Land Exchange Announcement
The next step in the land exchange process has now begun. The BLM has officiallyannounced that it plans to prepare a draft environmental impact statement to assess theeffects of the land exchange and will hold one or more public meetings to solicit publicinput for it. We can read the announcement at the BLM Palm Springs website.
Here is a direct link: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/10/2012-3118/notice-of-intent-toprepare-a-draft-environmental-impact-statement-for-a-proposed-land-exchange#h-6
We can participate in the public meetings. They will be announced at the BLM website15 days before they occur. We can also submit written comments. The BLM has set upa special email address for public comments. AguaCalienteExchange@blm.gov
For those who may not be familiar with this land exchange, here is a brief summary.The BLM has proposed exchanging a little over 9 square miles of land in the NationalMonument for 2.3 square miles of land that the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indiansacquired for the sake of making the exchange. The land the public would give up in theexchange includes Garstin, Theilman, part of Skyline and numerous other popular trails.In addition, the land that the public would give up is home to several endangered andthreatened wildlife species, including bighorn sheep. The public would lose the ability toprotect the species and the trails, unless terms of the exchange allow it.
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