Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) and members of California’s Senate Republican Caucus have sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting the U.S. Department of Justice review a ruling that would restrict public access to the western Mojave Desert.
“We’re doing this because the court’s decision is a clear overreach. It bypassed already successful cooperative agreements that don’t restrict public access to our beautiful lands,” Senator Ochoa Bogh said. “Our community benefits from recreation, environmental, and economic boosts when these lands are accessible to the public.”
The letter urges the U.S. DOJ to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and to seek a stay pending appeal to prevent multi-year route closures.
Specifically, the ruling by a senior U.S. district judge to remand Center for Biological Diversity, et al. v. Nada Wolff Culver, et al. – to send it back to a lower court for review – vacates portions of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2019 West Mojave Route Network. This despite extensive agency analysis under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act.
The judge further ordered that during the remand period, which could extend to October 2029, the BLM prohibit Off-Highway Vehicle use on approximately 2,200 miles of routes within designated desert tortoise critical habitat areas that may be affected.
“These routes are part of nearly 6,000 miles of trails developed through a lengthy process of public input, scientific analysis and collaboration with local communities and federal agencies,” said Ochoa Bogh. “The plan was carefully crafted to balance recreational access with environmental protection, serving millions of Americans for safe, responsible use.”