Nevada · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Amargosa Mesquite
BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource and a cultural value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 10 active mining claims inside the line today. It covers 6,784 acres and was designated November 6, 2002, in the Las Vegas RMP. In the plan's name, RMP stands for resource management 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 10 claims sit inside this line: 10 active, 10 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 10 as Active.
- LHOIST NORTH AMERICA OF ARIZONA INC10claims
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 nearest areas
- Ash MeadowsNevada · 37,280 acres · at least 43 active mining claims, 5 rights of way7miles
- Amargosa NorthCalifornia · 124,317 acres · at least 65 active mining claims, 10 rights of way20miles
- Big DuneNevada · 1,900 acres · nothing placed inside24miles
- Stump SpringNevada · 647 acres · nothing placed inside41miles
- Amargosa SouthCalifornia · 161,328 acres · at least 68 active mining claims and 15 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review, 26 rights of way, a grazing allotment covering part of it45miles
More from BLM's Nevada office
Every area BLM's Nevada 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 Amargosa Mesquite. 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