HomeMy WebLinkAbout24030 RESOLUTION NO. 24030
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, URGING THE RETURN OF THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF THE BUREAU OF LAND
MANAGEMENT'S EAGLE MOUNTAIN LANDS BACK TO JOSHUA
TREE NATIONAL PARK AND A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT (EIS) FOR THE EAGLE CREST PUMPED
STORAGE PROJECT'S TRANSMISSION LINE SO THAT LAND
USE MANAGERS AND DECISION MAKERS CAN FULLY
UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACT OF THIS
PROJECT ON GROUNDWATER, SPECIES, AND THE
ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK.
WHEREAS, the Eagle Mountain region was once part of Joshua Tree National
Monument, but was removed for mineral exploration due to Congressional Action in
1950 with passage of PL 837; and
WHEREAS, the Eagle Mountain area in Joshua Tree National Park is home to
one of the most genetically diverse populations of bighorn sheep, desert tortoise and
golden eagle, and has significant historical and cultural resources but is currently
threatened by the Eagle Crest Pumped Storage Project which would draw down
groundwater resources and inflate populations of ravens that prey on desert tortoise
within Joshua Tree National Park; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has stated it will only be
completing a cursory environmental assessment on the Eagle Crest Project's
transmission line and stakeholders are concerned it will not help decision makers
understand the true impacts this project; and Joshua Tree National Park has recently
initiated a Joshua Tree National Park Eagle Mountain Boundary Study that provides an
opportunity to return much of the ecologically and historically significant Eagle Mountain
lands back to the Park once and for all, excluding the proposed Eagle Crest Pumped
Storage Project.
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL DETERMINES, RESOLVES AND
APPROVES AS FOLLOWS:
1) That the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Park Service work
together to return the maximum amount of the Eagle Mountain lands to Joshua
Tree National Park; and
Resolution No. 24030
Page 2
2) That the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) follow its own agency directives
and thoroughly review the Eagle Crest Pumped Storage Project's Transmission
Line by conducting a full Environmental Impact Statement, not merely a cursory
Environmental Assessment, in order to fully understand the project's cumulative
impacts and potential impacts to groundwater, species and the integrity of
Joshua Tree National Park.
ADOPTED THIS 18T" DAY OF MAY, 2016.
DAVID H. READY, ANAGER
ATTEST:
MES THOMPSON, CITY CLERK
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) SS.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 24030 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on May 18, 2016, by the
following vote:
AYES: Councilmember Foat, Councilmember Kors, Councilmember Roberts, and
Mayor Moon.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: Mayor Pro Tern Mills.
J MES THOMPSON, CITY CLERK
City of Palm Springs, California
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