HomeMy WebLinkAbout94-011~~._.. ~Y
~~'~~i •~
~f ~~) . ~.
'~.. ~
RESOLUTION OF THE BUTTE COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS IN SUPPORT OF INYO COUNTY'S
OPPOSITION TO "CALIFORNIA DESERT PROTECTION ACT"
WHEREAS, Senator Diane Feinstein has introduced a bill entitled
"California Desert Protection Act; and
WHEREAS, S.21 designates 74 of Bureau of Land Management
wilderness areas and one wilderness study area in the California
desert comprising nearly four million acres; and
WHEREAS, the bill adds 1.3 million acres to the Death Valley
National Monument, 234,000 acres to Joshua Tree National Monument,
and
WHEREAS, both national monuments will be designated as national
parks; and
WHEREAS, S.21 has been changed from previous versions of the
California Desert Protection Act by removing twa (2) wilderness areas
surrounding Ft. Irwin and a 31 acre mining claim from the boundaries
of the proposed East Mojave National Park; and
WHEREAS, the Bill proposes
currently managed for the public
remain available for multiple use
and motorized recreation, and 7.5
national parks; and
that of the 12.1 million acres
by BLM, only 4.6 million acres
such as hunting, mining, grazing
million placed in wilderness or
WHEREAS, the Bill proposes that the current Death Valley
National Monument, almost entirely within the boundaries of Inyo
County, already over 2 million acres, would be designated a National
Park and expanded to 3.4 million acres of which 1.3 million acres
would come from BLM public lands. The wilderness portion of the
Death Valley Park will consist of 3.2 million acres; and
WHEREAS, the Bill proposes one entirely new national park,
Mojave National Park of 1.5 million acres which would come from BLM
public lands; redesignate Joshua Tree National Monument expanding it
to 805,000 acres; and designate 3.9 million acres of national park
wilderness in these three parks of which 1.6 million acres would come
from BLM public lands; and
1
WHEREAS, the Bill, in proposing to establish three national
parks within the already designated California Desert Conservation
Area, will withdraw many of those lands from many other important
uses under the public land laws and the mining laws, such as for
mining leases and from Geothermal Steam Act leasing; and
WHEREAS, the Bill will require that every unpatented mining
claim located within the boundaries of the proposed parks must have
a validity test completed and the estimated cost of purchasing any
existing patented mining claims must also be provided to Congress
prior to approval of any plan of operation; and
WHEREAS, the Bill discusses pratection of grazing rights which
may be located within the proposed national parks; but says that,
"all grazing of such livestock on such lands shall cease on July 1,
2016,"; and
WHEREAS, the Bill provides as national parks, the three proposed
sites in the California Desert--Mojave National Park, Joshua Tree
National Park and Death valley National Park--which will follow the
tradition of other national parks by charging entry fees. Also, new
public funds will have to be appropriated in the Federal budget to
construct extensive public facilities, such as a visitor's center in
the Mojave National Park and to provide for additional staffs. The
~~
proposed Bill says, There are hereby authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this
Act,"; and
WHEREAS, the passage of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 included a congressional mandate to BLM to begin planning
for protecting and managing the resources of the California Desert
Conservation Area under a multiple use concept, i.e. , using the lands
for mining, wilderness, recreation, grazing, as well as for the
scenic beauty and cultural resources of the area; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, the California Desert Plan was completed on
time through a great amount of public participation, including that
of the affected counties, in developing a draft plan and draft EIS,
and a final EIS and final plan. Environmental, cultural, mining,
recreation and ranching organizations, among others, all
participated; and
WHEREAS, over 18,000 copies of the draft Desert Plan were
distributed for public review and comment in 1979. Twelve hearings
and workshops were attended by over 900 people. Nearly 9,000 written
responses, containing over 40,000 individual comments were received.
The public Desert Advisory Council, the BLM and the public developed
the final plan over a five year period; and
WHEREAS, the Desert Plan stressed the multiple use concept and
called for setting aside certain special areas for particular
protection such as 700,000 acres for areas of critical environmental
concern (ACEC) and 5.5 million acres of wilderness study areas of
which approximately 2 million have been preliminarily recommended as
suitable. The wilderness designation process is continuing as part
2
of the planning process whereby Congress, with ample opportunity for
public input, will decide on the proper mix of wilderness; and
WHEREAS, the Desert Plan was approved by then Secretary of
Interior, Cecil Andrus, and reaffirmed later by the Secretary of
Interior under the Bush administration, putting the Desert Plan in
the unique position of having been endorsed by two Secretaries of
Interior under two administrations, one Democratic and one
Republican. The BLM conducts an annual amendment process which
includes an annual EIS; and
WHEREAS, the Desert Plan contained the proposed establishment of
the 1.5 million acre East Mojave National Scenic Area with the
management philosophy that ". . the East Mojave National Scenic Area
was so designated because of its unique blend of human use (past and
presents and genuinely unique features. .. Designation was
adopted to ensure continuation of the uses and occupation which
gives the region its character, and yet gives special emphasis to
retain the area's natural scenic qualities .." In other words,
the uses of the area are important, but BLM will manage them to
assure the scenic values of the area will remain; and
WHEREAS, the Butte County Board of Supervisors is informed that
no local governments, nor their staffs in California, were consulted
by Senator Feinstein, or staff before introducing the Bill; and
WHEREAS, Inyo County's economy is based mainly on tourism,
mining, and cattle ranching; and
WHEREAS, the Bill, as written, would drastically limit multiple
use of the desert by tourists, miners and for grazing in Inyo County;
and
WHEREAS, the Bill, as written, would drastically affect the land
use of almost all of the California desert counties; and
WHEREAS, the Federal government, through the BLM, has already
spent a great deal of money, time and energy in developing the
California Desert Plan with the participation of all desert users,
including the environmental groups, local governments and others.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Butte County Board of
Supervisors supports Inyo County in its opposition to S.21
(California Desert Protection Act) in its present form, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Butte County Board of
Supervisors feels that it is imperative that all affected local
governments and their citizens be involved in drafting any future
bills concerning the California Desert Protection Act within Inyo
County, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Butte County Board of
Supervisors is disappointed that hearings were not held in various
communities that are within the general boundaries of, and are
affected by, the "California Desert Protection Act," and request that
3
such hearings be jointly conducted by Senator's Feinstein, Boxer, and
the Bureau of Land Management, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Butte County Board of
Supervisors supports the efforts of the BLM in the development of
California Desert Plan in the California Desert Conservation Area and
the multiple use concepts therein, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be
forwarded to both U. S. Senators from California, the Congressional
Delegation from California, appropriate State representative, County
Supervisors Association of California, Regional Council of Rural
Counties, and other organizations as designated by the Board of
Supervisors.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Butte, State of California, this 25th day of January, 1994 by the
following vote:
AYES' Supervisors Meyer, Houx, Thomas and Chair McLaughlin
NOES: Supervisor Dolan
ABSENT: None
NOT VOTING: None +
~, ~~ ~ ~'
/// ~,
ED McLAUGHLIN; Chairman
Butte County Board of Supervisors
ATTEST:
JOHN S. BLACKLOCK
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
i ~.
by k _ ~ .-
4