News Release

U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management

CA-CDD-09-42
For Immediate Release: May 8, 2009
Contact: Stephen Razo 951-697-5217

BLM Delays Proposed Fee Increase for Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), El Centro Field Office, has announced that a proposal to increase the cost of recreation permit fees at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area (ISDRA) will be delayed until more extensive public input and participation is completed.

The BLM was scheduled to present its fee proposal to the California Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) on May 13 but has withdrawn the scheduled proposal.

“I feel that the public participation requirements outlined in the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA) have not been sufficiently fulfilled,” says Steven Borchard, BLM California Desert District manager. “I firmly believe that a robust, interactive, and open dialogue between all stakeholders and constituents must happen before the BLM can present a proposal to the RRAC with any degree of confidence.”

After a recent meeting between BLM desert district officials and ISDRA partners and stakeholders, a consensus was reached that some form of fee increase will be required in the near future and that a committed effort will be made to assist the BLM in achieving the required public input on the appropriate level for this increase.

For further information about the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, visit online at:
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra.html or call the BLM El Centro Field Office at 760-337-4400.

-BLM-

Meeting Information

The Recreation RAC held a meeting on May 13, 2009 at the Region 5 Regional Office located at 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA

Documents

Proposals and Public Input

Meetings and Documents:

For more information about Recreation RACs