POLICY Engagement Letters

Federal land management agencies work to implement projects on lands they manage on an ongoing basis. It is important that the public take a close look at such projects and make sure they undergo proper environmental review, adverse impacts to natural resources are considered, and when appropriate, projects are redesigned and/or mitigation measures are implemented. 

Land management agencies often seek to do the right things but need the public’s help to guide them. Without public engagement and comments to the agencies, public lands can succumb to unsustainable recreational use, industrial development, and misguided management. It is our responsibility to make sure our shared public lands are protected for generations to come.  

We track public lands projects, known as Proposed Actions, across public lands in Inyo and Mono Counties. This includes both small actions as well as landscape level decisions. Our policy team tracks notices from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and county governments.

You can view our engagement letters and applicable project files from the past by clicking on the links below.

Forest Service Management

Comprehensive River Management Plan 2022

Comprehensive River Management Plan 2021Solitude Canyon and Sherwins Area Trails 2020
Woolly’s Adventure Summit & Snowmaking 2020
Prescribed Fire 2019
NEPA Rule Changes 2019
Inyo County Roads Project 2019

ROLG/FOI Bridgeport Southwest Rangeland Project Comment Letter 2021
Bridgeport Southwest Rangeland Project Aug 2019
Bridgeport Southwest Rangeland Project June 2018
NEPA Rule Change Compliance Prescoping 2018
Fuels Reduction Reds Meadow 2018
Mammoth Land Exchange 2017
Reds Meadow Environmental Assessment 2017
R5 trails 2017
Over-snow Vehicle Use 2016
Invasive Plant Management Proposed Action EA_2016
Jeffrey Pine Forest Health&Restoration 2016
Travel Analysis Process 2015
Motorized Routes Modifications_2012

Forest Planning

Forest Plan Revision Objections 2018
DEIS Comments 2016
Forest Plan Scoping 2014
Forest Plan Revisions 2014
Desired Conditions & Wilderness Inventory 2014
Inyo NF Assessment Topic Papers 2013
Resource Documents:
Attachment A – ROS Plan Components
Attachment B – ROS Setting Characteristics

Mono County

Mono County Legislative Platform 2018

Renewable Energy

Western Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Resource Mgmt. Plan Scoping 2023
Rush Creek Hydroelectric Relicensing Scoping 2022
Haiwee Geothermal Draft Environmental Impact Statement 2019
Haiwee FERC Applicaton Comment 2019
Resource Documents:
Haiwee Supplemental Draft EIS and Draft Plan Amendment

Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) 2018
DRECP Comment Letter 2016 
Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment 2015
Resource Documents:
DRECP BLM LUPA Record of Decision
DRECP BLM LUPA

Updates

Kore Mining’s Long Valley Drilling Requires Environmental Assessment | Coalition Comments

Coalition Opposes Forest Service’s proposed Categorical Exclusion to Drill for Gold in the Long Valley Read the full letter here Background and Main Objections Kore Mining intends to proceed with exploratory drilling under a catagorical exclusion (CE) to, circumvent environmental review, from the Forest Service. Friends of the Inyo coauthored a 40 page with a powerful coalition of local, regional, and national groups.  argued wrote a 40 has long enjoyed serving and recreating in the Alabama Hills. This important document outlines how the plan does not meet Forest Service regulations for a categorical exclusion, and should require an environmental assessment…

Groundwater Pumping at Owens Lake by LADWP Comments

LADWP is attempting to increase its extraction of water supplies from the Owens Valley by developing a program of consumptive groundwater use from the Owens Lakebed. We are not in agreement that groundwater pumping from beneath Owens Lake can be done in an environmentally sustainable manner, even for a limited period of time. LADWP has improperly piecemealed review of the incremental steps it is taking to achieve increased water withdrawals from the Owens Valley. It has done so without adequate disclosure or analysis of the cumulative and adverse impacts, both past and future, of LADWP’s extractions, the interactive role of…

Stop Rodenticide poisoning in California – Call for Letters

Protect Wildlife and Stop the Use of Harmful Rodenticides Friends of the Inyo joined with many other environmental groups in sending letters encouraging Governor Newsom (CA) to protect mountain lions, raptors, and other animals from being poisoned. 2014 California banned the sale of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides to consumers. Poisoning of mountain lions, raptors, and other apex predators continues as documented by the Department of Fish and Wildlife. AB 1788 was introduced by California State Assembly member Richard Bloom to place a moratorium on the use of these poisons by licensed applicators until review is completed by state agencies. The…

Alabama Hills Management Plan comments

Friends of the Inyo has long enjoyed serving and recreating in the Alabama Hills. We have seen this area drastically change over the years and are excited about the opportunity that this plan presents for the Alabama Hills. With this plan, we all have the opportunity to promote the long term conservation of this area as a unit in the National Conservation Lands system. We sincerely thank the Bishop BLM for the opportunity to comment on DOI-BLM-CA-C070-2020-0001-EA. Read more…

California Endangered Species Act | Petition to list Joshua Trees as Threatened

Thank you to the coalition for signing onto this Joshua tree petition as it winds its way through the listing review process! The public is invited to voice their support at the virtual meeting next Thursday 8/20.  Information on how to participate is located here, just scroll down to the August 19-20, 2020 date & you’ll see the agenda, How to Joint the Webinar/Teleconference and the Meeting documents.

Submit Your Comments for the Alabama Hills Management Plan

Management of the Alabama hills is a topic near to our hearts. Join the conversation. Learn more about the proposal and maps here, and submit your comments below by August 7th. The most effective comments include details regarding management and provide rationale for the suggestion or concern: • Where do you have suggestions for change or specific management strategies – and why? • Where do you have concerns about specific resource values, uses or activities – and why? See this resource for more guidance on writing effective comments.