Ventana Wilderness Alliance
NEPA & CEQA Comment Letters

George Hill, Assistant Field Manager
Hollister Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
20 Hamilton Court
Hollister, CA 95023

Re: Scoping Comments: HFO Resource Management Plan Revision

Dear George,

Thank you for the opportunity to provide these scoping comments on the revision of the HFO Resource Management Plan.

Please insure that the RMP revision provides that all types of public users have equal access to enjoy, recreate and appreciate our public lands managed by the HFO. Specifically, please insure that the needs and interests of non-motorized recreational users be accommodated in the plan revision. It is important that the revision makes this distinction because motorized recreation is absolutely incompatible with most other forms of non-motorized recreation due to the deafening noise and clouds of dust generated by this activity, as well as the risk of being run over and seriously injured or killed by high speed motor vehicles. The distinction is also necessary because motorized recreation completely alters the landscape from its natural condition and the resulting destruction is unsuitable for other, equally valid non-motorized low impact recreational activities such as camping, hiking, bird watching, nature study, hunting, horseback riding wildlife photography and the pursuit of solitude.

Please consider providing in the RMP revision additional areas for hiking and other forms of low impact recreation, with better public access, and free of the above described intrusion of motorized recreation. Examples of areas where there is natural appeal to hikers and other low impact recreational users include the vast un-motorized areas around Joaquin Rocks, the San Benito Mountain Research Natural Area, Coalinga Mineral Springs and the Cantua Creek drainage among others.

The public lands managed by the HFO include several islands of rare, if not unique, geologic formations which in turn support populations of rare plant species and unique plant communities. These geologic and botanical features should be preserved for their intrinsic value rather than exploited for short term, non-sustainable economic gain and destructive recreational activities. Please describe in the RMP how these rare geologic and botanical areas will be protected from destructive recreational use and commercial exploitation.

The HFO is fortunate to have in its resource area wilderness quality lands around the Joaquin Rocks. At present, none of the Diablo Range is preserved as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The Joaquin Rocks area is the best possible Diablo Range candidate for such preservation and it is imperative that it be so considered. Please conduct a thorough analysis of the proposed Joaquin Rocks Wilderness Area as part of the RMP revision. Please analyze the suitability of an interim management plan for the greater Joaquin Rocks area that will preserve its wilderness qualities until Congress can formally consider its addition to the National Wilderness Preservation System.

While hunting, on federal public lands managed by the HFO, is regulated and managed by the state of California, "plinking" or indiscriminate shooting is not. Please describe in the RMP revision how the BLM will protect all members of the public from the dangers of this unregulated and unmanaged activity.

These scoping comments are also submitted on behalf of the California Wilderness Coalition, The Wilderness Society and the Center for Biological Diversity.

Sincerely,
Thomas A. Hopkins, Member
Board of Directors

Copy:
California Wilderness Coalition
The Wilderness Society
Center for Biological Diversity