News Release

For Release:   March 14, 2008      
Contact:  David Christy (916) 985-4474
CA-CC-08-44

BLM Bakersfield Field Office Announces Planning Meetings

The Bureau of Land Management has announced the schedule of public scoping meetings for the Caliente Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

The current Caliente Resource Management Plan guides the management of about 600,000 acres of public lands administered by the agency’s Bakersfield Field Office. Public lands in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Kings and Santa Barbara counties will be covered by this plan revision.

The BLM will hold scoping meetings to gather comments on issues that should be addressed in the RMP and accompanying EIS. Meetings will be:

• April 8, BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
• April 9, Taft School District, 820 N. 6th St., 6-8 p.m.
• April 10, Lake Isabella Moose Lodge, 6732 Lake Isabella Blvd., 6-8 p.m.
• April 15, Fresno Library, 2420 Mariposa St. 6-8 p.m.
• April 17, Three Rivers Memorial Building, 43490 Sierra Drive, 6-8 p.m.
• April 22, San Luis Obispo, Ludwick Community Center, 864 Santa Rosa St., 6-8 p.m.

 Plan information will be available on-line at:  www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield.html.

Comments also may be submitted prior to May 5 either by sending them by e-mail to: cacalrmp@blm.gov, or by sending a letter to:  Caliente RMP, Bureau of Land Management, 3801 Pegasus Dr, Bakersfield, Calif. 93308.

The plan revision will address the competing demands for public lands, such as protection for special status plants and animals, the availability and management of public lands for oil and gas, livestock grazing, fire management and fuels reduction, recreation management, and more.

Additional information is available from the Bakersfield Field Office, (661) 391-6022, or by contacting BLM Public Affairs Officer David Christy at (916) 985-4474.

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