MDLT responds to DOI’s notice of intent to review desert conservation areas

photo of a hiker in the desert

Joshua Tree, CA – In response to Executive Order 13783, “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth”, the Department of the Interior has launched a 45-day public comment period on conservation designations made through the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Land Use Plan Amendment (DCREP). This EO directs federal agencies to review all actions that could “potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources.”

Statement by the Mojave Desert Land Trust:
“This decision could create chaos. Anyone who cares about public lands should be concerned about it.”

“As a local land trust that has been involved in land use planning, we have witnessed how that the past eight years have produced certainty for both industry and desert communities. California has been on the cutting-edge of planning efforts to balance renewable energy and conservation. This has been a good multi-level planning effort at the federal, state and local level. By rolling back the last eight years of planning efforts in managing desert lands, this Administration threatens not only conservation lands, but also California’s ability to move forward efficiently with energy development.” – Frazier Haney, Direction of Land Conservation, Mojave Desert Land TrustT

he Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. For more information, visit www.mdlt.org