The Bureau of Land Management is giving the public even more time to comment on a land swap with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians of California.

The comment period was due to end on October 15. But after complaints about lack of public participation, it has been extended to November 15.

The swap involves land within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. A number of tribal and federal parcels have been identified in an environmental assessment that was released in July.

Hikers, bikers and horseback riders are opposing the swap. They say the tribe will be getting more valuable pieces of land than the federal government.

They are also worried that the tribe will close down popular trails, which Chairman Richard Milanovich disputes.

Get the Story:
National monument land swap draws protest (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 10/26)
Hikers fear land swap plan could limit access to trails (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 10/22)

An Opinion:
Chairman Richard Milanovich: Tribe has no intention of closing trails (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 10/23)

Relevant Documents:
BLM-Agua Caliente Land Exchange EA (July 2010)

Related Stories:
Opinion: Agua Caliente Band land swap not good for the public (10/5)
BLM extends comment period on Agua Caliente Band land swap (9/14)