Are you aware that an Australian company, Dateline Resources, has made
thousands of acres of rare-earth mining claims right on the border of Joshua Tree National Park and in Wonder Valley and 29 Palms? Our aquifers, our desert, and wildlife are at risk. A possible huge open pit mine visible from the entrance to the National Park and our communities could be in our future.
If this concerns you, here’s your first step to stop it: Oppose the County mining regulation revision coming up in August. Read on to learn why and how. BACKGROUND:California law requires that mining projects, including those on federal public lands, go through county permitting to minimize environmental impacts. However, San Bernardino County is considering revising its mining regulation to give up local permitting for projects that have approval from Washington D.C. Because federal requirements are weaker than California's, this means new mining projects will be approved without the public's knowledge, and with serious impacts to our treasured public lands, air, and water. The County needs to hear from residents who are concerned about this proposed change.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:- Tell our County Supervisors to reject this revision or grant more time for public review. Sample letter is below.
- Sign the Mojave Desert Land Trust petition.
- Show up at 9 a.m. for the August 18 hearing either in person, by phone, or by email comment – see how here.
- Help spread the word!
SAMPLE LETTER FOR COUNTY SUPERVISORSModify the below as you desire and email to
BoardMeetingComments@cob.sbcounty.gov . Include a cc
to Iris Gutierrez, field representative for Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, at iris.gutierrez@bos.sbcounty.gov. RE: Project No. PMISC-2026-00029 – Proposed Repeal and Rewrite of Development Code Chapter 88.03 (Surface Mining and Reclamation)Dear Supervisor,
I urge you to VOTE NO on Project No. PMISC-2026-00029. This proposed rewrite to Chapter 88.03 of the County Development Code strips San Bernardino County of its vital local permitting oversight and creates dangerous environmental vulnerabilities for our communities.
While the Planning Commission has recommended these changes, I believe completely waiving county-level mining permits on federal lands is a severe misstep for the following critical reasons:
- Surrender of Local Authority: The proposed amendment voluntarily abdicates the County’s local zoning and permitting power over mining projects on federal public lands. Our local elected leaders—not federal agencies—should maintain the final say over industrial operations that directly impact county residents. Local communities deserve a process to ensure public participation and information sharing for mining projects in the County.
- Bypassing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): By removing the requirement for a local County permit, this rewrite effectively eliminates the standard legal trigger for CEQA review. Bypassing CEQA strips our communities of mandatory environmental impact reports, enforceable local mitigation measures, and legally protected opportunities for public hearings.
- Threats to Sensitive Desert Ecosystems: Handing sole oversight to federal processes places our most vulnerable lands at risk. For example, speculative operations like the Dateline Resources rare-earth claims near Joshua Tree National Park could proceed without rigorous local scrutiny regarding water depletion, toxic dust, heavy truck traffic, and visual blight.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully request the following actions:
- Changes must be made to the proposal to clarify that mining projects on federal lands are subject to CEQA and the California Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA), policies that provide reasonable protections and public participation requirements.
- The County needs to update its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to align with modern environmental review procedures. Currently, the outdated MOU allows a path for mining projects to bypass CEQA and SMARA regulations.
- In particular, the new Section 88.03.040(b) needs to be revised or eliminated so as to retain vital local oversight and public participation.
San Bernardino County has a long history of balancing industry with local stewardship. This ordinance dismantles that balance, leaving our desert communities unprotected against federal environmental rollbacks.
I respectfully request that you protect your constituents, retain local oversight, and
vote against the adoption of the proposed repeal and reenactment of the Development Code unless or until changes have been made. Alternatively, please delay consideration of this item to allow more time for the public to review and comment on these proposed changes.
Thank you for your time, leadership, and consideration of our community's future.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Your Phone Number] | [Your Email Address]
[ The claims in this statement and letter have not been evaluated and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Friends of Wonder Valley. We have published this as a public service. ]
