E9-17179. Proposed Establishment of the Sierra Pelona Valley Viticultural Area (2008R-176P)

AGENCY:

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to establish the 9.7-square mile “Sierra Pelona Valley” American viticultural area in southern California. We designate viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.

DATES:

We must receive written comments on or before September 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments on this notice to one of the following addresses:

• http://www.regulations.gov (via the online comment form for this notice as posted within Docket No. TTB-2009-0004 at “Regulations.gov,” the Federal e-rulemaking portal);
• Director, Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, P.O. Box 14412, Washington, DC 20044-4412; or
• Hand delivery/courier in lieu of mail: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street, NW., Suite 200-E, Washington, DC 20005.

See the Public Participation section of this notice for specific instructions and requirements for submitting comments, and for information on how to request a public hearing.

You may view copies of this notice, selected supporting materials, and any comments we receive about this proposal at http://www.regulations.gov within Docket No. TTB-2009-0004. A direct link to this docket is posted on the TTB Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/​wine/​wine_​rulemaking.shtml under Notice No. 97. You also may view copies of this notice, all related petitions, maps or other supporting materials, and any comments we receive about this proposal by appointment at the TTB Information Resource Center, 1310 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20220. Please call 202-927-2400 to make an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

N.A. Sutton, Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 925 Lakeville St., No. 158, Petaluma, CA 94952; telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on Viticultural Areas

TTB Authority

Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act), 27 U.S.C. 205(e), authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe regulations for the labeling of wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages. The FAA Act requires that these regulations, among other things, prohibit consumer deception and the use of misleading statements on labels, and ensure that labels provide the consumer with adequate information as to the identity and quality of the product. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers the regulations promulgated under the FAA Act.

Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 4) allows the establishment of definitive viticultural areas and the use of their names as appellations of origin on wine labels and in wine advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 9) contains the list of approved viticultural areas.

Definition

Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) defines a viticultural area for American wine as a delimited grape-growing region distinguishable by geographical features, the boundaries of which have been recognized and defined in part 9 of the regulations. These designations allow vintners and consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of a wine made from grapes grown in an area to its geographic origin. The establishment of viticultural areas allows vintners to describe more accurately the origin of their wines to consumers and helps consumers to identify wines they may purchase. Establishment of a viticultural area is neither an approval nor an endorsement by TTB of the wine produced in that area.

Requirements

Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB regulations outlines the procedure for proposing an American viticultural area and provides that any interested party may petition TTB to establish a grape-growing region as a viticultural area. Section 9.3(b) of the TTB regulations requires the petition to include—

• Evidence that the proposed viticultural area is locally and/or nationally known by the name specified in the petition;
• Historical or current evidence that supports setting the boundary of the proposed viticultural area as the petition specifies;
• Evidence relating to the geographic features, such as climate, soils, elevation, and physical features, that distinguish the proposed viticultural area from surrounding areas;
• A description of the specific boundary of the proposed viticultural area, based on features found on United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps; and
• A copy of the appropriate USGS map(s) with the proposed viticultural area's boundary prominently marked.

Sierra Pelona Valley Petition

Mr. Ralph Jens Carter submitted a petition proposing the establishment of the Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area on behalf of local grape growers. The proposed viticultural area covers 9.7 square miles and contains 96 acres of commercial vineyards. The proposed viticultural area lies 30 miles north of the City of Los Angeles, 35 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, and 20 miles southwest of the Mojave Desert. TTB notes that the proposed viticultural area is not within any established American viticultural area, and that the boundary line of the proposed viticultural area neither overlaps nor runs along any other proposed or established viticultural area boundary line. The evidence submitted in support of the petition is summarized below.

Name Evidence

The USGS Sleepy Valley and Agua Dulce maps identify the Sierra Pelona Valley as a landform within Los Angeles County. The USGS Ritter Ridge, Sleepy Valley, and Agua Dulce maps identify Sierra Pelona as a mountain range to the immediate north of the proposed Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area.

According to the petition, the Sierra Pelona Valley is located north of California State Highway 14, between the towns of Santa Clarita and Palmdale (Los Angeles Region map, California Regional Series, Automobile Club of Southern California, 2006 edition). The proposed viticultural area, including the expansive Sierra Pelona Valley region, is adjacent to the southern foothills of the Sierra Pelona range (DeLorme Southern and Central California Atlas and Gazetteer, Seventh Edition, 2005, page 79).

The petition explains that the large Sierra Pelona Valley region, oriented northeast-to-southwest, comprises Hauser Canyon, upper Agua Dulce Canyon, and Mint Canyon, including Sleepy Valley. The petition states that in local usage “Sierra Pelona” applies to the expansive valley, as well as the mountain range to the immediate north of the valley. The Sierra Pelona Valley is the name that best describes the proposed viticultural area, according to the petitioner.

Boundary Evidence

The petition provides historical, physiological, and geographical data to define the boundary of the proposed viticultural area.

Viticulture in the proposed Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area started in 1995, according to the petition. By 2008, the region had 96 acres of commercial vineyards.

The petition states that the boundary encompasses the alluvial valley fill and the gently sloping foothills just to the steep inclines. The foothills extend outward for as much as 1 mile.

The geology of the proposed viticultural area includes mostly consolidated alluvium between 23 and 37 million years old, but also includes some more recent alluvium, between 1.5 and 2 million years old, according to the petition. Further uniformity in the area is provided by a granitic intrusion, ranging from 195 to 225 million years old, that spans the Sierra Pelona Valley. In contrast to the valley alluvium and the granitic intrusion, the surrounding mountains, ranging from 195 million to 4.5 billion years old, consist mainly of very different rocks.

The petition states that elevations of the proposed viticultural area vary from 2,400 to 3,400 feet. Those of the mountains to the west and of the mountain ridges to the north, east, and south vary from 3,401 to 5,187 feet. Elevations of a canyon in the Santa Clarita area, about 5 miles southwest of the proposed boundary line, drop to approximately 1,600 feet.

Distinguishing Features

The petition asserts that the distinguishing features of the proposed Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area include climate, geology, soils, topography, and elevation. The inland location of the Sierra Pelona Valley both influences its distinguishing features and contributes to the success of its viticulture.

Climate

The petition, citing http://www.wunderground.com and the “Soil Survey of the Antelope Valley Area” (issued by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 1970), states that precipitation in the proposed viticultural area averages between 9 and 12 inches per year and occurs mainly in winter. Citing “Daymet” (a database designed by Peter Thornton, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Climate and Global Dynamic Division, University of Colorado at Boulder), the petition states that in the Sierra Pelona Valley daily growing season temperatures can vary by 40 to 50 degrees F, with summer daytime temperatures reaching 102 degrees F, and summer nighttime temperatures frequently dropping to 50 to 60 degrees F.

To contrast the climate in the proposed viticultural area with that in the surrounding areas, the petition gives climate data for several locations outside the proposed area (“Soil Survey of Antelope County, California”). Sandberg is at an elevation of 4,517 feet in the high mountains northwest of the proposed viticultural area, and although it has a total annual average precipitation of 12.1 inches, about the same as the upper-end precipitation in the proposed viticultural area, Sandberg has average daily growing season maximum and minimum temperatures of 77 and 54 degrees F. San Fernando, at an elevation of 977 feet in a low-lying area to the southwest of the proposed viticultural area, has a total average monthly precipitation of 16.9 inches and average daily growing season maximum and minimum temperatures of 85 and 52 degrees F. Palmdale, at an elevation of 2,665 feet in the desert due east of the proposed viticultural area, has an total average monthly precipitation of 8.9 inches and average daily growing season maximum and minimum temperatures of 87 and 55 degrees F.

Air drainage from surrounding higher elevations to the Sierra Pelona Valley floor, the petition explains, reduces the hazard of frost damage in spring. In addition, air movement across the slopes reduces the threat of leaf fungus and the need for heavy spraying of pesticides. Wind direction, according to Don McAdam, a valley resident, is frequently shifted and redirected by hills, knolls, and valleys.

The petition states that the climate of the mountainous surrounding areas does not support viticulture due to an excessively short growing season, cooler summers, and vine-killing, cold winters.

Geology

The petition states that the “Geological Map of California” (Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, compilation of Charles W. Jennings, 1977) shows that deposits of alluvium, mostly nonmarine and unconsolidated, cover most of the Sierra Pelona Valley floor. The petition further states that deposits of semiconsolidated Quaternary nonmarine alluvium cover the rest of the valley. The deposits of alluvium in the Sierra Pelona Valley have a sedimentary geology; that is, they are both sand and gravel in origin. They contrast sharply with the rocks in the areas surrounding the Sierra Pelona Valley.

The petition notes that soils on alluvial fans and terraces, like those in the proposed Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area, are renowned throughout the world for wine grape growing (“Viticulture and the Environment,” by John Gladstones, Winetitles, 1992).

The petition states that the alluvium that dominates the valley floor of the proposed viticultural area is significantly younger than the rocks in the surrounding regions. According to the petition, the alluvium dates from the Tertiary and Quaternary Periods of the Cenozoic Era, 37 million years old to present (“McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Earth Science,” 2005, and the “Geological Map of California”). The rocks on mountains to the north of the proposed viticultural area include Permian or Triassic Period schist, 195 to 280 million years old, and some Precambrian rocks, 570 million to 4.5 billion years old. The mountains to the south include Precambrian conglomerate, shale, gneiss, and sandstone.

According to the petition, the Sierra Pelona Valley is on a formation of Mesozoic granitic and metamorphic rocks, mostly gneiss and other metamorphic rocks with granitic intrusions. The petition notes that these mineral-rich rocks are particularly well suited to producing several varieties of wine, especially Syrah. To the north of the proposed viticultural area, the rocks consist of varying metasedimentary schist types of Precambrian age, but mostly of Paleozoic or Mesozoic age. A minor fault line lying along the north edge of the Sierra Pelona Valley is at the contact line between the alluvium in the Sierra Pelona Valley on the south side of the fault and the schist on the north, upland side of the fault. The south side of the fault is subsiding in places.

To the south of the proposed viticultural area, the dominant rocks are marine sedimentary and metasedimentary conglomerate, shale, sandstone, limestone, dolomite, marble, gneiss, hornfelds, and quartzitet. To the south and east, in the Vasquez Rocks County Park of Los Angeles County, basaltic rocks are on a major portion of the lower Vasquez Formation. The basaltic rocks separate the alluvium of the proposed viticultural area from the surrounding regions to the south.

Soils

According to the petition, climate, especially rainfall and heat, influences soils through the growth of plant types, the decomposition rate of organic matter, and the weathering of minerals (“Soil Survey of the Antelope Valley Area, California”). Rainfall in the proposed viticultural area makes it a transitional zone between desert and forest.

The soils on the valley floor in the proposed viticultural area have significant differences compared to those on the surrounding mountains. On the valley floor and on foot slopes at the edges of the valley floor, the soils are very deep and moderately drained (General Soil Map, “Soil Survey of the Antelope Valley Area, California”).

The slope-wash soils on the foot slopes are poor, and have rock fragments on the surface in many areas. However, these rock fragments diffuse and reflect sunlight to lower leaves shaded by canopy, help keep the soil warm, and increase soil moisture, all of which benefits viticulture (“Terroir, The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines,” by James E. Wilson, University of California Press, 1998).

And although the poor soils reduce the growth rate of the vines, the wines made from the grapes of those vines have more natural balance, according to the petition. The petition explains further that the soils of the area benefit the classic grape varieties, which generally produce well only in poor sandy soils (“Terroir, The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines”). The reduced vine growth rate decreases the need for summer pruning, irrigation, and use of farm equipment. On the other hand, these soils have multi-directional sun exposures, which allow for the planting of a variety of grapes.

In the proposed viticultural area soil depth is 60 inches or more. The petition states that soil depth is important for vine growth because most vine roots grow to a depth of 39 inches (“The University Wine Course: A Wine Appreciation Text & Self Tutorial,” by Marianne W. Baldy, The Wine Appreciation Guild, 1998). Such deep roots are important because vines can extract 1 or 2 inches of moisture for each foot of rooting depth.

In contrast, the soils on the surrounding mountains are shallow, excessively drained, and infertile. They are dominantly on steep slopes, and are subject to erosion. These soils are suited to recreation, range, and wildlife, and to use as a watershed.

Topography

The petition explains that the large Sierra Pelona Valley region, oriented northeast-to-southwest, comprises Hauser Canyon, upper Agua Dulce Canyon, and Mint Canyon, including Sleepy Valley. The USGS Agua Dulce and Sleepy Valley maps show that the long, narrow, gentle side slopes of the Sierra Pelona Valley are surrounded by projecting mountain ridges to the north, east, and south and by a mountain and a chord of radiating canyons to the west. The petition states that the valley floor itself has many isolated knolls but that most of the valley is on gentle slopes suited to viticulture.

The USGS Agua Dulce and Sleepy Valley maps also show that intermittent tributaries in the Sierra Pelona Valley flow into Agua Dulce Canyon and create a single, south-flowing stream that eventually joins the Santa Clara River. The petition explains that the alluvium derived from rocks at higher elevations is carried downstream by these tributaries. This pattern of alluvium deposition contributes to the unique mix of mineral and chemical soil properties in the proposed viticultural area.

The petition states that fine quality wine grapes are universally associated with soils on midslopes where outwash accumulates and deeper soils form (“Terroir, The Role of Geology, Climate, and Culture in the Making of French Wines”). These midslopes, the petition notes, are sometimes called viticulture “bellies,” because they hold the sediment washed from the weathered rocks above and create vineyards. In most of the proposed viticultural area, wine grapes are grown on gentle midslopes.

The petition states that the proposed viticultural area has other features besides gentle slopes favorable for viticulture. Good water and air drainage and soils with low fertility and a high mineral content produce grapevines with reduced vigor but with more natural balance.

Elevation

According to the USGS maps of the region and the petition, elevations in the proposed viticultural area vary from 2,400 to 3,400 feet. Elevations also gradually decline approximately 1,000 feet over the 5 miles from the east side to the west side of the proposed boundary line. At the town of Agua Dulce and the Agua Dulce Air Park in the Sierra Pelona Valley floor, elevations range from 2,500 to 2,600 feet.

The petition states that elevations outside of the proposed viticultural area are generally higher than those in the valley. Some close-in peaks in the Sierra Pelona Range are 5,187-foot Mount McDill to the north, and west of Mount McDill, a 4,973-foot promontory at Bear Springs and a 4,859-foot peak at Willow Springs. According to the petition and the USGS Sleepy Valley map, southeast of Sierra Pelona Valley, Windy Mountain stands at 3,785 feet and two unnamed peaks reach elevations of 3,791 and 3,706 feet, all within 1/4 to 1/2 mile of the 3,200-foot proposed boundary line.

TTB Determination

TTB concludes that this petition to establish the 9.7-square mile Sierra Pelona Valley American viticultural area merits consideration and public comment, as invited in this notice.

Boundary Description

See the narrative boundary description of the petitioned-for viticultural area in the proposed regulatory text published at the end of this notice.

Maps

The petitioner provided the required maps, and we list them below in the proposed regulatory text.

Impact on Current Wine Labels

Part 4 of the TTB regulations prohibits any label reference on a wine that indicates or implies an origin other than the wine's true place of origin. If we establish this proposed viticultural area, its name, “Sierra Pelona Valley,” will be recognized as a name of viticultural significance under 27 CFR 4.39(i)(3). The text of the proposed regulation clarifies this point.

In addition, if we establish the “Sierra Pelona Valley” viticultural area under the terms of the proposed rule, the name “Sierra Pelona” standing alone also will be considered a term of viticultural significance because, we believe, consumers and vintners could reasonably attribute the quality, reputation, or other characteristic of wine made from grapes grown in the proposed “Sierra Pelona Valley” viticultural area to the name “Sierra Pelona.” See 27 CFR 4.39(i)(3), which also provides that a name has viticultural significance when so determined by the appropriate TTB officer.

Therefore, the proposed part 9 regulatory text set forth in this document specifies “Sierra Pelona Valley” and “Sierra Pelona” as terms of viticultural significance for purposes of part 4 of the TTB regulations. If this proposed regulatory text is adopted as a final rule, wine bottlers using “Sierra Pelona Valley” or “Sierra Pelona” in a brand name, including a trademark, or in another label reference as to the origin of the wine, will have to ensure that the product is eligible to use “Sierra Pelona Valley” as an appellation of origin.

For a wine to be labeled with a viticultural area name or with a brand name that includes a viticultural area name or other term identified as being viticulturally significant in part 9 of the TTB regulations, at least 85 percent of the wine must be derived from grapes grown within the area represented by that name or other term, and the wine must meet the other conditions listed in 27 CFR 4.25(e)(3). If the wine is not eligible for labeling with the viticultural area name or other viticulturally significant term and that name or term appears in the brand name, then the label is not in compliance and the bottler must change the brand name and obtain approval of a new label. Similarly, if the viticultural area name or other term of viticultural significance appears in another reference on the label in a misleading manner, the bottler would have to obtain approval of a new label. Accordingly, if a previously approved label uses the name “Sierra Pelona Valley” or “Sierra Pelona” for a wine that does not meet the 85 percent standard, the previously approved label will be subject to revocation upon the effective date of the approval of the Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area.

Different rules apply if a wine has a brand name containing a viticultural area name or other viticulturally significant term that was used as a brand name on a label approved before July 7, 1986. See 27 CFR 4.39(i)(2) for details.

Public Participation

Comments Invited

We invite comments from interested members of the public on whether we should establish the proposed Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area. We are interested in receiving comments on the sufficiency and accuracy of the name, climate, soils, and other required information submitted in support of the petition. We especially are interested in comments concerning the inclusion, within the proposed boundary line, of the valleys and canyons to the west and north that surround the Sierra Pelona Valley landform, as shown on the USGS Sleepy Valley map. We also are interested in receiving comments on the proposal to identify “Sierra Pelona” as a term of viticultural significance. Please provide any available specific information in support of your comments.

Because of the potential impact of the establishment of the proposed Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area on wine labels that include the terms “Sierra Pelona Valley” or “Sierra Pelona” as discussed above under Impact on Current Wine Labels, we are particularly interested in comments regarding whether there will be a conflict between either of these terms and currently used brand names. If a commenter believes that a conflict will arise, the comment should describe the nature of that conflict, including any negative economic impact that approval of the proposed viticultural area will have on an existing viticultural enterprise. We are also interested in receiving suggestions for ways to avoid any conflicts, for example, by adopting a modified or different name for the viticultural area.

Submitting Comments

You may submit comments on this notice by using one of the following three methods:

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: You may send comments via the online comment form posted with this notice in Docket No. TTB-2009-004 on “Regulations.gov,” the Federal e-rulemaking portal, at http://www.regulations.gov. A direct link to that docket is available under Notice No. 97 on the TTB Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/​wine/​wine_​rulemaking.shtml. Supplemental files may be attached to comments submitted via Regulations.gov. For complete instructions on how to use Regulations.gov, visit the site and click on “User Guide” under “How to Use this Site.”
• U.S. Mail: You may send comments via postal mail to the Director, Regulations and Rulings Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, P.O. Box 14412, Washington, DC 20044-4412.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: You may hand-carry your comments or have them hand-carried to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, 1310 G Street, NW., Suite 200-E, Washington, DC 20005.

Please submit your comments by the closing date shown above in this notice. Your comments must reference Notice No. 97 and include your name and mailing address. Your comments also must be made in English, be legible, and be written in language acceptable for public disclosure. We do not acknowledge receipt of comments, and we consider all comments as originals.

If you are commenting on behalf of an association, business, or other entity, your comment must include the entity's name as well as your name and position title. If you comment via http://www.regulations.gov,, please enter the entity's name in the “Organization” blank of the comment form. If you comment via mail, please submit your entity's comment on letterhead.

You may also write to the Administrator before the comment closing date to ask for a public hearing. The Administrator reserves the right to determine whether to hold a public hearing.

Confidentiality

All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.

Public Disclosure

On the Federal e-rulemaking portal, Regulations.gov, we will post, and you may view, copies of this notice, selected supporting materials, and any electronic or mailed comments we receive about this proposal. A direct link to the Regulations.gov docket containing this notice and the posted comments received on it is available on the TTB Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/​wine/​wine_​rulemaking.shtml under Notice No. 97. You may also reach the docket containing this notice and the posted comments received on it through the Regulations.gov search page at http://www.regulations.gov.

All posted comments will display the commenter's name, organization (if any), city, and State, and, in the case of mailed comments, all address information, including e-mail addresses. We may omit voluminous attachments or material that we consider unsuitable for posting.

You also may view copies of this notice, all related petitions, maps and other supporting materials, and any electronic or mailed comments we receive about this proposal by appointment at the TTB Information Resource Center, 1310 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20220. You may also obtain copies at 20 cents per 8.5- x 11-inch page. Contact our information specialist at the above address or by telephone at 202-927-2400 to schedule an appointment or to request copies of comments or other materials.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

We certify that this proposed regulation, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The proposed regulation imposes no new reporting, recordkeeping, or other administrative requirement. Any benefit derived from the use of a viticultural area name would be the result of a proprietor's efforts and consumer acceptance of wines from that area. Therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required.

Executive Order 12866

This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action as defined by Executive Order 12866. Therefore, it requires no regulatory assessment.

Drafting Information

N.A. Sutton of the Regulations and Rulings Division drafted this notice.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

• Wine

Proposed Regulatory Amendment

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, we propose to amend title 27, chapter I, part 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 9—AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205.

Subpart C—Approved American Viticultural Areas

2. Subpart C is amended by adding § 9.____ to read as follows:

§ 9.

Sierra Pelona Valley.

(a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this section is “Sierra Pelona Valley”. For purposes of part 4 of this chapter, “Sierra Pelona Valley”, and “Sierra Pelona” are terms of viticultural significance.

(b) Approved maps. The three United States Geological Survey 1:24,000 scale topographic maps used to determine the boundary of the Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area are titled:

(1) Agua Dulce, CA, 1995;

(2) Sleepy Valley, CA, 1995; and

(3) Ritter Ridge, Calif., 1958, Photorevised 1974.

(c) Boundary. The Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area is located in Los Angeles County, California. The boundary of the Sierra Pelona Valley viticultural area is as described below:

(1) The beginning point is on the Agua Dulce map at the intersection of the section 26 east boundary line, the pipeline, and Escondido Canyon Road, a secondary highway, T5N, R14W. From the beginning point, proceed in a straight line south 0.3 mile to the line's intersection with the northeast corner of the Vasquez Rocks County Park, T5N, R14W; then

(2) Proceed southwest through section 26 along the straight lines and 90-degree turns of the county park boundary line to the line's intersection with the southeast corner of section 27, T5N, R14W; then

(3) Proceed southwest in a straight line 0.4 mile to the line's intersection with BM 2258, section 34, T5N, R14W; then

(4) Proceed west-northwest in a straight line 0.15 mile, crossing over the Agua Dulce Road, to the line's intersection with the 2,400-foot elevation line and an unimproved dirt road, section 34, T5N, R14W; then

(5) Proceed generally west along the meandering 2,400-foot elevation line to the line's intersection with the section 34 west boundary line, T5N, R14W; then

(6) Proceed north along the section 34 west boundary line 1 mile to the line's intersection with the 2,800-foot elevation line and the section 27 west boundary line; then

(7) Proceed along the 2,800-foot elevation line first generally northeast, then northwest around Saddleback Mountain, and then north across a trail and an unimproved dirt road, to the line's intersection with the section 21 south boundary line, T5N, R14W; then

(8) Proceed straight east along the section 21 south boundary line 0.25 mile to the southeast corner of section 21, T5N, R14W; then

(9) Proceed north along the section 21 south boundary line onto the Sleepy Valley map 0.6 mile to the line's intersection with the 2,800-foot elevation line and the section 22 west boundary line, T5N, R14W; then

(10) Proceed along the 2,800-foot elevation line generally northeast around the 3,166-foot and 3,036-foot pinnacles, then continue southwest to the line's intersection with the section 22 north boundary line, T5N, R14W; then

(11) Proceed west along the section 22 north boundary line 0.2 mile to the line's intersection with the 2,600-foot elevation line, T5N, R14W; then

(12) Proceed generally west-southwest along the 2,600-foot elevation line to the line's intersection with the section 21 west boundary line, T5N, R14W; then

(13) Proceed north along the section 21 west boundary line 0.2 mile to the line's intersection with the 2,400-foot elevation line and the section 20 east boundary line, T5N, R14W; then

(14) Proceed generally southwest along the 2,400-foot elevation line to the line's intersection with an unimproved dirt road in section 20, T5N, R14W; then

(15) Proceed northwest along the unimproved dirt road 0.15 mile to its intersection with the Sierra Highway, a secondary highway, section 20, T5N, R14W; then

(16) Proceed southwest along the Sierra Highway 0.15 mile to its intersection with an unnamed stream, section 20, T5N, R14W; then

(17) Proceed in a straight line north-northwest approximately 0.3 mile to the line's intersection with the Angeles National Forest boundary line, an unnamed stream running through Rowher Canyon, and the section 17 south boundary line, T5N, R14W; then

(18) Proceed straight east, north, and east, making 90-degree turns, along the Angeles National Forest boundary line to the line's intersection with the section 7 southwest corner, T5N, R13W; then

(19) Proceed straight north along the Angeles National Forest boundary line and the section 7 west boundary line 0.5 mile to the line's intersection with the 3,400-foot elevation line, T5N, R13W; then

(20) Proceed along the 3,400-foot elevation line generally east, north, then west to the line's intersection with the section 6 west boundary line, T5N, R13W; then

(21) Proceed north along the section 6 west boundary line 0.4 mile to the line's intersection with the 3,400-foot elevation line, T5N, R13W; then

(22) Proceed generally southeast along the 3,400-foot elevation line, crossing over Latteau, Willow Springs, and Hauser Canyons and continuing onto the Ritter Ridge map, to the line's intersection with an unimproved dirt road at Summit, section 16, T5N, R13W; then

(23) Proceed south along the unnamed dirt road less than 0.1 mile, crossing the Sierra Highway, to its intersection with the 3,400-foot elevation line, section 16, T5N, R13W; then

(24) Proceed generally southwest along the 3,400-foot elevation line, meandering between the Sleepy Valley and Ritter Ridge maps and then returning to the Sleepy Valley map, to the line's intersection with the section 20 north boundary line, T5N, R13W; then

(25) Proceed in a straight line west along the section 20 north boundary line 0.2 mile to the line's intersection with the 3,200-foot elevation line, section 20, T5N, R13W; then

(26) Proceed generally southwest along the 3,200-foot elevation line to the line's intersection with the section 19 west boundary line, T5N, R13W; then

(27) Proceed in a straight line north along the section 19 west boundary line 0.15 mile to the line's intersection with a pipeline, T5N, R13W; and then

(28) Proceed southwest onto the Agua Dulce map 1.25 miles along the pipeline, returning to the beginning point.

Signed: July 7, 2009.

John J. Manfreda,

Administrator.