SDMG Article Index
Public Lands Editorials, Op-Eds
and Desert District Advisory Council (DAC) Reports
- BLM draft RMP open for comment on Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat'l Monument/Kanabe-Escalante Planning Area and Bears Ears Nat'l Monument
- West Mojave (WEMO) Route Network Project (WMRNP) resource page
- WEMO maps need fixing, stakeholders ask for comment period extension (6/6/2018)
- DRECP resource page
- 3/20/18 DAC mtg report (3/27/18)
- BLM's proposed review of DRECP is a bad idea (3/13/2018)
- BLM schedules public mtgs on amending DRECP (2/13/2018)
- BLM gives Industry another chance to lay claim to Calif's deserts (2/1/18)
- Rockhounds could hit rock bottom in 2018 (12/1/17)
- Cooperation is key to success in Mojave Trails' future (9/27/17)
- SD Fair Review: Roundup for gem minerals of the West (9/27/17)
- Holding our breath: DAC mtgs & Natl Monuments review (9/27/17)
- DOI Reviews: RACs-DAC 27 Natl Monuments on the block (9/1/17)
- Natl Monuments: Refuges for Rockhound habitat (6/1/17)
- DAC mtgs need to be reinstated (6/1/17)
- The Rime of the Mojave Mariner (5/1/17)
- DAC Bus Mtg report (4/2/2017)
- What it means to be a Stakeholder (2/1/17)
- PRPA proposed rule flyer (1/9/17)
- PRPA comment letter flyer (1/9/17)
- PRPA Fossil articles (1/5/17)
- Mojave Trails NM flyer (11/17/16)
- 10/15/16 DAC mtg report (10/27/16)
- Public lands update three milestones (10/4/16)
- PPT slide deck: rock collecting on public lands (9/27/16)
- Report: DAC Field Tour & Mtg (6/1/16)
- To collect or not to collect (5/7/16)
- DRECP: What's next (2/15)
- Storm clouds gather over the California desert (1/15)
Society activities
- Turner in Thailand (1/1/16)
- Turner in Thailand (11/10/15)
- Turner in Thailand (11/3/15)
- Looking back, forward (9/15)
- Looking back, forward (12/13)
- A Christmas to remember: Special class for Utah family (12/13)
BLM FIELD TOUR & DAC MEETING
Ridgecrest, CA
December 14 and 15, 2018
The Desert District Advisory Council (DAC) provides advice and recommendations for the BLM to consider on resource and land management issues administered by the agency. By the December 2018 meeting date, the Council will not have met for a regular business meeting in nearly 22 months. Hence, there will be a updates on activities under way or contemplated by BLM that should be of interest to Rockhounds. The public is invited to participate.
Friday, December 14 · BLM Field Tour
Time: 10AM to 5PM
Meeting Location: Ridgecrest Field Office
300 S. Richmond Road
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Saturday, December 15 · DAC MEETING
Time: 8AM to 5PM
Meeting Location: Clarion Inn
Conference Room
901 N. China Lake Blvd.
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
BLM FIELD TOUR – DAC MTG AGENDA · BLM Reports
Last minute changes of venue and program have occurred in the past, including last minute cancellation of the meeting, so before traveling to Ridgecrest, check the BLM website for any last-minute changes at: https://go.usa.gov/xPFat (scroll down the page, right column and click the link labeled "2018" under "Meetings" header).
Read more about the DAC and how to prepare for the meeting »
Below are links to Reports prepared by the BLM's Southern California Field Offices.
Friday, December 14 · BLM Field Tour
- Field Trip agenda (final 12-10-2018)
- DAC Meeting agenda (final 12-10-2018)
- Barstow Field Office Report
- Barstow Field Office Report
- El Centro Field Office Report
- Needles Field Office Report
- Palm Springs/South Coast Field Office Report
- Ridgecrest Field Office Report
WEMO & DRECP
Draft WMRNP LUPA/DSEIS [Docket: 2018-05272]
Authors: Kim Erb, Lisbet Thoresen, Jim Parrish, Andrew Hoekstra
06/14/2018
Comment letter (11 pages).
Copy of letter submitted to BLM via email posted on SDMG website
Comment letter submitted to BLM on behalf of Rockhounds on the Draft Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for the West Mojave Route Network Project (WMRNP) within the West Mojave (WEMO) Planning Area of the California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA). The letter (with redactions) is on the SDMG website at:
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/20180614_Thoresen_Erb_etal_comment_letter_WMRNP_FR2018-05272_redacted.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/AzSvhD
WMRNP: BLM response to request for comment period extension
Author: California BLM Director Jerome Perez
06/13/2018
BLM response to May 30 letter from Cohen et al. requesting 90-day extension on WMRNP comment period to September 12, 2018. Request denied. June 14th deadline reaffirmed.
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/BLM0014927.FINAL_SIGNED.Response_to_May_30_Request_for_WMRNP_Extension.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/zBgEHD
WMRNP: Request to BLM to extend comment period 90 days
Author: Sheara Cohen, The Wilderness Society, et al.
05/30/2018
Comment letter co-signed by 39 individuals and organizations, including eight rockhounds and one paleontological society.
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/WEMO_extension_request_20180530.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/LwqaWY
Attachments: http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/WEMO_routes_GIS_issues_CBD_20180426.pdf
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/WEMO_data_irregularities_20180430.pdf
BLM proposal to open DRECP to plan-level review
Author: SDMG et al
03/22/2018
Comment letter co-signed by 10 gem-mineral societies and 14 rockhound advocates opposed to opening DRECP to review.
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/SDMG_DRECP_FR2018-02098_letter_20180322.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/p6D43Q
DRECP Transitioning to Implementation
Author: BLM
02/24/2017
Interim draft report presented at DAC mtg, 2/23/2017
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/DRECP_transition_to_implementation_2-24-17.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/mfxls6
Draft DRECP
Author: SDMG
02/21/2015
DRECP NEPA/CEQA [Docket: 09‐ RENEW EO‐01]. Comment letter (48 pages).
Docketed on DRECP website »
A clean scan of the identical letter is on the SDMG website at:
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/SDMG_DRECP_comment_ltr_20150223.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/ZNPbPe
Archive: Letters & Notices
GSENM-KEPA RMP
Author: Southern California Paleontological Society (SCPS).
11/30/2018
GSENM-KEPA RMPs-EIS Vol. 1-508. Comment letter on BLM's draft for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and Kanab-Escalante Planning Area Draft Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/SCPS_ltr_20181130_GSENM-KEPA_RMPs-EIS_vol_1-508.pdf
DAC Reinstatement
Author: SDMG.
05/11/2017
Request to reinstate the Desert District Advisory Council meetings.
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/SDMG_Zinke_letter_request_reinstatement_DAC_20170604.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/K6Pg4V
RAC Reinstatement
Authors: 71 DOI Resource Advisory Committee members.
05/11/2017
Request to reinstate the meetings and activities of the Resource Advisory Councils.
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/RAC_Reinstatemen_Request_Letter_20170511.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/YC0ouj
PRPA
Author: Southern California Paleontological Society (SCPS).
02/03/2017
Docket No. NPS–2016–0003. RIN 1093-AA-16. Comment on proposed Rule on Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009.
SCPS's letter had 61 signatories, including SDMG.
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/SCPS_PRPA_comment_letter_20170203_final.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/Rewue6
SGMNM
Authors: SDMG and CFMS.
10/17/2016
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Plan and Land Management Plan Amendment #46964
http://www.sdmg.org/blmdocs/SDMG-CFMS_comment_letter_SGMNM_Management_Plan_final.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/h2DP1n
National Monuments
Nat'l Monuments Review
Author: 24 members of Congress
11/09/2017
Letter to President Trump with recommendations on recissions to 27 National Monuments, including five in California.
https://westerncaucus.house.gov/uploadedfiles/11092017_final_monuments_letter_to_trump.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/cjCosq
Rockhounding in Nat'l Monuments
Author: Senator Dianne Feinstein
05/12/2016
Letter to DOI Secretary Sally Jewell in support of rockhounds.
http://www.sdmg.org/calnatmonuments/Feinstein_to_Jewell_support_rockhounding_CalNatMonuments_20160512.pdf
or short url: https://goo.gl/bnEn5j