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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Pinto Mountains

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource and a natural process here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 983 active mining claims (and 220 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review) and 17 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 115,540 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.

Acres115,540
DesignatedSep 14, 2016CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource and a natural processand found it important
Inside, at least1,000claims and rights of way, and 220 more claims BLM lists as Filed or Under Review

The line

Pinto Mountains
Mining claim, 955Claimant withheld by BLM, 28Filed, 143Filed, claimant withheld, 68Under Review, claimant withheld, 9Right of way, 17
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 1,152 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 68 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.

Who holds the claims

At least 1,203 claims sit inside this line: 983 active and 220 filed and pending, 1,098 with a holder BLM names and 105 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 983 as Active, 211 as Filed and 9 as Under Review. The index's own placement puts 1,315 claims inside this line. Ours finds 1,203.

  • Osbourne Minerals Inc986claims
  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)105claims
  • SGM MINING GROUP30claims
  • Mesa Land Corporation25claims
  • MULTITASK MANAGEMENT PTY LTD24claims

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

17 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 11 under other energy facilities and 6 under non-energy facilities.

  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO11rights of way
  • USGS2rights of way
  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON1right of way
  • VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC1right of way
  • SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY (California)1right of way

The nearest areas

Next to it

Santos Manuel Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Mojave Fringe-Toed Lizard 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 Pinto Mountains. 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