The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the draft Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area management plan (RAMP) and environmental impact statement (EIS).  Today’s publication of the notice of availability in the Federal Register initiates the 90-day public comment period which will end June 24, 2010.

Daniel Steward, acting BLM’s El Centro Field manager, said the RAMP/EIS outlines future management of public lands administered by BLM in the 160,000-acre Dunes located in eastern Imperial County. The public assisted BLM in identifying key land use issues in this area through a formal scoping process conducted in 2008.

The draft RAMP/EIS analyzes the environmental impacts of many land management issues, including recreation, renewable energy, and species listed under the Endangered Species Act, including the threatened Peirson’s milk-vetch. A range of alternatives are analyzed in the RAMP/EIS, including closure of areas designated as critical habitat by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to off-highway vehicle use.

The BLM has scheduled the following public meetings:
Tuesday, April 13th – San Diego, CA
Handlery Hotel
950 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA  92108

Wednesday, April 14th – El Centro, CA
Imperial Irrigation District William R. Condit Meeting Room
1285 Broadway
El Centro, CA  92243

Thursday, April 15th – Phoenix, AZ
Mountain Preserve Reception and Conference Center
1431 E. Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, AZ  85020

All meetings will run from 6:00pm – 9:00pm

The draft is available online at http://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro.  Copies are available upon request from the field manager, El Centro Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243 or the BLM California State Office at 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W 1834, Sacramento, CA  95825.

Comments can be provided via email to [email protected] or by mail to the El Centro address above, attention:  Carrie Simmons.  For further information, please contact Erin Dreyfuss, RAMP team leader at (916) 978-4642.