[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50049-50050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24437]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[CO-010-1110-00]


Temporary Travel Restrictions for the Serviceberry Mountain Area 
of Colorado

AGENCY: Little Snake Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management, DOI.

ACTION: Order of area, road and trail use restriction.

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SUMMARY: This order closes public lands newly acquired through land 
exchange from the Reserve Coal Properties Company to motorized vehicle 
use (except snowmobiles) in the Serviceberry Mountain area of the 
Little Snake Resource Area, Craig District. This order is issued under 
the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1 and 43 CFR 8341.2(a) as a temporary 
measure while the off-highway vehicle (OHV) management portion of the 
Little Snake Resource Area Resource Management Plan is reviewed and 
modified as needed to address public issues, concerns and needs, as 
well as resource uses, development, impacts and protection.
    This order affects all public lands in the Serviceberry Mountain 
Area of Moffat County within:

T. 12 N., R. 90 W., Section 17, Lots 9-16
    Section 18, Lots 9, 10
    Section 19, Lots 5-7, 10
    Section 20, Lots 1-16
    Section 29, Lots 1-8
    Section 30, Lots 5, 9-11, 15, 16

    A metes and bounds parcel comprised of those portions of the 
W\1/2\SE\1/4\ of section 29 and those portions of Lots 8 and 14, 
NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\SW\1/4\ of section 30 
lying southeasterly of an existing fence line extending from the 
northeast corner of the NW\1/4\SE\1/4\ of section 19 to the 
southwest corner of Lot 14 of section 30.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This restriction order shall be effective October 4, 
1996, and shall remain in effect until rescinded or modified by the 
Authorized Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current OHV use designations for adjoining 
public lands in the Serviceberry Mountain area are under similar 
temporary motorized vehicle restrictions. State and local agencies and 
neighboring landowners expressed concerns that recent easements and 
acquisitions would open public lands in the Serviceberry Mountain area 
to motorized traffic and cause unacceptable impacts to natural 
resources, especially wildlife and soils. In addition, consistent motor 
vehicle limitations are needed throughout the adjoining public lands in 
the Serviceberry Mountain area to avoid public confusion. The affected 
public lands includes identified soil erosion hazards and important 
high quality big game habitat. Given due consideration of the concerns 
expressed by the public and the potential impacts of unrestricted 
motorized vehicle use, a modification of existing OHV use designations 
is necessary to adequately protect natural resources on public land, 
minimize conflicts with other uses, prevent trespass problems, and 
ensure public safety until these issues can be more thoroughly 
addressed in activity planning for these areas. Provisions will be made 
to allow for necessary motorized travel on the public lands for 
administrative purposes and to facilitate non-motorized public access 
to the public lands. The area, roads, and trails affected by this order 
will be posted with appropriate regulatory signs. Information, 
including detailed maps of the restricted area, roads and trails will 
be available at the access sites and in the Resource Area Office and 
District Office at the addresses shown below.
    Persons who are exempt from the restrictions contained in this 
notice include:
    1. Any Federal, State, or local officers engaged in fire, emergency 
and law enforcement activities.
    2. BLM employees engaged in official duties.
    3. Persons or agencies holding a valid permit or right-of-way on or 
across the restricted public land for access to private land, for 
purposes related to the access of private land only.
    4. Persons or agencies holding a special use permit or right-of-way 
for access to maintenance and operation of authorized facilities within 
the restricted area, for purposes related to access for maintenance and 
operation of authorized facilities, and provided such motorized use is 
limited to the routes specifically identified in the special use permit 
or right-of-way.
    5. Grazing permittees authorized during the permitted grazing 
season for grazing related purposes provided such motorized use is 
limited to existing roads and trails and subject to any additional 
conditions in the grazing permit. Any motorized use before or after the 
permitted grazing season necessary for maintenance and operation of 
range facilities shall require advance approval by the authorized 
officer specifically authorizing such use and subject to whatever 
restrictions are deemed necessary.

PENALTIES: Violations of this restriction order are punishable by fines 
not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Husband, Area Manager, Little Snake Resource Area, 1280 Industrial

[[Page 50050]]

Avenue, Craig, Colorado 81625-2952 (970) 824-4441.
Mark Morse, District Manager, Craig District Office, 455 Emerson 
Street, Craig, Colorado 81625-1129 (970) 824-8261.

    Dated: September 17, 1996.
Robert W. Schneider,
Associate District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-24437 Filed 9-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-M