News Release

For Release:  October 28, 2008                                                            
Contact:  Stephen Razo 951-697-5217; email: srazo@ca.blm.gov
CA-CDD-09-11

BLM to Launch Rand Mountain Education and Permit Program

On November 1, 2008 the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Ridgecrest Field Office, in coordination with Kern County and the California Desert District Advisory Council (DAC), will be implementing Phase I of an education and permit program for the Rand Mountains Management Area (RMMA).

Phase I will feature a no-cost permit to operate a motorized vehicle in the RMMA issued by an authorized BLM representative. The permit package will include a map of the designated open route network within the RMMA as well as educational information on resource issues in the area.

Phase II, to begin in approximately one year, will expand the permit program to include a fee to cover the administrative costs of the program. The administrative costs will cover law enforcement, monitoring, maintenance and implementation of the permit program. Phase II will have a mandatory educational requirement and written test before a permit will be issued to operate motor vehicles in the RMMA.

In accordance with the West Mojave plan amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area plan and the environmental assessment for the interim closure to motorized vehicle use of selected routes within the Western Rand Mountains Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), BLM will rescind the interim ACEC closures of routes R5 and R50.

At 10:00 a.m. on November 1, the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office will host an opening ceremony for routes R5 and R50 at the southern end of the RMMA on R5 near Camp “C”. In attendance will be BLM and Kern County officials, OHV recreational users and members of the DAC.  Interested members of the public are invited to participate in the re-opening of these two previously closed designated routes.

Permits for motorized vehicle recreation in the RMMA can be obtained at the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 South Richmond Road, Ridgecrest CA; Jawbone Station Visitor Center, 28111 Jawbone Road, Cantil, CA; or the BLM California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley CA.

-BLM-

California Desert District Office – 22835 Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553- (951) 697-5217