BLM schedules public scoping meetings
on amending DRECP
February 13, 2018
(updated 3/6/2018)
by Lisbet Thoresen
Public Lands Representative for San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, Inc.
Chair, PLAC-South, California Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.
#DRECP Tweet
Comment Period Deadline: March 22, 2018
Rockhounds, get your name on a letter…
BLM opened a 45-day comment period on February 2nd. Rockhounds have until March 22nd to submit letters. Read more about why amending DRECP is unnecessary and could be bad for Rockhounds ». Download a FAQs sheet »
To ensure continued access to hobby collecting areas in California's deserts, BLM needs to hear from Rockhound advocates. SDMG has prepared a detailed comment letter. If you or your club would like to sign onto our letter, download a "how to" flyer with instructions and links to additional resources at: https://goo.gl/Jn7pRq (short URL).
Want to write your own letter? Download a flyer with tips for writing effective comments »
Eight dates,
Eight locations,
One chance
to end the DRECP Review
before it starts.
Rockhounds, we did it before, we have to do it again. Come to a meeting, sign-in, fill out the questionnaire. We have to tell BLM all over again where we go in the desert and why we love going there.
Mon, February 26, 2018
5pm - 7pm
Location: Lone Pine Film History Museum
701 S Main St
Lone Pine, CA 93545
Tue, February 27, 2018
5pm - 7pm
Location: Kerr-McGee Community Center
100 W. California Ave
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Wed, February 28, 2018
5pm - 7pm
Location: Courtyard Marriott
9619 Mariposa Rd.
Hesperia, CA 92345
Thu, March 1, 2018
6pm - 8pm
Location: Joshua Tree Community Center
6171 Sunburst Ave
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Fri, March 2, 2018
3pm - 5pm
Location: Fairfield Inn & Suites
503 E. Danenberg Dr.
El Centro, CA 92243
Mon, March 5, 2018
1pm - 3pm
Location: DoubleTree Hotel
2001 Point West Way
Sacramento, CA 95815
Tue, March 6, 2018
5pm - 7pm
Location: Bakersfield Field Office
3801 Pegasus Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93308
Wed, March 7, 2018
5pm - 7pm
Location: UC Riverside
Palm Desert Center, Auditorium
75080 Frank Sinatra Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Be sure to double check
the meeting location & time
on the BLM website
shortly before the meeting date:
https://goo.gl/aiUx7a (short URL)
For more information
on BLM's public scoping meetings, contact:
Stephen Razo
BLM California Desert District External Affairs
951-697-5217 or srazo@blm.gov
February 26 thru March 7, 2018
Rockhounds, your presence is requested.
Locations:
Lone Pine, Ridgecrest,
Hesperia, Joshua Tree, Palm Desert, El Centro,
Sacramento and Bakersfield
(see dates and addresses below)
Amending DRECP could be a threat to hobby collecting
The Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) is the largest land use plan amendment in California state history. It took 8+ years and tough compromises by everyone to conclude the whole painful process so that implementation of something that balanced conflicting values over multiple uses, preservation concerns, and renewable energy goals through 2030 could finally commence. Thanks to lots of input from hobby collecting advocates, Rockhounds benefited at the expense of the Renewable Energy Industry. BLM is now under enormous pressure from Industry advocates with support from Executive Order 13783 to throw out DRECP and start all over. A do-over is sure to result in lands designated for recreational uses -- including Rockhounding -- being made available to industrial development. (See maps below.)
It is important for Rockhounds to attend the public meetings scheduled in February and March and tell BLM why the Review is unnecessary and why it's bad for Rockhounds.
Comment period ends: March 22, 2018
Submit comment letters
on the DRECP Review
- BLM-California State Director
2800 Cottage Way
Rm W-1623
Sacramento, CA 95825 - Written comments also are accepted electronically at: BLM_CA_DRECP@blm.gov.
For more information on DRECP, contact:
Jeremiah Karuzas
Renewable Energy Lead
2800 Cottage Way
Rm W-1623
Sacramento, CA 95825
916-978-4644 or jkaruzas@blm.gov
If you or your club would like help preparing a comment letter or, better, if you'd like to sign onto SDMG's detailed comment letter, download SDMG's flyer on DRECP resources and instructions -- see page 2, it's only 2 easy steps.
Some documents and resources on the DRECP Review
Flyer with FAQS on DRECP and tips for writing effective comments on BLM's proposed Review »
BLM Press Release on DRECP Review (2/1/18)
Federal Register notice on the DRECP Review (2/2/18)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-02098 (short url)
(Federal Register Document Citation: 83 FR 4921
Docket Number 2018-02098)
BLM's schedule of public meetings on DRECP (2/8/18)
Flyer with instructions on how to sign onto SDMG's comment letter on the DRECP Review
and links to additional resources at: https://goo.gl/Jn7pRq (short URL)
Cite this article: L. Thoresen. 13 February 2018. BLM schedules public scoping meetings on amending DRECP. San Diego Mineral & Gem Society, Inc. [updated on 6 March 2018] Available online at: https://www.sdmg.org/articles/201802/BLM-schedules-public-mtgs-on-amending-DRECP.
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