California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Bristol
BLM found a cultural value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 3 active mining claims (and 99 more BLM lists as Filed) and 31 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 236,296 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.
One of the 1,120 places the Bureau of Land Management has designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern. This page shows its line, what BLM found there and what sits inside it.
The line
Who holds the claims
At least 102 claims sit inside this line: 3 active and 99 filed and pending, 100 with a holder BLM names and 2 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 99 as Filed and 3 as Active.
- BAGDAD CHASE MINING COMPANY LLC71claims
- BAGDAD CHASE MINING LLC29claims
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)2claims
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
31 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 24 under non-energy facilities, 4 under other energy facilities and 3 under oil & gas facilities.
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO4rights of way
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO3rights of way
- CADIZ REAL ESTATE, LLC2rights of way
- GTP TOWERS I LLC2rights of way
- CA DEPT PUBLIC WORKS2rights of way
- TONOPAH & TIDEWATER RR2rights of way
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS CO - LAND RIGHT WAY DEPT1right of way
- GRANITE CONSTRUCTION CO1right of way
- CALIFORNIA DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- AMERICAN TOWER CORP1right of way
- UNAVCO INC1right of way
- PG&E1right of way
- CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- CA DEPT TRANSPORTATION1right of way
- ATCHISON TOPEKA & SANTA FE1right of way
- INTERCONNECT TOWERS (ITC) LLC1right of way
- SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD CO1right of way
- INTERCONNECT TOWERS (ICT) LLC1right of way
- LUDLOW & SOUTHERN RAILROAD CO1right of way
- US NAVY DEPT1right of way
- MARINE CORPS USDD1right of way
- COASTAL BUSINESS GROUP, INC1right of way
The nearest areas
- Amboy CraterCalifornia · 640 acres · nothing placed inside16miles
- Mojave Fringe-toed LizardCalifornia · 24,678 acres · 5 rights of way23miles
- Mesquite Hills/CruceroCalifornia · 5,031 acres · 2 rights of way24miles
- PisgahCalifornia · 53,884 acres · at least 15 active mining claims and 3 more BLM lists as Filed, 14 rights of way26miles
- Cady Mountains WSACalifornia · 117,643 acres · at least 1 active mining claim and 1 more BLM lists as Filed27miles
Next to it
Pisgah Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Cady Mountains Wilderness Study Area of Critical Environmental Concern touch the line.
More from BLM's California office
Every area BLM's California office holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Bristol. 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