstow, CA 92311
- Wed., May 31 at 6 p.m. – Twentynine Palms Historical Society Founder’s Hall, 6760 National Park Dr., Twentynine Palms, CA 92277
- Thurs., June 1 at 6 p.m. – El Garces Harvey House, 950 Front St., Needles, CA 92363
Substantive written comments may also be submitted anytime through June 20, via mail at ATTN: Mojave Trails National Monument Manager Noelle Glines-Bovio, 1303 US-95, Needles, CA 92363. The BLM will consider all substantive public comments in preparation of the analysis, which will be made available for public review on the BLM’s National NEPA Register website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2022347/510
For additional information, please contact BLM project manager Noelle Glines-Bovio at 760-903-8653, or by email at BLM_CA_NFO_MTNM_Planning@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.