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BLM to Host Public Meetings for Clear Creek Draft Plan
Event Description: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hollister Field Office will host three public meetings to gather comments on the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in January 2010.
Each public meeting will begin with an open house where the public can gather information, talk with BLM specialists, and provide written comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Following the open house, the BLM will give a brief introduction followed by an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Although oral comments will be noted on flip charts, BLM will only respond to written public comments in the proposed RMP and final EIS. Comments must be postmarked or received by BLM no later than March 5, 2010.
The public is encouraged to attend the public meetings to gather information and provide comments on the draft RMP/EIS. All public meetings will take place from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at:
January 13, 2010: Harris Ranch Garden Ballroom, 24505 W. Dorris Ave., Coalinga
January 14, 2010: Veterans Memorial Hall, 649 San Benito St. Hollister
January 20, 2010: Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America Meeting Rooms, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara
The draft RMP/EIS is available on-line for public review at the Hollister Field Office webpage: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/hollister/clear_creek_management_area/CCMA_RMP.html. Compact disks of the document are available by request from the Hollister Field Office at the address above. For additional information contact the Hollister Field Office at (831) 630-5000.
Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan & Environmental Impact Statement
The Hollister Field Office has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA). The CCMA RMP will replace the existing planning decisions for the approximately 63,000 acres of public land contained in the 1984 Hollister RMP and the associated CCMA RMP Amendments.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been a cooperating agency in this effort because of concerns expressed by EPA and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control regarding the potential for human health risks from exposure to naturally occurring asbestos in the area.
In May 2008, EPA completed an asbestos exposure evaluation study in the CCMA. The study was designed to provide information on the exposure levels from various types of activities in the CCMA. Initial results from the EPA study indicated that an environmental impact statement would be necessary to consider the new information and a range of management options for the CCMA. Accordingly, BLM agreed to work with EPA and the public to appropriately respond to the health risk information in the CCMA Asbestos Exposure and Human Health Risk Assessment (EPA 2008).
CCMA RMP/EIS STATUS UPDATE:
BLM is pleased to announce the release of the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement. A 90-day public comment period on the CCMA Draft RMP/EIS began on December 4, 2009 and runs through March 5, 2010. During this period, any person with an interest in the range of alternatives considered in the draft RMP/EIS is encouraged to submit written comments.
The BLM Hollister Field Office will host three public meetings to gather comments on the CCMA Draft RMP/EIS in January 2010. Each public meeting will begin with an open house where the public can gather information, talk with BLM specialists, and provide written comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Following the open house, the BLM will give a brief introduction followed by an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments on the draft RMP/EIS.
Although oral comments will be noted on flip charts, BLM will only respond to written public comments in the Proposed RMP and Final EIS. Comments must be postmarked or received by BLM no later than March 5, 2010. The public is encouraged to attend the public meetings to gather information and provide comments on the draft RMP/EIS.
All public meetings will take place from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at:
Mail: Bureau of Land Management
Attn: CCMA RMP/EIS
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023
E-mail: cahormp@ca.blm.gov
Fax: (831) 630-5055 Attn: CCMA RMP/EIS
If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
The Clear Creek Management Area RMP/EIS will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.The BLM Hollister Field Office will host three public meetings to gather comments on the CCMA Draft RMP/EIS in January 2010. Each public meeting will begin with an open house where the public can gather information, talk with BLM specialists, and provide written comments on the draft RMP/EIS. Following the open house, the BLM will give a brief introduction followed by an opportunity for the public to provide oral comments on the draft RMP/EIS.
Although oral comments will be noted on flip charts, BLM will only respond to written public comments in the Proposed RMP and Final EIS. Comments must be postmarked or received by BLM no later than March 5, 2010. The public is encouraged to attend the public meetings to gather information and provide comments on the draft RMP/EIS.
All public meetings will take place from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at:
- January 13, 2010: Harris Ranch Garden Ballroom, 24505 W. Dorris Ave., Coalinga
- January 14, 2010: Veterans Memorial Hall, 649 San Benito St. Hollister
- January 20, 2010: Santa Clara Convention Center, Great America Meeting Rooms,
5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara
Mail: Bureau of Land Management
Attn: CCMA RMP/EIS
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023
E-mail: cahormp@ca.blm.gov
Fax: (831) 630-5055 Attn: CCMA RMP/EIS
If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
Some of the major issues that will be addressed in this planning effort include: impacts to public safety and human health from naturally occurring asbestos and past mining activities; management of the San Benito Mountain Research Natural Area; resource management objectives and desired conditions; wildland and prescribed fire management, livestock grazing, motorized and non-motorized recreation management; lands available for disposal or of interest for acquisition; and potential for energy development.
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