California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Western Rand 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 17 active mining claims (and 4 more BLM lists as Filed) and 9 rights of way inside the line today, and a grazing allotment covers part of it. It covers 31,898 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 21 claims sit inside this line: 17 active and 4 filed and pending, 8 with a holder BLM names and 13 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 17 as Active and 4 as Filed.
- Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)13claims
- SLEEPY BEAR MINING LLC3claims
- SEARCHLIGHT EXPLORATION LLC2claims
- VALLEY PROSPECTORS INC1claim
- West End Prospectors Club Inc1claim
- Gold Discovery Group LLC1claim
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
9 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 5 under other energy facilities and 4 under non-energy facilities.
- SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO5rights of way
- NV-CA RAILWAY CO1right of way
- HUGHES DEVELOPMENT CORP1right of way
- VERIZON CALIFORNIA INC1right of way
- RAND COMMUNITIES WATER DISTRICT1right 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
- El Paso to GoldenCalifornia · 63,372 acres · at least 46 active mining claims and 111 more BLM lists as Filed, 20 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it9miles
- Fremont-KramerCalifornia · 409,826 acres · at least 1,487 active mining claims and 684 more BLM lists as Filed, 52 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it9miles
- Desert Tortoise Research Natural AreaCalifornia · 25,346 acres · 1 right of way9miles
- Last Chance CanyonCalifornia · 5,934 acres · at least 7 active mining claims and 7 more BLM lists as Filed, a grazing allotment covering part of it10miles
- Red Mountain SpringCalifornia · 718 acres · nothing placed inside11miles
Next to it
Fremont-Kramer Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area of Critical Environmental Concern, El Paso To Golden Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Mohave Ground Squirrel 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 Western Rand 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