[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13756]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[OR-93-6332-5: GP4-186]

 

Establishment of Supplementary Rules; Lane County, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of supplementary rules.

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SUMMARY: The Eugene District, Bureau of Land Management, hereby 
establishes supplementary rules for use of those public lands included 
in the Row River Trail and adjoining facilities in the South Valley 
Resource Area, Eugene District, Lane County, Oregon. These 
supplementary rules are intended to protect public land facilities and 
provide for public safety for the Row River Trail, a rails-to-trails 
conversion project near the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon. The BLM is 
accepting the donation of the former railroad as a non-motorized trail 
from Willamette Industries, Inc., as partial settlement of a debt owed 
to the United States. Upon acceptance of the trail and associated 
properties by the United States, the donated land will be available for 
public use. These rules are designed to reduce the potential for damage 
to the trail by unauthorized motor vehicle traffic and to enhance the 
safety of trail visitors and neighboring residents. A ``Notice of 
proposed establishment of supplementary rules'' was published in the 
Federal Register on April 22, 1994 (59 FR 19204) and provided for a 
thirty day comment period that ended May 23, 1994. Four letters were 
received, containing two substantive comments. One comment objected to 
the prohibition against the possession of firearms on the trail. The 
writer felt that a prohibition against discharge of firearms would be 
sufficient and that visitors should be allowed to carry firearms for 
self-defense. It was decided to retain the restriction against weapons, 
including firearms, to reduce the potential for misunderstanding of 
rules by trail users and to help protect people both on and off the 
trail from accidental injury. Another comment objected to the 
prohibition against motorized vehicles on the grounds that this would 
exclude disabled visitors from using all-terrain vehicles or motorized 
wheelchairs on the trail. The rule does allow use of motorized vehicles 
authorized by BLM, which could include disabled visitor's motorized 
wheelchairs or specialty all-terrain vehicles on a case-by-case basis. 
Each situation would need to be evaluated with regard to the potential 
for such use to damage the trail or the surrounding environment.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Terry Hueth, South Valley Area 
Manager, Eugene District Office, P.O. Box 10226, Eugene, Oregon 97440-
2226.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Williams, 503-683-6600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority for the establishment of these 
supplemental rules is contained in 43 CFR 8365.1-6. A map showing the 
location of the lands subject to the supplementary rules is available 
in the Eugene District Office. Upon acceptance of title to the subject 
lands, the Eugene District will prepare a Recreation Area Management 
Plan for the Row River Trail with opportunity for public involvement. 
After completion of the plan, the supplementary rules will be reviewed 
and revised, if appropriate, to conform to the provisions of the final 
plan.

DATES: These supplementary rules will become effective upon publication 
in the Federal Register, unless title to the former Oregon Pacific & 
Eastern Railroad lands and other lands on or adjoining the Row River 
Trail has not yet been accepted by the United States, in which case the 
supplementary rules will become effective upon the date of acceptance 
of title by the United States.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Eugene District, 
Bureau of Land Management, establishes supplementary rules for the Row 
River Trail and adjoining facilities as follows:
    1. Use or operation of motor vehicles is prohibited on the trail 
and on adjoining public lands except on those roads and parking areas 
specifically constructed for motor vehicle use. Motor vehicles being 
used by duly authorized emergency response personnel, including police, 
ambulance and fire suppression, as well as BLM vehicles engaged in 
official duties and other vehicles authorized by BLM, are excepted.
    2. Possession, use and/or discharge of any weapons, including 
firearms, air guns, slingshots, or other projectile launching devices, 
on or across the trail and associated facilities is prohibited.
    3. Use and/or occupancy (including leaving personal property 
unattended) of the trail and trailhead facilities between one half hour 
after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise is prohibited without a 
special permission of the authorized officer.
    4. Glass containers and alcoholic beverages are prohibited on the 
trail and adjoining facilities.
    5. Campfires or other open flame fires are prohibited throughout 
the trail and associated facilities. Charcoal cooking fires will be 
allowed in fire receptacles if and when they are provided in picnic 
areas.
    6. No person shall, unless otherwise authorized, bring any animal 
onto the trail or adjoining public lands unless such animal is on a 
leash not longer than six feet and secured to a fixed object or under 
control of a person, or is otherwise physically restricted at all 
times.

    Date of Issue: June 1, 1994.
Judy Ellen Nelson,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-13756 Filed 6-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M