February 9, 2015—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to conduct an environmental review for the Ocotillo Wells Recreation Area in Imperial County.

The BLM will prepare an environmental impact statement to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of resource and recreation management at the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) and a proposed amendment to the BLM California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan. The California State Parks, who manage the SVRA through a Memorandum of Understanding, will jointly prepare an environmental impact report for their General Plan update.

Publication of the Notice of Intent initiates a public scoping period which will end April 6, 2015. During the scoping period, the BLM will solicit public comments on planning issues, environmental concerns, potential impacts, alternatives, and mitigation measures that should be included in the analysis of the proposed action.

BLM public meetings are scheduled on the following dates:

Wednesday, March 18, 2015
3:30pm – 8:30pm
Temecula Conference Center
41000 Main Street
Temecula, CA 92590
Saturday, March 21, 2015
12:00pm – 4:00pm
Ocotillo Wells SVRA Visitor Center
Discovery Center Building
5172 Highway 78
Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Comments May be submitted in writing to:

  1. Website: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro.html;
  2. Email: [email protected];
  3. Fax: 760-337-4490;
  4. Mail: Attn: Carrie Simmons, BLM, El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street El Centro, CA 92243

The BLM will use the public scoping comments received to prepare the draft environmental documents to be available for public review in 2015.

For more information contact El Centro Field Office, 760-337-4400.

Read the original release at http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/info/newsroom/2015/february/ocotillo.html