SOUTH COAST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISION

1. SOUTH COAST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN REVISION BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office California Desert District

2. PALM SPRINGS-SOUTH COAST FIELD OFFICE • Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office (PSSC) is part of California Desert District. • PSSC includes all or part of five Southern California Counties. • PSSC covers nearly 1.7 million acres of public lands. • 1.5 million acres in the California Desert Conservation Area. • 137,000 acres in South Coast Resource Area.

3. SOUTH COAST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANPlanning Area

4. SOUTH COAST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN (RMP) The South Coast RMP was completed in 1994. The RMP covers over 130,000 acres of surface lands, and 167,000 acres of subsurface “split estate” lands managed by the BLM. The planning area is composed of nearly 300, separate, scattered parcels of public land. The plan is divided into four management areas: • San Diego County Management Area • Riverside-San Bernardino County Management Area • Beauty Mountain Management Area • Los Angeles-Orange County Management Area

5. SOUTH COAST RMP REVISION • Land use planning is a requirement of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). • Land use plans ensure that public lands are managed in accordance with the intent of Congress as stated in FLPMA; • Encourage multi-jurisdictional planning in partnership with tribal governments, state and local governments, other agencies and active public participation. • Land use plans typically have life-span of 15-20 years. • Significant changes in circumstances, policies, resource conditions, or new data may require a new plan or revision. • Plan revisions require an environmental impact statement (EIS). • Planning and public involvement begin with Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register.

6. SOUTH COAST PLANNING AREA • The South Coast Planning Area encompasses a region with over 20 million residents. • The “Inland Empire” is one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. • Southern California has the highest “biodiversity” of any region of the United States. • Managing biological resources and diverse uses of public lands through Cooperative Conservation and Partnerships are the focus of BLM planning for South Coast.

7. The BLM encourages multi-jurisdictional planning in partnership with tribal governments, state and local governments, and other agencies.San Diego County Riverside CountyHabitat Conservation Plans Habitat Conservation Plans

8. SOUTH COAST GEOGRAPHY Diverse Geography: • Coastal and inland valleys • Coastal Mountains • US-Mexico Border region

9. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES Highest Biological Diversity in US: • Over 300 “sensitive species” • 24 listed Threatened or Endangered (T&E) species

10. SOUTH COAST SPECIAL AREAS • 8 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern • 3 Wilderness Study Areas • 1 Wilderness – Otay Mountain • Southern Portion of California Coastal National Monument • 15 miles of Pacific Crest Trail

11. PALM SPRINGS-SOUTH COAST FIELD OFFICEMAJOR ISSUES AND PROJECTS • Habitat Conservation Planning • Land Acquisition & Donations • Habitat Restoration • Energy Transmission ROW’s • Wind Energy Permitting • Wilderness • Recreation and Open Space • OHV Management • Fire and Fuels Management • US/Mexico Border Lands Management, Border Security • Cross-Border Conservation Initiatives • Minerals Management (Including Minerals Trespass)

12. PALM SPRINGS-SOUTH COAST FIELD OFFICEPARTNERSHIPS Habitat Conservation Planning • San Diego MSCP • San Diego Assn. of Governments (SANDAG) • Western Riverside Co. MSHCP • Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency • US Fish and Wildlife Service • Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game • The Nature Conservancy • Trust for Public Land • Backcountry Land Trust • Pronatura

13. SOUTH COAST RMP REVISIONPlanning Steps2007-2009 • Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare Resource Management Plan Revision, published August 7, 2007. • Public Scoping Meetings (December 2007) and public comment period (30 days, ending January 11, 2008). • Scoping notice to Federal agencies, state agencies, county and local governments, and Native American Tribal governments. • Invite participation in planning process by Federal and state agencies, county and local governments, and Native American Tribal governments as cooperating agencies. • Develop alternatives based on public scoping and issues. • Prepare draft RMP and draft EIS. • Provide public comment period (90 days). • Prepare Proposed RMP and final EIS. • Issue Proposed RMP and provide 30 day protest period. • Prepare Record of Decision and Approved RMP.

14. SOUTH COAST RMP REVISIONHow Can You Participate? • Visit the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast website for updated information on the process: www.blm.gov/ca/palmsprings • Visit the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office: 690 West Garnet Ave. PO Box 581260 N. Palm Springs, CA 92258 (760) 251-4800 FAX (760) 251-4899 • Visit the BLM San Diego Project Office: Located in Cleveland National Forest Supervisor’s Office 10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92127 (858) 451-1767 FAX (858) 676-9934

15. SOUTH COAST RMP REVISIONHow Can You Participate? • During the Plan Revision Scoping Process, you are asked to comment on the following: • Within the Planning Area, are there additional issues relating to the proposed planning criteria? • Are there additional planning criteria relevant to the planning objectives? • Are inventory data (such as inventoried roads, land ownership, or species locations) complete and adequate for the planning process? • Comments must be in writing, and can be submitted as: • Letters • E-mails • FAX • BLM comment forms

16. SOUTH COAST RMP REVISIONHow Can You Participate? Protests • Applicable to Land Use Plan Decisions. • Must be timely and within Protest Period (following release of Proposed Plan Revision). • Must address issues previously raised in planning process. • Protest is directed to BLM Director. • Instructions for filing Protest will be included in Proposed Plan Revision.