In 2010 Western Watersheds Project’s California Office protested two Bureau Land Management grazing decisions in which the Bakersfield Filed Office attempted to rely on "DNAs" (Declarations of NEPA Adequacy) to permit livestock grazing on two allotments rather than undergoing lawful environmental review. DNAs are the Categorical Exclusion’s ugly step-sibling.
Both decisions were issued from the BLM’s Bakersfield Field Office for allotments located next to Sequioa National Park. In response to Western Watersheds Project’s interest, BLM Bakersfield Field Office Field Manager Tim Smith has withdrawn his August 31, 2010 proposed grazing decision for Oak Grove Allotment and his September 23, 2010 proposed grazing decision for North River Fork allotment . The Field Office will now embark on new NEPA analysis for these two allotments.
Both allotments are located by Sequoia National Park. Oak Grove allotment actually includes several giant sequoia groves. The two allotments are located in major watersheds and include ACECs (Areas of Critical Environmental Concern), wilderness study areas, and occurrences of the listed Valley Elderberry Longhorn beetle and some very rare plants among other resources.
View North Fork River Allotment & Oak Grove Allotment in a larger map