DRECP Proposed LUPA and Final EIS RESPONSES TO COMMENTS

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1 G5-1 October 2015

2 G5-2 October 2015

3 G5-3 October 2015

4 G5-4 October 2015

5 G5-5 October 2015

6 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK G5-6 October 2015

7 Response to Comment Letter G5 Rock Collecting Form Letter February 23, 2015 G5-1 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recognizes the importance of rock hounding and recreation in the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) and has taken comments regarding that activity into consideration in the development of the Preferred Alternative in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). G5-2 Currently, Afton Canyon is designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). In the Afton Canyon ACEC plan, rock hounding is discussed and casual recreation is provided for and analyzed in the plan. The ACEC plan also provides for route designation to ensure access. No additional action is considered at this time. G5-3 A Development Focus Area (DFA) is not designated in the Blythe collecting area (T4S, R20E). Designation of routes will be completed through Travel and Transportation Management Plans, Refer to Volume II, Section II Routes that are part of the existing route network shall be modified if impacted by development to ensure public access. G5-4 The Boron collecting area consists of multiple ownerships and does not lend itself to designation as a Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). G5-5 The Brown Butte (Lonely Butte) area is no longer proposed for being within a DFA in the Preferred Alternative/Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) in the Final EIS. G5-6 This comment has not resulted in a change to the document but the BLM has taken it into consideration. Refer to Volume II, Chapter II.3, Section II G5-7 From the description in the comment, it seems the Cinco area is covered by the Jawbone SRMA. As such, renewable energy would not be compatible with the SRMA and the activity would be allowed. G5-8 The Gem Hill area is no longer proposed for being within a DFA in the Preferred Alternative/Proposed LUPA in the Final EIS. G5-9 Pisgah Crater Road is a major access route in the Hector Hills area and shall be maintained in its current state or modified to allow access. G5-10 The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in good standing. BLM has addressed recreational rock hounding in changes to the Preferred Alternative/Proposed LUPA map and Conservation and Management Actions (CMAs) in the Final EIS. The inclusion of Hauser Geode Beds into the Mule G5-7 October 2015

8 Mountains SRMA was not analyzed in any of the alternatives; therefore, it cannot be included in the Final DRECP. G5-11 South and southeast of Kramer Junction is primarily Edwards Airforce Base. The BLM has limited or no jurisdiction on withdrawn lands. G5-12 The sections from the comment that are outside the National Trails Viewshed SRMA are checkerboard sections. Establishment of an SRMA or extension of an SRMA in this area would be difficult. Additionally, some of the sections are designated as Conservation Planning areas, which does not allow renewable energy development. G5-13 The area north of the wilderness boundary is currently designated for ACEC and National Conservation Lands. Renewable energy would not be permitted. G5-14 The SRMA boundary for the Amargosa/Grimshaw has been modified. G5-15 A large portion of Stoddard Wells, including Sidewinder, is located within the Stoddard/Johnson SRMA. G5-16 The Yermo area consists of public and private lands, mining claims, active mining, county lands, and significant abandoned mining features. Designation of this area as an SRMA would not be manageable given the numerous property interests. G5-17 The Yuha Basin area is protected from development under an ACEC designation. G5-18 See modifications to CMA NLCS-CTTM-1 in Volume II, Section II G5-19 The commenter s support of the recreation protections in the Preferred Alternative is noted and has been taken into consideration during the development of the Preferred Alternative in the Final EIS. G5-20 The commenter s opposition to additional lands being placed in ACECs and National Conservation Lands is noted and has been taken into consideration during the development of the Preferred Alternative of the Final EIS. G5-8 October 2015