BLM Opens Millions of Acres of California Deserts to Mining, Energy Development
If there was any doubt about public lands policy under President Trump's administration being based around natural resource extraction and development, that doubt should be lessened over time by this week's decision by the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management to reverse a 2016 decision to withdraw 1.3 million acres of national conservation lands in the California Desert Conservation Area from protection from mining, and to open millions more acres for potential solar and wind power projects.
On December 28, 2016, the BLM published a notice in the Federal Register of its proposal to withdraw about 1.3 million acres of California desert from being open to mining claims and mining. The withdrawal was planned to last for 20 years, with a two year withdrawal to take place while the public had an opportunity to comment on the full proposal. The notice included the intent for the BLM to prepare an environmental impact statement analyzing potential impacts of the withdrawal.
But this Tuesday, February 6, the BLM canceled its withdrawal application and the environmental impact report that accompanied it. The BLM announced its decision in a press release:
In making its decision, the BLM recently reviewed mineral exploration levels and mining data in the California desert, as well as the expected impacts from future activities associated with locatable mineral extraction. The BLM concluded that impacts of future mineral exploration and mining, subject to existing environmental regulations, do not pose a significant threat to the protection of cultural, biological and scientific values.
The lands proposed for withdrawal are within areas designated for conservation in the Record of Decision for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) and have historically experienced very little mining-related disturbance greater than casual use. Of the 1.3 million acres proposed to be withdrawn, only 1.5 percent—or approximately 19,500 acres—is encumbered by mining claims.
“Based on the likelihood that there would be little significant mining-related disturbance to these lands and the BLM's regulatory authority governing any mining operations that might occur, withdrawal at such a large scale does not appear to be necessary to achieve the purpose for which the national conservation lands were designated,” said BLM California State Director Jerome E. Perez.
On the surface, it would appear the change in the withdrawal comes from a lack of need to proceed. With so little mining taking place on the public lands withdrawn, the BLM concluded there was no threat. However, another section of the press release canceling the withdrawal also notes that the entire area covered by the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) is being reopened for potential development:
Additionally, the BLM recently announced that it’s considering changes to the DRECP to seek greater opportunities for renewable energy generation on public lands managed by the BLM. The Federal Register notice announcing this action was published on Feb. 2 and can be found at: https://go.usa.gov/xnAg3. The notice opens a period of public comment to consider amending the three land use plans that underlie the DRECP.
“We recognize the significant contributions and importance of public lands in the California desert,” stated Perez. “We remain committed to continued work with the State of California, local communities, partners, and stakeholders in the management of these lands.”
The BLM showed a clear disregard for environmental, public, and tribal input while approving vast solar and wind projects across the California deserts during the Obama administration. It's unlikely their regard for input will change during the Trump administration, which has seen the Department of the Interior ignore significant levels of tribal and public input during its decisions to remove millions of acres from the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante national monuments in Utah, a move that has resulted in the filing of multiple lawsuits from tribes and organizations that saw their input ignored.
The current move to rescind the withdrawal comes as a result of President Trump's Executive Order 13783, signed March 28, 2017, titled, "Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth." The order directs all federal agencies to review all actions that could "potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources." This order places a priority on energy development over recreational uses, as well as environmental integrity.
Comments on the changes to the DRECP close on March 19, 2018.
Read the BLM press release HERE.
Submit DCREP comments HERE.