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BLM Closes Clear Creek to OHV use again this summer and early fall

June 1, 20076

Below is the text of the latest BLM news release on the dry season closure.  The OHV community's appeal of this closure is still pending before the Interior Board of Land Appeals.

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Clear Creek Reopens

October 16, 2006

The BLM reopened Clear Creek on Monday, October 16, ending a four and a half month closure. To date, the Interior Board of Land Appeals has still not respond ed to the OHV community's appeal.

The Salinas Ramblers encourage all visitors to Clear Creek to observe the rules and to recreate responsibly.  Please ride only on designated routes and barrens areas.

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BLM Closes Clear Creek to OHV use again this summer and early fall

May 26, 2006

Below is the text of the latest BLM news release on the dry season closure followed by a link to a map showing the open routes.

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For Release: May 19, 2006
Contact: BLM/George Hill (831) 630-5036 or Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4610; EPA Mark Merchant (415) 947-4297
CA-CC-06-44

BLM to Enforce Dry Season Use Restrictions in the Clear Creek Management Area

The BLM Hollister Field Office says it will begin enforcing dry season use restrictions on 30,000 acres in the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) to protect public health and safety. The temporary restrictions, from June 1 through Oct. 15, 2006 are in response to concerns and data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about health risks from exposure to naturally occurring asbestos.

The dry season use restrictions will limit public vehicular access to specific primary access routes in CCMA to reduce potential public exposure to naturally occurring asbestos. Maps reflecting open routes are posted on-site and are available at the Hollister Field Office, 20 Hamilton Court Hollister, CA 95023.

BLM Hollister Field Manager Rick Cooper said the temporary restrictions will affect about half of the 75,000-acre CCMA, within the Serpentine Area of Critical Environmental Concern, an identified hazardous asbestos area. He said the restrictions will apply to all public land users, but exemptions will be granted for those with valid access rights, such as emergency personnel, private property in-holders, and others. Limited non-motorized use will be allowed adjacent to open routes.

Cooper said BLM will post signs, maps, and provide public information materials at kiosks and other visitor locations to inform the public of the restrictions, as well as the potential health risks related to asbestos exposure during the dry season, as identified by EPA in its February 2005 "Human Health Risk Assessment Technical Memorandum." The memorandum, which is available from EPA in San Francisco and BLM in Hollister, is part of an on-going health risk assessment by EPA that could affect future management of the area.

The public is invited to call the Clear Creek Hotline at (831) 630-5060 for up-to-date information or the Hollister Field Office at (831) 630-5000.

Map of Open Routes  (1MB File)

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EPA Risk Analysis Report

November 21, 2005

Click here for the latest EPA Risk Analysis.  The bottom line of this report is that it is unsafe to be a trailing rider even during the wet season.

Clear Creek Reopens

October 16, 2005

The BLM reopened Clear Creek on Sunday, October 16, ending a four and a half month closure. To date, the Interior Board of Land Appeals has yet to respond to the appeal submitted by the OHV groups lead by the Blue Ribbon Coalition.  Additional use restrictions are possible this use season as a result of the lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and California Native Plant Society.

Clear Creek to reopen on October 16th

October 7, 2005

Baring a closure order by a federal judge, Clear Creek should reopen on Sunday October 16th.  Originally it was thought that Clear Creek would reopen on the 15th because that was the date cited in the Environmental Assessment document.  Apparently, however, the Federal Register notice stated that the closure was "through" the 15th.  This date has also appeared in court documents so the BLM claims they are forced to hold to this date.  Oak Flat campground will be open on Saturday and you can ride the County road network but there will be no use allowed off of these routes on Saturday.  The Salinas Ramblers encourage all fellow enthusiasts to observe the closure through the 15th.

OHV Groups file appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals

September 3, 2005

On June 28th, our lawyer filed an appeal with the Interior Board of Land Appeals or IBLA.  This organization is part of the interior department which is the parent of the BLM in the US Government hierarchy.  We filed the appeal as our lawyer suspected that the court would reject our motion to include to seasonal closure along with the environmentalist's lawsuit, which it did.

On July 14, we submitted our first declarations which are attached below for your viewing.  We followed these with additional declarations on July 28th.  The most significant is the declaration by Dr. Ed Ilgren who has studied the Clear Creek asbestos for many years and who has come to the conclusion that it is merely "an innocuous, nuisance dust" and not harmful to human health.

As of this date, the IBLA has failed to respond to our appeal although I am told that the Hollister Office has been busy preparing information for them throughout the month of August.  Here are the mentioned documents:

Here are links to the documents: Initial Declaration 7/14/05    Additional Declaration 7/28/05    Dr. Ilgren Declaration 7/28/05

OHV Groups Sue To Overturn Seasonal Closure

June 13, 2005

Late last week a group of OHV user groups, including the Salinas Ramblers, took legal action to overturn the seasonal closure.  The BlueRibbon Coalition formally announced the action in a press release published Monday, June 13th.

This legal action is possible because of the tremendous amount of donations made to the Clear Creek Legal Defense Fund that is hosted by the BlueRibbon Coalition.  That said, there is a long battle ahead and additional donations will be needed to combat the disinformation being put out by both the BLM and the EPA. 

Donation may be made directly to the BlueRibbon Coalition.  They offer on-line donations or you can send them a check.  Make sure you earmark your donation for "Clear Creek" 

Seasonal Closure

June 4, 2005

Yes, it is true.  Clear Creek is closed for the summer, at least those parts within the Hazardous Asbestos Zone (aka Area of Critical Environmental Concern or inside the red line on your Clear Creek maps).  The BLM issued a Closure Order after pretending to conduct an Environmental Assessment.  Areas outside the ACEC are open for use if you can get to them.

While this closure will curtail most activities, the one hurt most will be hunters during deer season.  Generations of hunters have accessed Clear Creek to hunt the Condon Peak and Wright Mountain areas.  Under this closure, these areas can not be accessed by vehicle.  This goes as well for hunters who would camp along R002 and hunt the Byles Canyon area.

The San Benito County road network is still open for public use.  This consists of R001 (Clear Creek road), R011 (Spanish Lake road from New Idria to the county line near Santa Rita peak), R015 and T158 (Sawmill Creek road). 

The OHV leadership is working on a response and when details are available they will be posted on this page.

We suggest that you address complains about this closure to BLM State director Mike Pool and Interior Secretary Gale Norton.  Writing to the Hollister Field Office would be a waste of you time and a $.37 stamp.  Address your comments to:

Honorable Gale Norton                            Mike Pool

Secretary of the Interior                            California State Director

1894 C Street NW                                   USDI - BLM

Washington, D.C.  20240                         2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1834

                                                                Sacramento, CA  95825-1886

Here is a very good, well researched letter from a Clear Creek user to the BLM.