California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Santos Manuel
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 2 active mining claims and 29 rights of way inside the line today. It covers 40,151 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 2 claims sit inside this line: 2 active, 2 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 2 as Active.
- 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
29 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 22 under other energy facilities and 7 under non-energy facilities.
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO21rights of way
- FRONTIER CALIFORNIA INC3rights of way
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON2rights of way
- Holder not listed by BLM1right of way
- VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC1right of way
- CALIFORNIA SUPREME SALT LLC1right of way
The nearest areas
- Pinto MountainsCalifornia · 115,540 acres · at least 983 active mining claims and 220 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review, 17 rights of way9miles
- Amboy CraterCalifornia · 640 acres · nothing placed inside26miles
- Cadiz ValleyCalifornia · 211,428 acres · at least 231 active mining claims, 5 rights of way27miles
- Marble Mountain Fossil BedCalifornia · 232 acres · nothing placed inside29miles
- Patton Military CampsCalifornia · 20,410 acres · 3 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it35miles
Next to it
Pinto Mountains 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 holdsThe proposed rule
A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Santos Manuel. 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