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Bodie Hills: Conservation Alert

This information is now out of date - for current Bodie Hills information, see The Bodie Hills Conservation Partnership's website here: http://bodiehills.org/

Background (from 2010):

  1. The Bodie Hills have the highest concentration of rare plants in the Eastern Sierra. Populations of these species are concentrated in the Dry Lakes Plateau section of the Bodie Wilderness Study Area (WSA). The Bodies are also contain significant wildlife, cultural, and aesthetic public-trust values.
  2. Cougar Gold has mineral exploration rights to the Paramount Mine within the Bodie WSA. Cougar Gold is seeking the release of the Bodie WSA for further gold exploration and potential mining. They have the support of Rep. Buck McKeon and are attempting to gain support from the Mono County Board of Supervisors.
  3. BLM policy allows “assessment work necessary to hold claims” within WSAs. Cougar Gold does not require release of the Bodie WSA to continue their exploration work.
  4. Cougar Gold will hold its first public meetings on February 15, 2011, addressing the Mono County Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting in Bridgeport, followed by a “town hall” at 5:00 PM.
  5. A gold mine in the Bodie Hills has the potential to significantly impact rare plants and other public trust values. Cougar Gold has yet to provide specific details on any mining they may propose for the Bodie Hills.
  6. Cougar Gold will likely focus on potential beneficial economic impacts of mining to gain support from the Supervisors at the February 15 meetings.

What needs to be done:

  1. The message we want to send to the supervisors is to not take any action on the Bodie WSA until the public and all interested stakeholders have had the opportunity to learn about Cougar Gold’s specific plans and evaluate the information presented.
  2. Furthermore, because of the need to protect the significant biological, cultural, and aesthetic values of the entire Bodie Hills, we would like to urge the supervisors to support a comprehensive planning process for the area.

What you can do:

  1. If possible, attend the February 15, 2011 meetings in Bridgeport. Times and locations in Bridgeport TBA.
  2. Chapter members residing in Mono County can contact their supervisor, opposing any immediate action on the Bodie WSA.

    Email your letter to:
    Mono County Board of Supervisors
    lroberts@mono.ca.gov

    Call your Supervisor:
    Larry Johnston (District 1, Mammoth): (760) 914-0826(c), (760) 924-1806(o)
    Hap Hazard (District 2, Crowley, Sunny Slopes, Swall, Tri-Valley): (760) 935-4999
    Vikki Bauer (District 3, Mammoth Knolls, June Lake): (760) 648-7831
    Tim Hansen (District 4, Bridgeport, Lee Vining, Walker/Coleville): (760) 937-3290(c), (760) 647-6415 (h)
    Byng Hunt (District 5, Old Mammoth): (760) 914-0469(c); (760) 934-6643(h)

  3. Chapter members residing outside of Mono County can email a letter to the Board at the address above.
  4. Copy and mail your letter to Congressman Buck McKeon: 26650 The Old Road Suite 203, Santa Clarita, CA 91381

More Background on the Bodie Hills: http://www.bodiehills.org/