[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 164 (Thursday, August 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20939]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 25, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[MT-070-06-433-05]

 

Motor Vehicle Use Restrictions, Garnet Resource Area, Butte 
District, MT

agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

action: Designation of restrictions on motor vehicle travel on certain 
lands in the Garnet Resource Area.

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summary: The use of motor vehicles on public lands in the Garnet 
Resource Area is hereby restricted in accordance with the authority and 
requirements of Executive Orders 11644 and 11989, and regulations 
contained in 43 CFR Part 8340. The following described lands under the 
administration of the Bureau of Land Management are designated as open, 
limited, or closed to motorized vehicle use pursuant to the provisions 
of 43 CFR 8342.1.
    Affected by the designation are 146,232 acres, which includes all 
public lands in the Garnet Resource Area. The lands are managed under 
the Garnet Resource Management Plan dated January 10, 1986. They are 
located in Missoula, Granite, and Powell counties.
    These designations are revisions to Federal Register notice dated 
Tuesday, September 23, 1986, Vol. 51, No. 189, Wednesday, October 29, 
1986, Vol. 51, No. 209, and Monday, September 16, 1991, Vol. 56, No. 
179.
    These revisions are necessary to more efficiently manage vehicle 
use on public lands, to implement decisions in the Garnet Resource 
Management Plan and to coordinate vehicle travel management with 
adjoining intermingled private and public lands. Comments received 
during public open houses and written responses as part of the Garnet 
Resource Management Plan process influenced these designations. This 
designation order supersedes all other off-road vehicle travel 
designations. These designations are published as final, effective 
immediately, and will remain in effect until rescinded or modified by 
the authorized officer. Under 43 CFR 4.21, an appeal may be filed with 
the Interior Board of Land Appeals within 30 days of publication in the 
Federal Register.

A. Open Designation

    No areas have been designated as open.

B. Limited Designation

    Areas which are designated limited comprise approximately 85,775 
acres. Limited designation was determined appropriate to protect the 
resources of the public lands, promote the safety of all users of the 
public lands, and to minimize conflicts among various users. The 
following tables identify the type of restriction on motorized vehicle 
travel, the specific area(s) where the restriction occurs, the affected 
acreage area, and a brief rationale for each affected area. The 
specific areas and roads on which motorized vehicles activities are 
limited are shown on the Garnet Resource Area Travel Plan Map. Copies 
of the updated Travel Plan Map will be available at the BLM offices in 
butte and Missoula about mid-August 1994.
    Motor vehicle travel by wheeled vehicles on all other public land 
in the Garnet Resource Area not included in the following tables or 
designated as closed is limited to existing roads and trails. The 
acreage on which travel is permissible year-round but is limited to 
existing roads and trails totals about 60,457 acres.

                  Table 1.--Areas in the Garnet Resource Area Subject to Road and Area Closures                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Name                 Approximate size\1\          Road closure dates          Reason for closure*   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackfoot Special            42,000 ac. (9,500 ac. BLM).  Sep. 1-Dec. 1 year-long to  1, 2, 3, 7                
 Management Area (SMA).                                    wheeled vehicles; open                               
                                                           only to snow vehicles                                
                                                           Dec. 1-Apr. 30.                                      
Marcum Mtn. SMA............  8,000 ac. (4,550 ac. BLM)..  Sep. 1-Dec. 1 on private    1, 2, 3                   
                                                           land; Sep. 1-Apr. 30 on                              
                                                           winter range only.                                   
Morrison Peak SMA..........  24,000 ac. (40 ac. BLM)....  Sep. 1-Dec. 1.............  1, 2, 3                   
Nevada Lake................  15,000 ac. (380 ac. BLM)...  Sep. 1-Dec. 1.............  1, 2, 3, 7                
Ram Mountain...............  11,000 ac. (4,800 ac. BLM).  Year-long (except           1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7          
                                                           administrative users).                               
McElwain and Douglas Creeks  8,500 ac. (7,840 ac. BLM)..  Murray Cr. Rd., Deer Gu.,   2, 3, 5, 7                
                                                           Spur and Trail Spring                                
                                                           Spur closed Sep. 1-Nov.                              
                                                           30, McElwain Fire Rd.,                               
                                                           Biler connecting road and                            
                                                           Snowcap Trail closed year-                           
                                                           long except open to over                             
                                                           snow vehicles Jan. 1-Apr.                            
                                                           30.                                                  
Warm Springs Cr............  30,000 ac. (14,750 ac. BLM)  Sep. 1-Dec. 1.............  1, 2, 3, 7                
Cramer Cr..................  38,000 ac. (4,180 ac. BLM).  Year-long.................  1, 2, 3, 7                
Horseshoe Hills............  11,720 ac. (100 ac. BLM)...  Sep. 1-Dec. 1.............  1, 2, 3, 7                
Deer Cr....................  2,600 ac. (400 ac. BLM)....  Year-long (except           2, 3                      
                                                           snowmobile Dec. 1-Apr.                               
                                                           30).                                                 
Summit Cabin...............  900 ac. (870 ac. BLM)......  Sep. 1-Nov. 30............  2, 3, 7                   
Keno Cr. Spur..............  400 ac. BLM................  Year-long (except           2, 3, 7                   
                                                           snowmobile Dec. 1-Apr.                               
                                                           30).                                                 
Karshaw Mtn................  4,100 ac. (1,675 ac. BLM)..  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  2, 3, 7                   
West Fork Buttes...........  980 ac. BLM................  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Montgomery Gulch...........  120 ac. BLM................  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Hoodoo Gulch...............  200 ac. BLM................  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Wyman Gulch................  1,000 ac. BLM..............  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Mulkey Gulch...............  1,000 ac. BLM..............  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Rattler Gulch..............  1,080 ac. BLM..............  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Clark Fork.................  640 ac. BLM................  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Bearmouth..................  1,840 ac. BLM..............  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Bear Gulch.................  200 ac. BLM................  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Murray Cr..................  1,000 ac. BLM..............  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
McElwain Cr................  160 ac. BLM................  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Yourname Cr................  240 ac. BLM................  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
Marcum Mtn.................  2,240 ac. BLM..............  Sep. 1-Apr. 30............  4                         
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                Table 2.--Motorized Travel on the Following Individual Roads/Trails Is Restricted               
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             Name                        Location              Road closure dates      Reason for road closure* 
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Cayuse Gulch..................  T12N, R14W, S14..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3                      
Reynolds City.................  T12N, R13W, S2...........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7, 8                
Keno TS Spur..................  T13N, R13W, S32..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7, 8                
Keno/Top O' Deep (2 gates)....  T13N, R13W, S32..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7                   
Chicken Run 1.................  T12N, R14W, S4...........  Year-long................  2, 3                      
Chicken Run 2.................  T12N, R14W, S4...........  Year-long................  2, 3                      
Union Cr. Jeep Trail..........  T12N, R15W, S12..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 4, 5                
Kennedy Creek (3 gates).......  T13N, R13W, S29 & 30.....  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7                   
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      Table 3.--Motorized Travel on the Following Individual Roads/Trails Reflect Changes in Closure Dates      
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             Name                        Location              Road closure dates      Reason for road closure* 
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Union Peak....................  T12N, R15W, S12..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 7                      
Skimmerhorn #1................  T13N, R14W, S35..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7                   
Summit Cabin..................  T12N, R13W, S7...........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7                   
Washoe Creek (3 gates)........  T13N, R14W, S32..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7                   
West Fork Braziel.............  T12N, R10W, S22..........  Oct. 15-Dec. 1...........  2, 3, 7                   
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\1\Cooperative management agreements with private landowners of lands intermingled with BLM lands result in     
  additional acreage subject to the BLM restrictions.                                                           
*Purpose of Restriction (except for authorized use):                                                            
1--To gain hunting privileges on private land.                                                                  
2--To improve the quality of hunting.                                                                           
3--To prevent vehicular damage to soil and vegetation.                                                          
4--To reduce disturbance of wintering big game.                                                                 
5--To reduce disturbance of elk on spring/summer/fall range.                                                    
6--To reduce pressure on big horn sheep herd.                                                                   
7--To provide security for big game after logging.                                                              
8--To provide for user safety/resolve use conflict.                                                             

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Detailed maps showing the location of 
the above-described designations are available from the office listed 
below. For further information about these designations, contact the 
Bureau of Land Management: Area Manager, Garnet Resource Area, 3255 
Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, Montana 59801, (406) 329-3914.

    Dated: August 18, 1994.
James R. Owings,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-20939 Filed 8-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-M