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November 16, 2009
BLM Releases Proposed
Management Plan for Carrizo Plain National Monument
Changes Made
in Response to Public Comment;
Administrative Protests Can Be Filed Through December 14;
ForestWatch is Currently Reviewing the Revised Plan
On November 13, 2009, the U.S.
Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") released the final version of
the proposed management plan for the Carrizo Plain National
Monument. The plan will guide various land uses in the monument
over the next decade, including livestock grazing, oil drilling,
off-road vehicle use, wilderness, and protection of wildlife
habitat and Native American cultural sites.
photo © Bill Bouton
The
Carrizo Plain National
Monument is located in southeastern San Luis Obispo County,
adjacent to the Los Padres National Forest. It was established
in 2001 and now contains more than 206,000 acres of unique
grasslands and stark ridgelines that provide habitat for a
diverse array of rare wildlife, including pronghorn antelope,
Tule elk, San
Joaquin kit fox, blunt-nosed leopard lizard,
giant kangaroo
rat, and
California condor.
The BLM released a
draft version of the plan
earlier this year. A coalition of
conservation organizations submitted comments on that draft,
urging officials to strengthen protections for the monument. In
addition to joining that letter, Los Padres
ForestWatch submitted additional comments regarding oil
drilling and wildlife protections on the Carrizo.
During the public comment
period, the BLM received more than 15,000 comment letters from
the public, the vast majority calling for stronger protections.
Officials with BLM reviewed these comments and finalized the
plan for release this month. Several changes were made to the
plan, including "expanding the area proposed to be managed for
wilderness characteristics, clarifying language regarding
grazing and mineral interests, and allowing only street-legal
vehicles on designated routes," according to the BLM news
release.
The public now has 30 days to
review the proposed final plan. Members of the public who
previously submitted comments may file formal protests with the
BLM. Once these protests are resolved, the plan will become
final.
A coalition of
conservation organizations, including ForestWatch, is currently
reviewing hundreds of pages of the proposed final plan in
conjunction with our experts. We will be looking to ensure that
the plans comply with environmental protection laws and provide
the strongest protections possible for the unique resources of
the Carrizo Plain. |
