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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

El Paso to Golden

BLM found a natural system, a scenic value and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 46 active mining claims (and 111 more BLM lists as Filed) and 20 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 63,372 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.

Acres63,372
DesignatedSep 14, 2016CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP
BLM founda natural system, a scenic value and a natural processand found it important
Inside, at least67claims, rights of way and allotments, and 111 more claims BLM lists as Filed

The line

El Paso to Golden
Mining claim, 17Claimant withheld by BLM, 29Filed, 102Filed, claimant withheld, 9Right of way, 20
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 46 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 131 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 157 claims sit inside this line: 46 active and 111 filed and pending, 119 with a holder BLM names and 38 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 111 as Filed and 46 as Active.

  • BULL MOUNTAIN RESOURCES LLC102claims
  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)38claims
  • NSR Resources, Inc.6claims
  • RAAN INC5claims
  • HOLLIDAY ROCK CO INC2claims

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

20 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 15 under non-energy facilities, 4 under other energy facilities and 1 under other.

  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO3rights of way
  • VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC3rights of way
  • CA DEPT PUBLIC WORKS1right of way
  • US NAVY DEPT1right of way
  • CONTINENTAL TELEPHONE CO OF CA1right of way

Grazing allotments

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

  • Cantil Common329,795acres

The nearest areas

Next to it

Fremont-Kramer Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Mohave Ground Squirrel Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Western Rand Mountains Area of Critical Environmental Concern touch 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 El Paso to Golden. 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