[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36753-36754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17765]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[OR-035-00-1050-00; G6-00188]


Notice of Emergency Closure and Restrictions on Public Land in 
the Grande Ronde Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), Asotin 
County, WA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Baker Resource Area, Vale District.

ACTION: Emergency Closure and Use Restrictions on Public Land in the 
Lime Hill and Rogersburg areas of the Grande Ronde ACEC, Asotin County, 
Washington.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Vale District is implementing 
emergency closures and restrictions to protect the values of the Grande 
Ronde Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) on public lands 
near the mouth of the Grande Ronde River and on the west bank of the 
Snake River in Asotin County, Washington. The purpose of the closure 
and restrictions are to protect wildlife habitat, native vegetation, 
fragile soils, and scenic, cultural, and natural values on public land 
in this part of the Grande Ronde ACEC. These closure and restriction 
orders will be in effect on 2070 acres of public land.
    The authority for this emergency closure and restriction is 43 CFR 
8364.1: Closure and restriction orders. This emergency order will be 
evaluated in a management plan and environmental assessment for the 
Lime Hill vicinity of the Grande Ronde ACEC
    The public lands in Asotin County, Washington, affected by this 
emergency order are located at:

Willamette Meridian, Oregon:

T. 7N., R. 46E., Section 13
T. 7N., R. 47E., Sections 18, 19, 20, 29, 33
T. 7N., R. 47E., Section 32: E\1/2\
T. 6N., R. 47E., Sections 4, 9

    The following acts are prohibited on all public lands administered 
by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the affected area of the 
Grande Ronde Area of Environmental Concern at the locations identified 
in this order:
1. Motorized Vehicles
    A. Operating any motorized vehicle within the affected ACEC area, 
except on the existing improved Rogersburg Access Road on BLM public 
land. The Rogersburg Access Road is located on the east bank of the 
Grande Ronde River, from the BLM and Washington State public land 
boundary to the west boundary of the BLM public land and Rogersburg 
community, at the following location:
    T.7N, R.46 E, Section 13: All that portion of the road beginning at 
the boundary of the BLM administered public land in the SE\1/4\ of the 
SW\1/4\ of Section 13 to the boundary between the public land and 
private land located in the SE\1/4\ of the SE\1/4\ of Section 13.
    B. Aircraft landing without authorization.
2. Fire
    A. Building or maintaining any open campfires except those 
contained in a fireblanket, firepan or similar metal container with 
sides measuring at least 2 inches in height.
    B. Failure to remove campfire debris and disposing of it in a 
refuse container.
3. Sanitation and Refuse
    A. Disposal of solid human waste except at designated locations or 
facilities provided for that purpose.
4. Camping
    A. Installation of permanent camping facilities.
    B. Overnight camping on the public lands located in Township 7N, 
Range 46E, Section 13, including on and in the vicinity of the 
Rogersburg Access Road.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This emergency closure and use restriction 
order is the minimum required to mitigate the impacts of unregulated 
off-highway vehicle use; to protect wildlife habitat, cultural 
resources, scenic values, native vegetation and fragile soils in the 
area; and to respond to concerns of public health and safety, wildfire, 
weed control and resource degradation. Actions to implement the closure 
and restrictions will be undertaken.

Private Lands

    This order is in no way intended to affect the legal rights, or 
existing right-of-way, of adjacent private land owners, or their 
interests within private lands within the closure area. Further, this 
order does not infer any Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction over 
private lands located within the closure area.

State Lands

    This order is in no way intended to affect uses or restrictions on 
Washington state owned lands adjacent to the closure area. Further, 
this order does not infer any Bureau of Land Management jurisdiction 
over state lands.
    Copies of the closure and restriction order and maps showing the 
location of the closed lands and roads are available from the Baker 
Resource Area office, 1550 Dewey Avenue, Baker City, Oregon 97814.
    Personnel that are exempt from the area closures and restrictions 
include any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of any 
organized rescue or fire-fighting force in the performance of an 
official duty, or any person authorized or permitted in writing by the 
Bureau of Land Management. BLM personnel conducting official duties, 
cooperating agency personnel, and contractors authorized by the Bureau 
of Land Management are included in the exemption from this order.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The closure and use restrictions shall be effective

[[Page 36754]]

immediately and shall remain in effect until rescinded or modified by 
the Authorized Officer.

PENALTIES: Violations of this closure and restriction order are 
punishable by fines not to exceed $100,000 and imprisonment not to 
exceed 1 year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gloria Brown, Area Manager, Baker Resource Area, 1550 Dewey Avenue, 
P.O. Box 987, Baker City, Oregon 97814; (541) 523-1256 or Vale District 
Manager, Vale District, 100 Oregon Street, Vale, Oregon 97918; (541) 
473-3144.
Gloria D. Brown,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-17765 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M