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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Amargosa South

BLM found a wildlife resource, a historic value and a fish resource here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 68 active mining claims (and 15 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review) and 26 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 161,328 acres and was designated September 14, 2016, in the CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP. In the plan's name, CDCA stands for California Desert Conservation Area and DRECP for Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

Acres161,328
DesignatedSep 14, 2016CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP
BLM founda wildlife resource, a historic value and a fish resourceand found it important
Inside, at least95claims, rights of way and allotments, and 15 more claims BLM lists as Filed or Under Review

The line

Amargosa South
Mining claim, 26Claimant withheld by BLM, 42Filed, 4Under Review, 2Filed, claimant withheld, 9Right of way, 26
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 80 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 29 claims are placed at the middle of the section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The grazing allotment below isn't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 83 claims sit inside this line: 68 active and 15 filed and pending, 29 with a holder BLM names and 51 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 68 as Active, 13 as Filed and 2 as Under Review.

  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)51claims
  • VANDERBILT MINERALS LLC12claims
  • SHOSHONE DEV INC8claims
  • Mojave Minerals LLC4claims
  • RED MOUNTAIN MINERALS LLC3claims

BLM's mining rules list designated ACECs among the places where mining that disturbs the surface beyond casual use needs a plan of operations BLM approves. Exploration of five acres or less can go ahead on a notice instead.

The rights of way

26 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 19 under non-energy facilities, 6 under other energy facilities and 1 under other.

  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO3rights of way
  • INYO COUNTY (California) - ROAD DEPTARTMENT3rights of way
  • CA DEPT PUBLIC WORKS3rights of way
  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON2rights of way
  • UNAVCO INC2rights of way

Grazing allotments

A grazing allotment covers part of this line. Its permittee isn't named here yet.

  • Horsethief Springs113,444acres

The nearest areas

Next to it

Kingston Range Area of Critical Environmental Concern touches the line.

More from BLM's California office

Every area BLM's California office holds

The proposed rule

A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Amargosa South. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.

The rule's abstract

The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026

Watch the ruleWhere the rule stands