Legislation would create national monument near Ludlow

	Legislation would create national monument near Ludlow
	Jan 05, 2010 Legislation would create national monument near Ludlow By: JESSICA CEJNAR Staff Writer, Daily Press Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000149 EndHTML:0000001575 StartFragment:0000000199 EndFragment:0000001541 StartSelection:0000000199 EndSelection:0000001541 WASHINGTON D.C. • U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation Monday that would establish a national monument along an area of Route 66 near Ludlow, expand the Mojave National Preserve and change the permitting process for renewable energy projects located on public land. The California Desert Protection Act of 2010 would create two national monuments — the Mojave Trails National Monument and the Sand to Snow National Monument. According to Feinstein’s office, it would add land to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks as well as add 30,000 acres to Mojave National Preserve. It would also designate 250,000 acres of land managed by the Bureau of Land Management near Fort Irwin as wilderness. The bill would also address off-highway vehicle usage, and change the permitting process for renewable energy projects. The Mojave Trails National Monument consists of 940,000 acres of land along Route 66 near Ludlow, according to Feinstein’s office. The BLM would be given the authority to conserve the monument lands, but also to maintain existing recreational uses, including hunting, camping, horseback riding and motorized travel on open roads and trails. Jessica Cejnar Staff Writer, Daily Press