Hi, This is a great blog. I really like it. I att...

2010-02-11T10:52:39.315-08:00

Hi,

This is a great blog. I really like it. I attended all four days of this hearing. The number 25 tortoises is not a very accurate estimate. It was based on the preliminary surveys conducted by Bright Source biologists. They had visual contact of 25 individual tortoises. Due to their fossorial nature, even in the peak activity season, it is likely that most individuals are still under the ground. In fact, tortoises are said to spend 80 percent of their lives in burrows.

It could very well be that there are three to four times that many there. Having visited the site over ten times, I am amazed at how good this habitat is and I have experience working as a desert tortoise field biologist. Bright Source even admitted that this number is probably not accurate.

This is why it is crazy for them to rush this project through like they are planning to.

Another thing we learned about the FSA/DEIS at the BLM's workshop in Needles last week is that both the BLM and CEC pretty much lied when they said that they consulted the local tribes. Three representatives from the Chemehuevi Tribe were there and had never even heard of this project. They told BLM they wanted all cultural sites avoided. BLM just said that they sent a copy of the EIS to them, but never had a site visit.

Thanks for making this blog. I really appreciate that someone else has the guts to take on this very disturbing issue.

Kevin Emmerich
Basin and Range Watch

Comments on Mojave Desert Blog: Ivanpah Hearings Underscore Brightsource's Poor Si...

Hi, This is a great blog. I really like it. I att...