On December 17, 2008, the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) affirmed the BLM's decision not to allow motorized access in Surprise Canyon. The IBLA's decision was in response to an appeal by Bryan Lollich. Mr. Lollich had applied for a right-of-way in Surprise Canyon in order to reach property he and several others own in Panamint City, CA. The Bureau of Land Management's Ridgecrest, CA Field Office denied the application, claiming that Mr. Lollich failed to provide requested information.
Read the IBLA's decision here