News Release

For Release:  April 21, 2009                                                            
Contact:  Stephen Razo 951-697-5217; email: srazo@ca.blm.gov
CA-CDD-09-41

BLM Announces Public Scoping for Abandoned Mine Lands Programmatic Environmental Assessment

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), California Desert District (CDD) Office, is giving notice to initiate a public scoping period and conduct public meetings to identify issues and formulate alternatives for a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA). The PEA will address remediation of physical safety hazards associated with abandoned mined lands (AML) on public lands managed by the BLM in the CDD.  

Public meetings will be held on May 27, 2009 in Ridgecrest at the Matarango Room, Marriot Spring Hill Suites at 113 E. Sydnor Avenue; and on May 28, 2009 in Yucca Valley at the Yucca Room, Community Services Department, 57090 Twentynine Palms Highway. Both meetings will begin at 6:00 pm. 

Preliminary considerations include: (1) existing studies, available inventories, and on-going AML site investigations: (2)  remediation techniques: (3) AML sites located on adjacent or nearby, non-Federal lands and non-public land surface over federally owned minerals: (4) and energy and mineral developments on public lands. AML sites not considered in this EA include those with chemical or water quality issues; sites in Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas; and sites with identified primary responsible parties.

The CDD will also coordinate the NEPA public comment process to satisfy Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).  A preferred alternative will be developed by the CDD based on analysis of techniques presented in the PEA.

The next major opportunity for public review and comment will be offered with the publication of the draft programmatic EA.  Please send comments and questions to the BLM AML Program address in the letter head above regarding this letter or the public meetings.

For further information, contact Sterling White: 951-697-5239

-BLM-

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