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California Issues
Rep. Jay Obernolte introduces legislation to bolster U.S. critical mineral supply chain March 27, 2024 WASHINGTON
– U.S. Representative Jay Obernolte (CA-23) has introduced legislation
to reduce the United States’ reliance on China and other foreign nations
for critical minerals. Critical minerals and rare earth metals are used
to manufacture consumer electronics, military equipment, electric
vehicle batteries, and other advanced technologies vital to America’s
homeland security and economic competitiveness. China is currently the
largest source for more than half of the critical minerals on the U.S.
Geological Survey’s 2022 list. The Intergovernmental Critical Minerals
Task Force Act would address this concern by identifying opportunities
to increase the domestic production and recycling of critical minerals.
The bill is companion legislation to U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI),
Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee,
Mitt Romney (R-UT), and James Lankford’s (R-OK) bipartisan legislation.“Critical
minerals are essential to our economy, our national security, and the
development of our country’s energy grid,” said Rep. Jay Obernolte. “The
Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force will bring stakeholders
together to identify how we can enhance our supply chains and shore up
production of critical minerals here at home.” H.R. 7807: Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act To create intergovernmental coordination between State, local, Tribal,
and territorial jurisdictions, and the Federal Government to combat
United States reliance on the People's Republic of China and other
covered countries for critical minerals and rare earth metals, and for
other purposes.
****************************************************************************************************** Latest News on the Chuckwalla National Monument: The bill (HR 8031) is irrelevant and this will be done by Presidential
Proclamation/Executive Order. Congressman Ruiz's
Chief of Staff has confirmed that the language in the bill protecting
various recreational activities will not be in the Proclamation. November 20, 2024 NOTE: HR 5660 was replaced with HR 8301 on April 16, 2024 Both Bills are almost identical. For Reference HR 5660 Text (PDF) H.R. 8031: Chuckwalla National Monument Establishment and Joshua Tree National Park Expansion Act of 2024 NOTE: If this bill is passed or the area becomes a National Monument or National Park the Hauser Geode Beds.may be in danger of being closed to Recreational Rockhounding even though there is a current MOU between the BLM and Recreational Rockhounds through the CFMS and ALAA. If this Bill fails to pass, the Monument or National Park Extension may be created through a Presidential Executive Proclamation.
43 CFR § 8365.1-5 - Property and resources. Rockhounding on Public Lands - California
California Geological Survey May 7, 2024 When will the next eruption at Yellowstone happen? (Posted 11-4-2024) The legislation below, if enacted, may or may not have an affect on Recreational Rockhounding... H.R. 215: To provide long-term water supply and regulatory reliability to drought-stricken California, and for other purposes.
CA Wilderness Areas (Just Click to Access) NEW 10-25-2020
Personal-use obsidian collection to reopen at the four Warner Mt. sites After a year off due to the pandemic and five plus years of coordination with tribal and county partners, the Modoc National Forest will reopen the four designated collection areas in the Warner Mountains to personal-users with a valid permit. Read More: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/modoc/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD922994
Man cited for having a dredge stored in a container on his private property in California... The dredge was stored inside a cargo
container on his private property and not in operation, just being
stored. The container is near a little dry creek bed on his private
property. He has a county road easement which passes through his
property and someone (allegedly) took a picture of the dredge from the
road and sent it to an LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) with Department of
Fish and Wildlife (DFW). READ MORE: More on Dredging in California can be found Lower down on this page... Wildfire Safety Tips - Public Service
Do you Camp or recreate on Public Lands in California? California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Please Note: BLM Links may not currently work. The BLM is re-building their websites and there are some minor problems to be worked out. When the websites are working the ALAA Links will also be updated to the new website information. Some of the websites are now working. Dec 2017 DON’T KNOW WHO YOUR STATE SENATOR IS? California BLM - New Website Posted 4-14-207 California BLM Contact Information - New website Posted 4-14-2017
BLM Monument Management - Envisioning Sessions Posted August 28, 2016
You have probably noticed that the Mojave Trails National Monument is deceiving in that the effective Monument boundary will cover an enormous amount of land, far more land than the proclamation. The Monument contains 6 no vehicular entry Wilderness Areas, but also connects to and effectively incorporates into it's boundary, another 8 no vehicular entry Wilderness Areas, 1 no entry Military Base, and the no collecting lands of the Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park.
ALAA has established an Email Addfress calnatmonuments@amlands.org and a letter mailing address of ALAA; 2010 West Ave. K #528; Lancaster, CA 93536-5229. We are asking Rockhounds who contact the BLM in support of continued Recreational Rockhounding inside the California National Monuments to please include ALAA with a cc; or Bcc; of any emails and if you send a paper letter to please include a copy to the above address. There is still a lot of work to do before we can rest and the collecting of rocks and minerals in the monuments is finalized. Thank you for your effort and support ******************************************************************************************************
Recreational Rockhounding is the collecting of reasonable amounts of nonrenewable resources such as rock and mineral specimens and materials, common invertebrate and common plant fossils, semiprecious gemstones and Petrified wood for noncommercial (Personal and Educational) purposes where permitted by law. Recreational Rockhounding is accomplished in a manner that prevents hazards to public health and safety, and minimizes and mitigates environmental damage. *****************************************************************************************************
Cady Mountains
BLM Desert District Advisory Council (Up-Dated September 2016) Reports and Handouts For the May 21st Meeting in Barstow
Support your right to collect Rock and Minerals in the Southern California Desert and the New National Monuments - Get Involved, be Pro-Active. It is the only way to save Rockhounding inside the Mojave Trails National Monument! It is up to you!
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Plan and Land Management Plan Amendment Public Comment Period - July/August 2016
Comment Letter on Recreational Rockhounding in the SGMNM - October 2016 Can't make it to the California Desert? Take an online tour of the spectacular California Desert. Take an online Tour New Information on WEMO - November 25, 2015 Latest Information on California Wildfires - Cal Fire Posted August 4, 2015 Could Rockhound Firldtrips on Public Lands go the way of some OHV Events? Read More!
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September 23, 2014 the California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, issued a unanimous opinion generally affirming the theory of federal preemption in the mining context. This is a big win for mining community, which has been attempting for roughly five years, through multiple cases in multiple forums, to secure a judicial ruling on the 2009 moratorium and its successors. Read More on California Gold Mining BLM Issues Interim Final Supplementary Rules for Kanaka Valley (BLM News Release) The BLM's Mother Lode Field Office is requesting public comments on proposed new rules affecting 695 acres of public land known as Kanaka Valley in El Dorado County. http://ow.ly/DWnlN Speak now or forever hold your....... you know the rest! The rules are available online for public review at the BLM Mother Lode Field Office Western Mining Alliance - August 2015 Newsletter Dredgers defend mining rights in California Supreme Court - People v. Rinehart: A NEWS ANALYSIS By Brad Jones - June 14, 2016 ***************************************************************************************************** California Renewable Energy Information (DRECP) BLM ROD Released September 15. 2016
New 3,800 acre Solar Site Planned Near Hauser Beds Desert
Quartzite Solar Project Draft Environmental Analysis Available for Public
CommentThe Bureau of Land Management is
seeking public input on actions that would allow the proposed development of the
Desert Quartzite Solar Project, a 450-megawatt solar development in eastern
Riverside County. 3,800 Acres (5.9375 Sq. Miles)
The publication of the draft Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register
through the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday, Aug. 10 will
signal the start of the 90-day public comment period, which will end on
Nov. 8. In addition to the draft EIS, other documents made available
for comment include the Environmental Impact Report and draft Land Use
Plan Amendment. ****************************************************************************************************** West Mojave Desert Plan Information (WEMO) ****************************************************************************************************** Cady Mountains Highways and Byways by Gregor ****************************************************************************************************** Clear Creek Recerational Area Information (CCMA) H.R. 403: To establish the Clear Creek National Recreation Area in San Benito and Fresno Counties, California, to designate the Joaquin Rocks Wilderness in such counties, and for other purposes.
Note: This bill will have an impact on Recreational Rockhounding in the Clear Creek Area... ***************************************************************************************************** Johnson Valley Recreation OHV Area Information ****************************************************************************************************** California Organizations Supporting Public Lands Usage ****************************************************************************************************** Providence Mountains State Receration Area - Mitchell Caverns State Park. Mitchell Caverns is open to the public as of November 3, 2017 ***************************************************************************************************** News/Press Release - Kern River and Lake Isabella Glass Ban May 17, 2016
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*************************************************************************************************** California Foothills Legacy Area program NEW as of July 28, 2013 New CARB Requirements for OHRV in California to take effect in 2018 City of Redding and CARB Informational Letter Learn About Public Lands Access Issues in California (ARRA)
CALIFORNIA FOSSIL IVORY ALERT - Our First warning to any dealers with a business in California or those dealers that plan to attend the West Coast Gem & Mineral Show (Fall), Santa Ana CA November 11 -13 of this year (or any show in California). The California Ivory ban goes into effect on July 1, 2016 and it will be illegal to sell any fossil ivory in the state after that date. The legislation's definition; "Ivory" means a tooth or tusk from a species of elephant, hippopotamus, mammoth, mastodon, walrus, warthog, whale, or narwhal, or a piece thereof, whether raw ivory or worked ivory, and includes a product containing, or advertised as containing, ivory. You will risk confiscation of your fossil ivory and very stiff fines and other penalties for having any of the legally collected material available during the shows or for sale in your business. From AAPS May 2016 Newsletter In California there is already an existing ban on Ivory import and sales, but
that ban has an exemption for sale of Ivory that had been imported prior to
January 1, 1977, which protected a significant portion of the Ivory owners in
California at the time. Experts tell us that exemption covers millions of
dollars of ivory objects in the state that don’t fall into the otherwise very
narrow exemptions in the existing law. Read more on Ivory and Rockhounding State Assembly Bill AB-96 Animal parts and products: importation or sale of ivory and rhinoceros horn.
********************************************************************************** BLM Issues in California BLM Field Offices Rockhounding and Recreation Information Pages Click Here.... ********************************************* Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation and Rockhounding NEW ********************************************
Additional Public Meeting Scheduled for Soda Mountain Solar Project in San Bernardino County BLM News Release: Soda Mountain Solar Project Decewmber 2013
The Director’s Protest Resolution Reports analyze each unique or summarized protest issue statement received on each individual BLM Proposed Resource Management Plan to determine whether the State Director followed established procedures, considered relevant information in reaching proposed decisions, and whether the proposed decisions are consistent with the applicable statutes, regulations, and BLM policy. The following Director’s Protest Resolution Reports are available for online viewing or download.
Wilderness Designations in California posted May 27, 2016 Latest Information Affecting California Public Lands HR6286 Clear Creek National Recreation Area and Conservation Act of 2012 --- This bill would close rockhounding areas under new wilderness, but leave off road access in place. Rockhounds should read the text of the bill and should contact their elected official to voice their opinion on this bill. Read the bill below on this page under Clear Creek Management Area. Read a letter to Congressman Doc Hastings through the hyperlink below.
Protected areas of the Mojave Desert "NEW" Added July 31, 2013
Sacrificing the Desert For What?
Resource Management Plan Revison - Read the Plan - Affects Horse Canyon Agate Beds National Forests in California
Inyo National Forest shares plan direction for Sustainable Recreation and Aquatic-Riparian Resources The Inyo National Forest is finalizing its environmental impact statement and forest plan. To celebrate our progress, and prepare you for when we release the final documents this fall, we’re offering you a preview of the Inyo’s updated plan direction for sustainable recreation and aquatic and riparian resources. This isn’t the only preview we have planned. In the coming weeks, you’ll see updated plan direction for wild and scenic rivers and species of conservation concern. All this information will be available on-line at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r5/FPRPreview. When you see the Inyo’s final forest plan later this year, you’ll notice we made a few changes based on many of the suggestions, ideas and comments you provided us. For instance, we refined our analysis particularly around recreation, wild and scenic rivers, recommended wilderness, aquatics, grazing and fire management. We improved the plan’s architecture to provide better organization and clarification based on your comments on the draft forest plan (published May 2016). Curious about the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests? We’re continuing to address public comments in a revised draft EIS for these two forests. We’ll share updates on that progress in the coming months as well. Sustainable Recreation (Recreational Rockhounding is not included) Get more Information at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r5/FPRPreview. It is not to late to save Recreational Rockhounding in these National Forests, if we get involved, NOW! Do not wait, Get Involved! ***************************************************************************************************** 10 Best Places to Camp for FREE in Northern California posted 11-4-2106
The Cleveland National Forest received funding from the California Off-Highway
Southern California National Forest Land Management Plans - Final EIS (2005)
FINAL RECORD OF DECISION
Click here for more information on Southern California National Forests
March 2015: Feds sued for blocking thousands of recreational routes in Plumas National Forest
That $5 permit to access certain parts of national forests in Southern California could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a recent ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. A panel of judges unanimously agreed with four hikers who objected to paying a fee to use a portion of an Arizona national forest. Read the Court Ruling BUSTED! Los Padres National Forest ticketed 200 Santa Barbara families for parking by the side of the road to let their kids play in a rare snowfall. It seems that little adventure requires an "Adventure Pass." Read the story HERE. San Gabriel Valley Tribune writer Steve Scauzillo explains how it could affect the Adventure Pass (http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19974329) which is only available for the Angeles, San Bernardino,Cleveland and Los Padres national forests:, The strongly worded, 15-page decision says any member of the public who walks, hikes, rides a horse, picnics on the side of a road, camps at undeveloped sites, even parks in a national forest "without using facilities and services" is allowed to do so without being charged. Charging a fee, such as the Adventure Pass, even for someone who visits an area with amenities but doesn't use them, violates the FLREA [or, Federal Lands and Recreation Enhancement Act], according to the decision.
El Dorado County Sheriff Strips Forest Service Of State-Law Enforcement Power
Federal Court Decision Keeps Access Open for Hunting - This Still Helps Rockhounds
Inland Desert Monument Act 2011 - Sen. Feinstine's Replacement for the California Desert Protection Act of 2010 See Map of proposed area.... CEQA: The California Environmental Quality Act
Senate Bill 624 - Remove Serpentine as California State Rock
Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Protect Areas of Mojave Desert --- Press Release California Wilderness Act of 1984 - 98-425 Ref.: S21 - California Desert Protection Act of 1994 Summary - Where it all began! History of Land Use in the California Desert - (PDF) Posted February 2013
Southern California National Forests Land Management Plan Amendment Los Padres National Forest
California State Legislation - Bills before the State (New 2021)
California Watch Dog - Your Eyes on California Government/Politics
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