Nevada · Area of Critical Environmental Concern
Stewart Valley Fossil Site
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 1 mining claim BLM lists as Filed and 1 right of way inside the line today, and two grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 15,967 acres and was designated June 6, 1986, in the Walker 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 1 claim sits inside this line: 0 active and 1 filed and pending, 1 with a holder BLM names. BLM lists 1 as Filed. The claim wasn't located before the area was designated.
- Golden Metal Resources 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
1 right of way sits inside the line. BLM files 1 under non-energy facilities.
- CARSON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE1right of way
Grazing allotments
2 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.
- PILOT-TABLE MOUNTAIN547,306acres
- STEWART SPRINGS24,976acres
The nearest areas
- Bodie BowlCalifornia · 7,268 acres · 1 right of way, 3 grazing allotments covering part of it64miles
- Numu Newe Special Management AreaNevada · 209,180 acres · at least 177 active mining claims and 67 more BLM lists as Filed or Under Review, 21 rights of way, 7 grazing allotments covering part of it64miles
- Travertine Hot SpringsCalifornia · 162 acres · a grazing allotment covering part of it72miles
- Conway SummitCalifornia · 2,845 acres · at least 1 active mining claim and 2 more BLM lists as Filed, 2 rights of way, 5 grazing allotments covering part of it76miles
- Fish SloughCalifornia · 39,448 acres · 4 grazing allotments covering part of it79miles
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 Stewart Valley Fossil Site. 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