The San Bernardino County Supervisors meeting on August 18 drew a large number of commenters on item 76: "Conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed ordinance to repeal and reenact local surface mining and land reclamation regulations." Commenters expressed strong concerns that through the proposed changes, the County was handing over environmental review to the recently greatly weakened federal environmental review process. After the comment period, Chair Dawn Rowe and other supervisors expressed their concern that staff had not effectively communicated with the public about the intent and implications of the proposed changes. Chair Rowe then moved to continue the hearing to October 20. She requested that staff do additional research and clearly present the proposed changes and address the public's questions.

Chair Rowe suggested staff should review and address the three questions asked by commenter Chris Carraher (MBCA Board Member Emeritus and Past President).

The video of the hearing is available here, starting at 41:35 (or you can scroll down the agenda that’s below the video window to item #76.).  Additional news coverage can be found at the Hi Desert Star, and a very in-depth report with extensive quotations at the Desert Trumpet.

This annual report required by the legislature is published by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). It covers the Western Joshua Tree issue from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. The legislative report includes an update on CDFW’s role in the implementation of the Western Joshua Tree Conservaiton Act, information on permits issued, fees collected, conservation implemented, and more. Here is the report and you can find more information including FAQ's on the CDFW website. 

With a focus on health concerns in addition to support for other commenters' concerns with tourism, MBCA sent a comment letter opposing the Supervisors' August 18 impending vote to approve a recommendation that would remove the county from the permitting of mining operations with federal approval. Federal environmental guidelines have been changed to reduce effective review. The specific concern addressed is fine particles of the radioactive element Thorium unearthed in the mining operation that could be windblown toward Twentynine Palms and beyond. MBCA "opposes the proposed revision ... unless appropriate language is included requiring environmental analyses provided by compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act."

 

MBCA was among seven organizations sending a qualified statement of support for AB 53, a bill intending to provide a pathway for the transfer of public lands in California to original tribal stewardship for conservation purposes. The letter requests that the bill be reintroduced in the next legislative session to provide time to elaborate and clarify the complex conditions of land transfer for best possible outcomes. There is little time left in this year’s legislative session. The bill’s author is former San Beranriono County Supervisor James Ramos.

 

MBCA has joined over 120 environmental, consumer, low-income, tenants’ rights, and clean energy organizations to support legislation that would address both energy insecurity and air pollution problems in California. The legislation introduced by Senator Wiener (SB 868) would allow Californians to install portable solar generation devices known as "balcony solar" without having to connect with public utilities (as is currently the law). These small plug-in units can provide enough electricity to power a few appliances and lights in homes and apartments. Read the June 3rd coalition letter to Assemblymember Petri-Norris, Chair of the Committee on Utilities and Energy, for more information.  The bill was passed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on June 15.  Increasing access to solar energy for consumers is another step away from reliance on fossil fuel energy in California. 

The Initial Study for this proposal to create twelve 5-acre Rural Living-zoned lots in the Pioneertown area contains many conflicts with the County Wide Plan that are outlined in MBCA’s comment letter to Land Use Services. MBCA objects to the County's support of a  Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project and urges a full Environmental Impact Report be completed. MBCA's comment letter and appendices describe a number of critical oversights and lack of reference to key environmental concerns. Issues include: Project location within the Pipes Canyon Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC), fragmentation of wildlife habitat linkage, the Sentinel Landscape supporting military bases, scenic characteristics, dust affecting air quality, dark sky concerns and especially water availability and wastewater treatment issues. (“The IS incorrectly states the site is within the Morongo Valley Groundwater Basin. The site is within the Ames Valley Basin.”) The letter also notes the demonstrated need for affordable housing in the Morongo Basin, rather than 5-acre upscale homes. 

Click on the photo to enjoy MBCA's latest engaging video of a local residential landscape filled with desert native plant beauty and skillful water management.  

MBCA and the Joshua Tree Foundation for Arts & Ecology invited local environmental and conservation educators - individuals and organizations - to meet for information sharing and planning future collaborations emphasizing  youth education. Pat Flanagan of MBCA presented an EcoMap curriculum as a tool to explore environmental data. More than a dozen participants then presented overviews of their educational programs and tools, including:

• Copper Mountain College
• Educators from La Contenta Middle School and Joshua Tree Elementary School.
• Friends of Big Morongo Canyon
• Harrison House Music Arts & Ecology
• Hi-Desert Nature Museum
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park Association (including the new DiscoverJTREE program)
• Journalist Hilary Sloane (read her blog post on this event)
• MBCA's Eighth Grade Field Trips program
• Mojave Desert Land Trust
• Sky’s the Limit
• The Wildlands Conservancy

Participants plan to collaborate and hope to expand eco-education in the Morongo Basin.