[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5034-5035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2583]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[UT-020-07-1220-00]
Notice To Amend Pony Express Resource Management Plan
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to designate a Special Recreation Management
Area which would amend a resource management plan.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing an amendment
to the Pony Express Resource Management Plan (RMP). The proposed
amendment would designate certain public lands in Utah and Tooele
Counties as a Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). A Recreation
Area Management Plan (RAMP) and environmental assessment
[[Page 5035]]
(EA) would be prepared which would address future cooperative
management between BLM and the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation
for the area known as Fivemile Pass. Public comment will be actively
solicited throughout the RAMP/EA and amendment development process.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed plan amendment will commence
with the date of publication of this notice. Comments must be submitted
on or before March 5, 1997.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Bureau Planning System, Special
Recreation Management Areas (SRMA) are designated where significant
public recreation issues or management concerns occur. Special or more
intensive types of management are typically needed. Detailed recreation
planning is required in these areas and greater managerial investment
(e.g. facilities, supervision, etc.) is likely. Fivemile Pass was not
listed as an SRMA in the 1988 Pony Express RMP. This amendment and
planning process is needed to address current recreation use and
management needs.
Fivemile Pass is an area encompassing the southern foothills of the
Oquirrh Mountains on the Tooele/Utah County line. For years, Fivemile
Pass has been one of the most popular areas for off highway vehicle
(OHV) recreation in Northern Utah. A 1992 amendment to the Pony Express
RMP designated 10,880 acres of public land at Fivemile Pass as ``Open''
to OHV use. ``Open'' areas are approved for all types of OHV use,
including cross-country travel. Since that time recreation use in the
area has increased dramatically. The area is undeveloped with no
recreation facilities. Fivemile Pass received over 36,900 visits in
1996. The Utah ATV Association and other user groups have long
advocated visitor developments at Fivemile Pass. In 1995, the Utah
Division of Parks and Recreation and the Utah OHV Commission selected
Fivemile Pass as a priority site for increased development and
additional State OHV grants.
The Fivemile Pass SRMA would be defined as T6S, R3W, sec 13-36;
T6S, R4W, sec 13, 24, 25, and 36; T7S, R3W, Sec 1-18; and T7S, R4W, sec
1, 12, and 13. The SRMA planning area would cover 31,360 acres which
includes 19,020 acres of public lands, approximately 10,740 acres of
private land, and 1,600 acres of State lands.
Although Fivemile Pass is heavily used for recreation, the area
also has a long history of mining, farming, and grazing. The entire
planning area contains numerous mine shafts and abandoned pits. These
mines and pits constitute a serious hazard for the public. Public roads
accessing public lands cross private lands. There is occasional
trespass and vandalism from the public crossing farmlands or riding
OHVs through plowed fields. Recreation use has also resulted in
vandalism to public lands and facilities around Fivemile Pass. Besides
being a popular OHV riding area, Fivemile Pass is also used by campers,
horseback riders, mountain bikers, organized groups (Scouts, RV clubs,
church groups, etc.), hunters, and target shooters.
Recreation development at Fivemile Pass would meet the following
management objectives:
1. Provide a quality recreation experience for OHV and other
recreation users in a safe and appropriate setting.
2. Mitigate safety hazards created by past mining operations.
3. Maintain access to public lands.
4. Protect natural and cultural resources on public lands and
repair damaged resources.
5. Mitigate trespass and impacts to private lands in and around the
planning area.
6. Maintain and enhance multiple use management for all resources
in the planning area.
7. Educate visitors about safety, public land stewardship, and low
impact recreation.
The RAMP will be prepared under 43 CFR part 1610 to meet the
requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act, and section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act. This
revision is necessary to update and expand the decisions presented in
the 1988 Pony Express RMP that affect lands within the Fivemile Pass
planning area.
Public participation will be actively sought to ensure that the
RAMP/EA addresses all issues, problems, and concerns from those
interested in the management of the public lands within the proposed
Fivemile Pass SRMA. The development of the RAMP/EA is a public process
and the public is invited and encouraged to assist in the
identification of issues and the scope of the RAMP/EA. Public meetings
will be held to discuss planning issues. The date, time, and location
of these scoping meetings will be announced in local newspapers and
through other local media. Formal public participation will be
requested for review of the preliminary RAMP/EA and final RAMP/EA in
1997. Notice of availability of these documents will be published at
the appropriate times.
The RAMP/EA will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team which
includes specialists in recreation, cultural resources, minerals,
realty, wildlife, rangeland vegetation, and special status animal and
plant species. Other disciplines may be represented as necessary.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Wyatt, Area Manager, Salt
Lake Field Office, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah,
telephone (801) 977-4300, fax (801) 977-4397. Existing planning
documents and information are available at the above address. Comments
on the proposed plan amendment should be sent to the above address.
G. William Lamb,
State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 97-2583 Filed 1-31-97; 8:45 am]
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