[CPEO-MEF] EXPANSION, BIOTA: 29 Palms (CA) Marines plan to relocate tortoises

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Tortoises will be moved, monitored if base expands

By Kurt Schauppner
Hi-Desert Star (CA)
August 4, 2012

TWENTYNINE PALMS - A plan for desert tortoises is part of the final  
environmental impact statement examining a proposed expansion of the  
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.

The document, released July 27, deals in depth with how to avoid  
damaging populations of desert tortoises in the Johnson Valley land  
being examined for use by Marines in training exercises.

It describes creation of special-use areas, including one in which no  
mechanized maneuvers would be allowed and another in which bivouacs,  
off-highway vehicles or training involving vehicles will be  
discouraged but not prohibited.

The document proposes the combat center develop a program for moving  
tortoises from areas targeted for high and moderate use before the  
first large-scale training exercise.
The program would monitor tortoise health, habitat and population for  
at least two years before moving the animals from areas proposed for  
high and moderate impact by military training, the report suggests.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.hidesertstar.com/news/article_b7622e06-dddc-11e1- 
b2a1-001a4bcf887a.html

--

Lenny Siegel
Executive Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
a project of the Pacific Studies Center
278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org

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