San Benito County supervisors could vote Tuesday afternoon to
reopen the roads leading to the Clear Creek Management Area after
they have been closed for nearly two years.
San Benito County supervisors could vote Tuesday afternoon to reopen the roads leading to the Clear Creek Management Area after they have been closed for nearly two years.
The 25 miles of roads have been closed since May 13, 2008, when the Bureau of Land Management closed off the Clear Creek Management Area when studies had shown the natural asbestos levels were found to be too high.
The “temporary closure” by the BLM is still under environmental and public review on whether the area will reopen. But the county’s closure of roads in the area has led to landowners being separated from their properties, according to the county’s staff report.
The county also expects another 12 to 18 months before the BLM comes to a resolution, according to the report.
The San Benito County Board of Supervisors will look to potentially reopen the roads and put up signs warning visitors of the area’s danger, according to the staff report.
The reopening of the roads would protect the county against legal issues by allowing people to visit their personal properties, the document states.
Keeping the roads closed would “act as a permanent closing of the road without the proper environmental work or findings,” according to the staff report. And new signs would replace the “Road Closed” signs costing the county more than $1,000.
The 25 miles of roads would include: Clear Creek Road to New Idria Road, Mexican Lake Road to the Fresno County line and Wild Ass Road from Mexican Lake Road.
The board is set to meet over the BLM issue at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the County Administration Building, 481 Fourth St.
