**Meeting Notes**

**BLM Central California Resources Advisory Council**

**June 13 - 14, 2008**

**El Dorado Hills, CA**

[Council Members]{.underline}

Mary Gorden

Jim Haagen-Smit

Steve Koretoff

Leigh Marymor

Roger Mitchell

Reb Monaco

Walt Pachucki

Carl Twisselman

Bill Vanherweg

[BLM Staff]{.underline}

Karen Barnette California State Office

Bill Haigh Folsom Field Office

Bill Dunkelberger Bishop Field Office

Tim Smith Bakersfield Field Office

George Hill Hollister Field Office

Dave Christy CenCal Office

Barbara Williams Folsom Field Office

Graciela Hinshaw Folsom Field Office

Katherine Worn Bakersfield Field Office

John Scull Folsom Field Office

[General Public Present]{.underline}

Hugh Brady

Dan Corcoran

Jim Gorden

Cathy Haagen-Smit

Bob Kingman

**Friday, June 13, 2007**

Folsom Field Manager Bill Haigh began the meeting at 8:25 a.m. by
welcoming the Central California Resources Advisory Council (RAC) to El
Dorado Hills. He said that during lunch, there would be a slide show on
the Folsom Field Office. At noon, El Dorado County Supervisor Ron Briggs
will join the group. There will be an afternoon field trip to the Pine
Hill Preserve to look at the urban-wildlands interface, and to talk
about the fire hazard. Following the field trip, the RAC will journey to
Coloma for a presentation by the American River Conservancy, then to
Lotus for a barbeque (no tri-tips!).

Mr. Haigh said that after 42 years in the same building, the Folsom
Field Office will soon move to a new facility off Latrobe Road in El
Dorado Hills. Blueprints for the new office are available on a table in
back.

Public Affairs Officer Dave Christy noted that neither the Chairman nor
the Vice-Chairman of the RAC were present. Recently, Chairman Don
Robinson had surgery. Council member (and former Chairman) Bill
Vanherweg agreed to chair the meeting. Council member Mary Gorden asked
if a quorum was present. Mr. Christy said we were one person short of a
quorum.

Mr. Haigh asked the RAC and the audience to introduce themselves.

Mr. Vanherweg asked for the California State Office report.

Deputy State Director for Support Services Karen Barnette said Mike Pool
regretted not being able to attend the meeting. She assured the RAC that
BLM's national priorities wouldn't change. These include:

1.  Healthy Lands Initiative

2.  Managing for Excellence

3.  Grazing Regulations

4.  National Landscape Conservation System.

Ms. Barnette said we were halfway through Fiscal Year 2008, and were
working on Fiscal Year 2009. Realistically, we will probably be under a
continuing resolution for most of FY 09, with funding at the same levels
as FY 08.

Ms. Barnette said the President recently signed an omnibus lands bill
that included designation of the Piedras Blancas Light Station as an
Outstanding Natural Area. Right now, there is a bill in the House that
would codify the National Landscape Conservation System. A new
wilderness bill co-sponsored by Senator Boxer that would add 430,000
acres (mostly Forest Service) to the National Wilderness Preservation
System was introduced. This bill would also designate the Amargosa River
as a Wild and Scenic River.

Ms. Barnette spoke of progress on the three-tier re-organization. There
will be a long transition period because management wants to do it
right. The BLM in California will probably make the shift in the fall.
RACs in California won't be affected.

Mr. Koretoff asked if there would be new districts. Ms. Barnette said
yes -- the Sacramento area and Redding. The Ukiah office will be in
CenCal. Mr. Koretoff commented that a new office was needed in the
valley. Mr. Haagen-Smit asked if Ukiah would be under the CenCal RAC.
Mr. Christy said no; it will remain NorCal.

Mr. Vanherweg asked for the report from the Alabama Hills sub-group.

Bishop Field Manager Bill Dunkelberger delivered a power point
presentation on management progress in the Alabama Hills. He said the
stewardship group received an award in Washington, D.C. He presented a
Cooperative Conservation award from the Secretary of the Interior to the
RAC, along with a special award for Mary Gorden. He handed out copies of
the new Movie Tour guidebook to the Alabama Hills.

Mr. Dunkelberger spoke of Bishop's "Don't Crush the Brush" initiative,
an effort to prevent vehicles from driving over vegetation. He handed
out lapel buttons and cards.

Mr. Dunkelberger said he would address more issues in September,
including camping and shooting.

Mr. Marymor congratulated Mr. Dunkelberger and his staff for a great
job, and called the Alabama Hills a "beautiful project."

Mr. Vanherweg asked for the report from the OHV sub-group.

Mr. Koretoff began by saying he has been working with Mr. Christy on the
July 12 meeting to be held at Pea Soup Anderson's restaurant. The goal
of the meeting is to put a group together, and get organized. He wants
to duplicate the Lone Pine success. The first issue is the Clear Creek
Management Area. He hopes to have more information by the next RAC
meeting. He wants the OHV sub-group to be balanced, and to include
[all]{.underline} vehicular activities.

There was a general discussion among Council members on the sub-group
make-up, and on the Clear Creek issue.

Mr. Monaco said he has received many calls from constituents on the
Clear Creek issue. Because of some very complicated legal issues, the
county has closed about 25 miles of county roads to Clear Creek.

Mr. Monaco said there was a second issue, and that is opening up new
areas. The old quicksilver mine at New Idria is currently up for
auction, and is used by the public to some degree.

Mr. Koretoff described the meetings on the Clear Creek closure.

Mr. Monaco said people were angry. Legal obligations have made the issue
nearly un-resolvable. He believes there is a need to provide some degree
of access for research and other purposes.

Mr. Koretoff said he wrote a letter asking for maximum law enforcement.
He wants people to stay out.

Mr. Vanherweg said it was time to move on.

Bakersfield Field Manager Tim Smith said he was glad to get the OHV
sub-group moving. Motorized access is a big issue in planning. The
collaborative process is very good.

Mr. Koretoff said he was hoping to do a lot of positive things.

Mr. Vanherweg said he also hopes the group may come up with something
very good. Too much is at stake.

Mr. Monaco observed that the manufacturers have been left out of all
this. They may have the opportunity to make contributions. Mr. Koretoff
said they actually do, but we don't see it. He wished they were more
involved. Honda is very involved -- "Tread Lightly" is their thing.

Mr. Mitchell recalled that in 1968, BLM California State Director Russ
Penny established an ORV Advisory Council that lasted four years before
it was disbanded. Most of the issues this council dealt with were in the
California Desert. He thinks the OHV sub-group is a good idea.

There was a general discussion of New Idria among Council members

Hollister Assistant Field Manager George Hill distributed a handout to
each RAC member and said there had been three meetings on the Clear
Creek closure. Currently, the staff is going through public comments,
and will use them to develop a range of alternatives. There are a lot of
challenges.

Mr. Hill said the Field Office has a new botanist, Ryan O'Dell, who
already found fifteen new populations of the San Benito
evening-primrose.

Mr. Hill said public compliance with the closure order was very good.
The staff is preparing a draft Clear Creek RMP that should be done by
the end of the year. Some additional public meetings in the valley may
be needed. Mr. Koretoff suggested future meetings in Fresno and Madera.

Mr. Marymor asked about the problems facing the staff due to asbestos.
Mr. Hill said employees monitor air quality while in the field. BLM also
keeps staff presence on the ground to a minimum. The staff has received
intensive training on the risks of asbestos.

Mr. Monaco said the area's signs had been done really well.

Mr. Koretoff asked if there was any evidence of asbestos problems with
the staff. Mr. Hill said no -- nothing definite.

Mr. Vanherweg asked if the Hollister office was getting State Office
support. Mr. Hill said they were getting very good support, not only
from the SO, but also the Washington Office. The EPA was sticking close,
too.

Mr. Koretoff asked what was happening with Green Sticker money. Mr. Hill
said he wrote a letter to the State OHV Division, but hasn't received a
reply. Approximately \$1 million in grant money is unspent.

Mr. Hill said other things besides Clear Creek were happening in
Hollister. The Record of Decision for the clean-up at Fort Ord was
signed. He is still working on the Coast Dairies. There are lots of
fire-related projects.

Folsom Field Manager Bill Haigh said the Folsom update would be total
immersion during the afternoon. Last February, the new Resources
Management Plan was finalized. In that document, two stretches of river,
including the South Fork American, were recommended for status under the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The office is working with Nevada City on
the Deer Creek project. On the state BLM website, a new feature --"*In
the Field"* -- was on the Cosumnes River Preserve and featured Manager
Harry McQuillen.

After a discussion, the RAC decided to hold the next meeting in the Lone
Pine area on November 21 and 22.

Mr. Dunkelberger narrated a power point presentation on the Bishop Field
Office entitled "*A Few Things We're Proud of..."* He had shown the same
presentation to the State Director and Assistant State Director at a
recent all-employees meeting. Mr. Dunkelberger distributed a handout
that included an MOU on rangeland cooperation.

Mr. Pachucki asked how the Grazing Standards and Guidelines were working
out. Mr. Dunkelberger said really well.

Mr. Mitchell asked if there had been any major fires. Mr. Dunkelberger
said yes, there had been a 2,000-acre fire by Mono Lake that started
when a Coleman stove was knocked over. Conditions had been windy, and
the fire burned into thick riparian vegetation.

Mrs. Gorden commented that the Archaeological Society liked the
improvements by the petroglyphs.

Mr. Smith began the Bakersfield Field Office report by distributing a
handout, and mentioning he had now been the Field Manager for a year.

Mr. Smith said that on May 8, the President signed legislation that
designated Piedras Blancas as an Outstanding Natural Area. A dedication
is planned for July 19, with the local Congresswoman and members of the
RAC invited, among others. He will publicly recognize Grover Elementary
School for their "Pennies for Piedras" program.

Mr. Smith said the Carrizo National Monument plan was his Number One
priority. He thinks it will be a good plan. The State Director will be
briefed in August, and it will go to the printer in September.

Mr. Smith introduced Katherine Worn of the Bakersfield staff. Ms. Worn
said she was the new Bakersfield Planner, and has begun work on the RMP.
They have been through the scoping process and identified three
priorities: Oil and Gas, OHV Access, and Threatened or Endangered
Species.

Mr. Twisselman commented that local citizens think the current Caliente
RMP is a good document and don't expect much change,

Mr. Smith said they had to deal with motorized vehicle access. The RMP
will be primarily an oil and gas document.

Mr. Smith said Vintage Oil wants to explore the Carrizo, and actually
owns the sub-surface. The BLM's problem is how to allow exploration
access without impacting threatened or endangered species. We may have
to require an EIS because of the level of public interest.

Mr. Smith said he has heard of three requests for solar development
outside the monument. There is also a wind energy study proposed for
private lands within the National Monument with access through the
Carrizo Plain.

Mr. Smith finished his report by saying the Bakersfield fire program
received excellent ratings.

Folsom Botanist Graciela Hinshaw introduced herself as the manager of
the Pine Hills Preserve, and delivered a power point presentation on the
Pine Hill Preserve while the RAC ate lunch.

The business meeting was adjourned at 12:54 p.m.

**Saturday, June 14, 2008**

Mr. Vanherweg called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

Mr. Pachucki asked what process BLM goes through to acquire land. Mr.
Haigh said the BLM Folsom Office works with 14 land trusts,
non-governmental organizations that donate land they have acquired to
BLM. The title is transferred in a typical real estate transaction. Some
properties have deed restrictions, which require a waiver for BLM to
take title.

RAC members noted deed restrictions that change historical land use
patterns could require environmental review.

Mr. Vanherweg asked about the economic impact of transferring land to
the federal government. Mr. Haigh said the donations to the Folsom Field
Office have raised property values in adjoining areas due to the
desirability of being near undeveloped land. The donations along the
South Fork American River have enhanced the \$30 million rafting
industry.

Mr. Mitchell asked if stopping grazing would increase invasive weeds.
Mr. Haigh said that is possible. BLM is monitoring the situation and
could use grazing to control weeds if necessary.

Mr. Marymor noted there appears to be less yellow star thistle at Cronan
than on a previous visit.

Mr. Pachucki asked if there was a mandate for BLM to retain a certain
number of acres.

Mr. Haigh said the Folsom RMP identified 110,000 acres out of 250,000
for potential disposal, including land trades.

Mr. Haagen-Smit asked if BLM had declined any donations. Mr. Haigh said
BLM has declined donations where they would not be a good fit with
management.

Mr. Haagen-Smit asked if BLM would accept land donations in Placer
County if they would provide access to BLM land. Mr. Haigh said
donations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Land on the South Fork
American River generally can be managed using present staff, while more
isolated parcels are more difficult to manage.

Mr. Vanherweg asked if the decision on whether to accept donated land is
made at the state or field office. Mr. Haigh said 90 percent of the time
the decision is at the field office.

Mr. Vanherweg asked if BLM looks for hazardous materials before
acquiring land. Mr. Haigh said there are some areas close to mines that
need to be looked at for hazmat.

Mr. Twisselman said general standards and guidelines for acquiring and
disposing of land could be beneficial.

Mr. Haagen-Smit said BLM-Folsom seems to favor water-based recreation
over land-based recreation in the uplands. Mr. Haigh said the river
areas are a significant issue in the Sierra foothills. If the mountain
bike community has a proposal, BLM will work with them.

Mr. Twisselman said BLM needs a policy on what it will and will not do
for buffer zones around communities. Buffer zones need to be re-cleared
periodically, so there is an ongoing expense.

Mr. Monaco said there needs to be a partnership with homeowners,
developers and other parties to develop sustainable funding.

Mr. Vanherweg and Mr. Koretoff agreed there needs to be a coordinated
effort with counties and Cal Fire.

Mr. Haigh said BLM-Folsom works with Cal Fire and fire safe councils.
BLM-Folsom is trying a variance program that allows landowners to clear
a hundred-foot buffer zone on public lands adjoining their property. BLM
does the environmental clearance and project plan, and the property
owner does the work. Thirty projects were approved last year and that
number is expected to grow. Nevada County supervisors are working on
grants to fund projects on public lands. Folsom has a \$250,000 budget
for fuel reduction, and the clearing work being done costs about \$1,500
per acre.

Mr. Haagen-Smit suggested buffer zones by homes could be created twice
as wide to minimize costs even though that would remove some listed
plants.

Mr. Haigh said BLM is working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and state Fish
and Game on a Programmatic Biological Opinion that would allow that.
Brian Mulhollen accomplished double the fuels reduction target for the
office for this year. The fuels program is one of the top three
priorities for BLM-Folsom. Counties in the foothills are looking at
fewer ranchettes as a way to manage fire issues.

Dave Kilpatrick was elected RAC vice chair at the October 2007 meeting,
but did not reapply for his RAC seat. Members present voted Jim
Haagen-Smit as vice chair. ACTION: Members not present were polled by
e-mail and voted in favor.

Mr. Vanherweg asked about the status of the Yuba Goldfields.

Mr. Haigh said BLM signed a decision to offer a lease to the Operating
Engineers Joint Apprenticeship Committee about 1 ½ years ago for a
training center. Western Aggregates appealed to the Interior Board of
Land Appeals, which ruled in May that Western lacked standing. The
parties are working on the lease. It could be signed as early as fall.

Mr. Koretoff asked about potential OHV areas on existing land. Mr. Hill
said BLM-Hollister has looked at other areas presently managed by BLM
for OHV use.

Mr. Twisselman asked about areas near Taft for OHV use. Mr. Smith said
oil companies with leases in the areas don't want OHV use on the leases.
County government will need to take the lead, but BLM will cooperate in
working on OHV use. BLM land at Keysville is used by local residents,
and other areas managed by BLM-Bakersfield have limitations due to air
quality and T&E species.

Mr. Monaco encouraged BLM to work with the state and private landowners
on OHV areas. RAC members and BLM staff engaged in a general discussion
about OHV issues.

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.

**NEXT MEETING NOVEMBER 21 AND 22, 2008, HOSTED BY BLM-BISHOP.**