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Clear Creek Special Management Recreation Area Resource Management Plan The Hollister Field Office intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA). The CCMA RMP will replace the existing planning decisions for the approximately 63,000 acres of public land contained in the 1984 Hollister RMP and the associated CCMA RMP Amendments. The Hollister RMP was updated in 2006 to establish goals, objectives, and management actions for BLM public lands that address current issues, knowledge, and conditions. However, the CCMA was not addressed in that document because of concerns expressed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others regarding the potential for human health risks from exposure to naturally occurring asbestos in the area. Since 2004, the EPA has been conducting an asbestos exposure evaluation study in the CCMA. The study is designed to provide further information on the exposure levels from various types of activities in the CCMA. Initial results from the EPA study indicated that an environmental impact statement would be necessary to consider the new information and a range of management options for the CCMA. Accordingly, BLM agreed to work with EPA and the public to appropriately respond to the new information upon completion of the EPA human health risk study. If the information is significantly different than the EPA’s previous 1992 risk assessment, BLM agreed to expeditiously initiate a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review to consider the new information and potential management responses at the CCMA in light of any new findings. BLM and EPA agreed that this subsequent NEPA review would address general public access and recreation at the CCMA and analyze a full range of alternatives. The plan will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify relevant issues through local news media, newsletters, and this web site at least 15 days prior to the first meeting. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and EIS alternatives. Some of the major issues that will be addressed in this planning effort include: impacts to public safety and human health from naturally occurring asbestos and past mining activities; management of the San Benito Mountain Research Natural Area; resource management objectives and desired conditions; wildland and prescribed fire management, livestock grazing, motorized and non-motorized recreation management; lands available for disposal or of interest for acquisition; and potential for energy development. The public is encouraged to help identify these issues and concerns during the BLM’s formal 90-day scoping period, which will begin with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the EPA Federal Register in September 2007. Please contact Sky Murphy, Hollister Field Office Environmental Planning Specialist, for more information.
Bureau of Land Management
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