Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Open houses set to discuss mineral withdrawals

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding open houses next week to discuss proposed mineral withdrawals for lands within Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Amargosa Valley northwest of Pahrump.

Meetings will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 6-9 p.m. at the Las Vegas Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, 4765 Vegas Drive; on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 3-5 p.m. at the Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 E. Basin Road at Highway 150 in Pahrump; and on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 7-9 p.m. at Amargosa Valley Community Center, 821 East Farm Road, Amargosa Valley.

Last August the USF&WS published a Federal Register notice of their application to withdraw 5,360 acres of federal minerals from mining and 9,460 acres of public lands within the refuge boundary from surface entry and mining for 20 years. This notice temporarily closed these lands for two years from settlement, sale, location, and entry under the general land laws, including the mining laws, subject to valid and existing rights.

The USF&WS points out that this will not affect private lands or minerals within the refuge boundary. The 90-day comment period closed Nov. 10, 1998. The open houses scheduled next week are the next step to thoroughly identify public issues and concerns for the proposed withdrawals.

The USF&WS and the BLM are proposing the withdrawals to provide better habitat protection and improved management of public lands within the refuge. Cutting duplicate costs also is a goal of the two agencies.

The refuge was created in 1984 to provide for the protection and recovery of endangered fish and plants. When established, it included about 12,000 acres acquired from the Nature Conservancy, 2,700 acres to be withdrawn from public domain and 6,600 acres to be managed cooperatively with the BLM. An additional 1,550 acres of private land were identified for eventual acquisition on a willing-seller basis. Several previous withdrawal applications filed by the USF&WS were cancelled.

According to the USF&WS, the most striking feature of the refuge is the more than 30 spring-fed pools and streams that contrast sharply with the arid desert that surrounds them.

Those who have concerns regarding the withdrawal petition can attend the open houses or mail: Charles J. Houghten, Chief, Division of Refuge Planning, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4181. E-mail: r1planning][email protected] (with "Ash Meadows" typed in the subject line). The current comment period closes March 12.

* TRAIL MIX: The U.S. Forest Service will hold a public meeting to discern the needs of hikers, equestrians, mountain bike riders and off-highway vehicle enthusiasts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the BLM Conference Room at 4765 Vegas Drive.

* ROAD CLOSINGS FOR THE BIRDS: A meeting to discuss proposed road closures in areas popular for upland game bird hunting will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the Bureau of Land Management office, 4765 Vegas Drive.

Areas proposed for closures include Gold Butte, Mormon Mesa and Coyote Springs Valley, which is surrounded by the Arrow Canyon Mountains north of Glendale.

Maps of proposed road closures are posted at the Nevada Division of Wildlife office, 4747 Vegas Drive. They can be viewed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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