[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14611]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[CA-065-94-4333-04]

 

Rand Mountains--Fremont Valley Management Plan and Environmental 
Assessment in the California Desert District--Ridgecrest Resource Area 
Kern County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the final approval, availability and implementation 
of the Rand Mountains--Fremont Valley Management Plan in eastern Kern 
County, California.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Rand Mountains--Fremont Valley 
Management Plan has been approved by the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS). This plan covers a 65,020 acre area in 
eastern Kern County which is important habitat for the federally listed 
threatened desert tortoise. This plan was necessitated by the 
requirements of the Endangered Species Act (EPA) to protect a 
threatened species in an area subject to conflicting uses.
    The plan has 88 major management decisions which put restrictions 
on all uses in the area for the purpose of protecting the native desert 
tortoise population, its habitat and the area's ecosystem. These plan 
use restrictions include restricting off-highway vehicle (OHV) use to a 
maximum of 129 miles of designated vehicular routes, restricting 
overnight camping to designated campsites, prohibiting all competitive 
OHV events and restricting use of firearms except for the lawful taking 
of upland game birds within an area identified for such use. The 
existing West Rand ACEC area will be expanded by 13,120 acres and 
changed from a Moderate to a Limited Multiple-Use Class under the 
California Desert Plan. A total of 32,590 acres of the plan area will 
be withdrawn from mineral entry. The plan designates 44,800 acres as 
category 1 desert tortoise habitat. USFWS consultations will be 
required pursuant to section 7 of the ESA when processing any new 
project proposals allowed under the plan which could impact the desert 
tortoise.
    This plan covers all public lands in the Rand Mountains-Fremont 
Valley Management Area which is generally bounded by the community of 
Randsburg, CA and U.S. Highway 395 on the east, the Garlock and 
Randsburg-Red Rock Roads on the north, the western edge of Koehn Dry 
Lake and the Desert Tortoise Natural Area on the west, and private 
lands encompassed by the incorporated city limites of California City, 
CA on the south.

ORDER: Notice is hereby given that effective July 18, 1994, the 
following use restrictions will be in effect on public lands in the 
Rand Mountains-Fremont Valley Management Area.
    1. No person may use, drive or otherwise operate a motorized 
vehicle except on those designated routes of travel that are identified 
by open route signs.
    2. No person may discharge a firearm at any time except shotguns 
and then only from September 1 through January 31st for the lawful 
taking of upland game birds in the upland and mountains portion of the 
area as identified in the plan.
    3. Camping is prohibited except in the eastern portion of the 
management area at sites identified in the plan.
    Exemptions to this order include any otherwise authorized activity 
or as approved by the California Desert District Manager or the 
Ridgecrest Area Manager. Maps identifying the plan area, plan use 
restrictions, and the network of designated vehicular routes of travel 
are available from the Ridgecrest Resource Area office.
    Authority for these plan restrictions is found in 43 CFR 8364.1. 
Violation of these restrictions is punishable by a fine not to exceed 
$1,000 and/or 12 months in jail.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this plan and use 
restrictions is to provide increased protection for the desert tortoise 
populations and its habitat in an important part of its range. The 
desert tortoise was listed as a threatened species under the ESA in 
1989 and is afforded increased protection under terms of the Act and 
this plan. During the interim while this plan was developed, the Bureau 
initiated a 14 month temporary closure for the plan area and then 
reopened the area on November 22, 1990 to restricted use pending 
approval of the final plan. Since November 22, 1990, Bureau personnel 
along with a large group of California Off-Road Vehicle Association 
volunteers have worked to implement the plan decisions on an interim 
basis as approved through a consultation with the USFWS and January 23, 
1991 Federal Register notice. This interim FR notice will expire upon 
publication of this FR notice.
    A formal section 7 consultation on this plan was conducted with the 
USFWS and a non-jeopardy biological opinion was issued on March 10, 
1993. This opinion provided additional terms and Conditions which were 
incorporated into the plan. The opinion determined that this plan would 
result in management actions that would greatly reduce the existing 
magnitude of adverse impacts to the desert tortoise and its habitat.
    A 10 member volunteer Technical Review Team (TRT) was instrumental 
in the development of this plan. Team members represented all primary 
interest groups, the CDFG and California City. They met regularly for 
three years to evaluate available data and made management 
recommendations for the plan. The TRT is continuing to assist in 
reviewing procedures for implementing the plan decisions and evaluating 
the plan effectiveness in protecting the plan areas desert tortoise 
populations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The decision is effective July 18, 1994. This decision 
may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, Office of the 
Secretary, in accordance with the regulations contained 43 CFR, part 4. 
If an appeal is taken, your notice must be filed at the Ridgecreat 
Resource Area office (address below) within 30 days from receipt of 
this decision. The appellant has the burden of showing that the 
decision they have appealed is in error.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Copied of the final Rand Mountains-Fremont 
Valley Management Plan and Environmental Assessment are available from 
the Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest Resource Area, 300 South 
Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555, 619-375-7125. Specific questions 
concerning this plan should be directed to Staff Chief Steve Smith.

    Dated: June 2, 1994.
Henri R. Bisson,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-14611 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M