Bakersfield RMP meetings

[Dirty LJ]

The BLM has just notified the public of the meetings next week to
> discuss the revision of the Land Management Plan for the Bakersfield BLM
> lands.
> If you are interested in the future of any of these lands please attend
> one of the meetings
>
> --
> Chris Horgan
> Stewards of the Sequoia
> Division of CTUC 501c3 Non Profit
>
>
> Attached is a notice soliciting public input, and providing notice on
> scoping meetings. Sorry for the short notice! If you have any questions,
> let me know.
>
> Steve
>
>
> |-------------+----------------------------------------------------------+-------------|
> UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
> Bureau of Land Management
> Bakersfield Field Office
> | | 3801 Pegasus Drive
> | |
> | | Bakersfield, California 93308
> | |
> |-------------+----------------------------------------------------------+-------------|
>
>
>
>
> Dear Interested Public,
>
> The Bakersfield Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is
> beginning to revise the Caliente Resource Management Plan. This plan
> guides the management of approximately 600,000 acres of public lands and
> another 450,000 acres of mineral estate within Kings, San Luis Obispo,
> Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura, and western Kern counties.
>
> Public lands within the Bakersfield Field Office are used for recreation,
> oil & gas production, endangered species management, livestock grazing,
> and
> much more. The Caliente Resource Management Plan (RMP) was completed in
> 1997. A copy is available for reference on the Internet at:
> www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield/Pro ... tents.html.
> Although the direction included within that plan is still pertinent,
> revisions are needed to keep the plan current. California’s rapid
> population growth, increased interest in oil and gas production, new
> mandates for the protection of California’s sensitive plants and animals,
> and changes in public land ownership make it imperative that the plan be
> updated.
>
> The public is invited to help identify planning issues to be addressed in
> the planning process. We invite you to submit your thoughts on how public
> lands should be used. Resource allocations, levels of use, development
> and
> protection opportunities, and general management are all appropriate
> topics
> for comment. Comments may be submitted via email by sending them to:
> cacalrmp@ca.blm.gov, or by mailing them to: RMP Revision, Bureau of Land
> Management, 3801 Pegasus Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93308. Comments will be
> accepted through May 5.
>
> BLM will be holding several scoping meetings to solicit public input.
> Each
> meeting will provide a brief overview of the issues and the planning
> process, and then will provide an opportunity for the public to provide
> feedback. The meetings will be held at the following locations and times:
>
> |------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
> |Tuesday April 8 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM |Bureau of Land Management
> |
> | |3801 Pegasus Drive,
> Bakersfield, CA |
> |------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
> |Wednesday April 9 6:00 PM |Taft School District Office
> |
> | |8320 N. 6th St, Taft, CA
> |
> |------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
> |Thursday April 10 6:00 PM |Moose Lodge
> |
> | |6732 Lake Isabella Blvd,
> |
> | |Lake Isabella CA
> |
> |------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
> |Tuesday April 15 6:00 PM |Fresno Library
> |
> | |2420 Mariposa St, Fresno, CA
> |
> |------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
> |Thursday April 17 6:00 PM |Three Rivers Memorial Building
> |
> | |43490 Sierra Drive, Three
> Rivers, CA |
> |------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
> |Tuesday April 22 6:00 PM |Ludwick Community Center
> |
> | |864 Santa Rosa St, San Luis
> Obispo, CA |
> |------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
>
>
>
> Following this public scoping period, BLM will work with cooperating
> agencies and the Central California Resource Advisory Council to develop
> several alternatives for managing these lands. The alternatives will be
> analyzed through an environmental impact statement (EIS). We anticipate
> that a draft RMP/EIS will be available for public review in September,
> 2009. A proposed plan will then be developed after considering public
> comments. A final RMP is expected to be available in January, 2011.
>
> I encourage you to participate in this process. If you have any
> questions,
> please contact us at (661) 391-6022.
>
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> /S/ John Skibinski
>
> for Timothy Z. Smith
> Field Office Manager
>
>
> "Visit us on the Internet at www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield"