Supes vote to reopen area roads, urge same for Bureau of Land
Management property
San Benito County officials have brushed aside the federal
government’s wishes on roads leading into the Clear Creek
Management Area while urging a change of direction on whether to
reopen much of the 63,000-acre expanse run by the Bureau of Land
Management.
Supes vote to reopen area roads, urge same for Bureau of Land Management property
San Benito County officials have brushed aside the federal government’s wishes on roads leading into the Clear Creek Management Area while urging a change of direction on whether to reopen much of the 63,000-acre expanse run by the Bureau of Land Management.
Supervisors on Tuesday took steps toward ending a nearly two-year closure of roads leading into the Clear Creek Management Area in southern San Benito County, while they also endorsed a letter that encourages the federal BLM to reopen the recreational tourist spot.
They voted 4-0 on two separate items related to the BLM’s closure of the Clear Creek Management Area, implemented in May 2008 after a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study concluded that natural asbestos levels within the property were unsafe.
Board members agreed to endorse a letter recommending that the BLM choose an alternative – to reopen the area – in a proposal with options of how to proceed with Clear Creek. The BLM in its draft resource management plan regarding prospects for the 63,000-acre recreational area – largely used for off-highway vehicles – has recommended an alternative that would largely limit public access.
The BLM initially had a comment period ending March 5 for the management plan and an accompanying environmental document, but extended it 45 days. Alternatives in the plan range from permanently closing off nearly all of the area to opening most of it again.
Along with the document going to the BLM – which stressed the economic impact on the county’s tourism industry – supervisors agreed to send a second letter to U.S. Sens. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, along with U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, emphasizing the importance of the issue to the county and requesting their support on the matter.
Supervisors then moved on to vote 4-0 – Pat Loe was absent – to also reopen the 25 miles of roads overseen by the county that lead into the Clear Creek area. They include Clear Creek Road to New Idria Road, Mexican Lake Road to the Fresno County line and Wild Ass Road from Mexican Lake Road. There had been questions in recent weeks about jurisdiction of those roads, as the BLM contended it was unclear whether San Benito had any official documentation proving ownership.
With the roads’ opening, county officials plan to place signs – costing about $1,000 – throughout the area warning residents they are using them at their own risk.
More than 50 residents attended the afternoon meeting at the board of supervisors chambers. A large majority was in favor of reopening the roads and the Clear Creek Management Area. With applause following many arguments, they spoke about the economic impacts on their businesses, the inability to enjoy a sport they love, and the science involved in federal studies that they contend is flawed.
Many of those same opinions were included in a two-inch-think stack of letters from local residents sent to supervisors before their discussion and votes Tuesday.
Many of the speakers also were from out of the area. Dennis Mann noted how he drove two and a half hours from Hanford. He pointed out how the Clear Creek Management Area had served as a positive outlet for his family and his son, now an adult.
“For my son, when he was 12 years old, the best thing I ever did was get involved with him coming to the Clear Creek area,” Mann said.
Several residents talked about the negative financial impact Clear Creek’s closure has had on their businesses. They came from as far as Redwood City. That is where Mark Norman owns a small ATV shop. He said the closure “really affects my business dramatically.”
“This is public land, and we are the public,” he said.
The local BLM field office manager also attended and encouraged supervisors against opening the roads. He estimated the BLM’s state director could make a decision on the closure alternatives by January – a projection that drew murmurs from a skeptical crowd. He noted how leaving the county roads closed would be the “safest and least-confusing approach for the public.”
Cooper also responded to claims that property owners near the BLM land had been denied access during the past two years of the closure. He said the BLM “never” had done so.
While Cooper noted how people who enter the public BLM land would be “subject to citation,” he said the federal agency is concerned that the signage regarding the county roads would be understood by some, yet confusing to others.
“It’s that part of the general public that I’m concerned about,” he said.
But supervisors showed they were more at ease about the prospects of opening the 25 miles of roads in the area. Supervisor Anthony Botelho said he had doubts about the asbestos science and called Clear Creek “a treasure” for the county.
“I believe the benefit outweighs the risk,” he said.
