The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to withdraw approximately 22,462 acres of public lands for 20 years from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; from location, entry, and patent under the United States mining laws; and from disposition under all laws pertaining to mineral and geothermal leasing, and mineral materials, and all amendments thereto and to transfer administrative jurisdiction over such lands from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to the NPS for administration as part of Joshua Tree National Park (JTNP). This notice temporarily segregates the lands for up to 2 years, gives the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed withdrawal application, and announces the date and time of a public meeting.

DATES:

Comments must be received by February 16, 2017.  A public meeting on the proposed withdrawal will be held on January 18, 2017 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at UC Riverside Palm Desert, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert, California 92211.

The area contains approximately 22,462 acres in Riverside County. Records and maps relating to this application can be examined by interested parties at the following locations: NPS, Pacific West Region, 333 Bush Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, California 94104, and BLM, Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, California 92262.

Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review on the following Web site http://parkplanning.nps.gov/​eaglemountain.

For more information, see: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/11/18/2016-27869/notice-of-proposed-withdrawal-and-notice-of-public-meeting-california