[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 129 (Monday, July 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36301-36302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15805]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-330-1220-00]


Notice of Intent (NOI) to do an Environmental Assessment and 
Proposed King Range Plan Amendment for the King Range National 
Conservation Area

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) intends to write an Environmental Assessment which 
proposes to amend the existing King Range Management Program. The plan 
amendment will address the closure of 3.5 miles of the King Range beach 
from Telegraph Creek (Sec. 4, T.5S., R.1E.) to Gitchell Creek (Sec. 29, 
T.4S., R.1E.) to Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV) use. The purpose of the 
closure is to protect natural and cultural resource values and prevent 
conflicts between vehicular and non-vehicular recreation uses. 
Presently, the entire coastline from the Mouth of the Mattole River to 
Black Sands Beach is managed as an unroaded area, with the exception of 
private land inholder access at Spanish Flat and the Black Sands Beach 
vehicle corridor. It is BLM's intent that the entire west slope of the 
King Range be managed for non-motorized, primitive recreation 
activities.

COMMENT PERIOD: The BLM is requesting comments concerning this Notice 
of Intent. The comment period will be open until August 21, 1997. 
Public comments must be in writing and mailed to the below address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Environmental Assessment is being 
prepared in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-5) to amend the King Range 
Management Program.
    The Environmental Assessment will focus on the issues and concerns 
associated with OHV use within the beach corridor and the efforts of 
BLM to provide opportunities for both motorized and non-motorized user 
groups.
    From the beginning of the King Range National Conservation Area 
(KRNCA) planning process in the early 1970s, conflicts occurred 
regarding off-highway vehicle (OHV) use of the beach corridor. During 
the initial scoping process, hikers and some conservation groups 
strongly favored closure to vehicle travel of the entire beach while 
OHV groups felt closures were unwarranted and discriminatory. The BLM's 
response in the 1974 management program was to zone the beach into 
mechanical and non-mechanical use areas.
    Based on the above 1974 planning guidance, the 1988 Final EIS for 
Wilderness Recommendations for the King Range Wilderness Study Area, 
and the 1992 KRNCA Visitor Services Plan, BLM OHV management efforts in 
the Black Sands Beach to Gitchell Creek beach corridor have continually 
focused on trying to provide opportunities for both motorized and non-
motorized use groups. However, efforts to minimize conflicts by 
providing public information, and zoning use areas for motorized & non-
motorized activities have only met with limited success. Actions have 
also met with limited success in reducing illegal OHV access beyond 
Gitchell Creek into the closed area because of the difficulties of 
monitoring and enforcing a closure in a backcountry location lacking 
natural barriers to vehicle access. Non-motorized recreation use has 
also

[[Page 36302]]

increased over the past several years within this portion of the KRNCA.
    It is BLM's intent to manage the west slope of the KRNCA, from the 
Mouth of the Mattole River to Black Sands Beach, as one of California's 
last primitive unroaded areas, with the absence of motorized vehicles.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynda J. Roush, Arcata Resource Area 
Manager, 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, CA 95521, phone (707) 825-2300.
Lynda J. Roush,
Arcata Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-15805 Filed 7-3-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P