The Bureau of Land Management Hollister Field Office will host three public meetings in January, including one in Hollister, to gather comments on the Clear Creek Management Area Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.
"We encourage the public to attend these meetings to find out more about Clear Creek and help us plan for its future management," said Rick Cooper, BLM Hollister Field Office manager, in a press release. The draft RMP/EIS covers about 75,000 acres of public land administered by BLM in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties. The draft RMP/EIS does not include public lands outside of the Clear Creek Management Area.
The draft RMP/EIS was developed through a public planning process and considers seven alternatives. The primary issues addressed are public health risk from asbestos exposure in the area, recreation, protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources, energy and mineral development, land tenure adjustments, and other planning issues identified during the public scoping process, according to the press release.
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 respond only to written public comments in the proposed RMP and final EIS. Comments must be postmarked or received by BLM no later than March 5.
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 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at:
January 13, 2010: Harris Ranch Garden Ballroom, 24505 W. Dorris Ave., Coalinga
January 14, 2010: Veterans Memorial Building, 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 online for public review at the Hollister Field Office Web page: 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.
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