[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39859-39860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19506]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-050-1110-00:G7-0196]


Prineville District; Shooting Restriction on Public Lands; Oregon

July 14, 1997.
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice is hereby given that BLM managed public lands within the 
Middle Deschutes Wild and Scenic River boundaries are closed to 
shooting yearlong except when legally hunting game birds, games 
mammals, or furbearers during official state waterfowl, upland game, 
big game, and furbearer seasons.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: This order applies to all public lands within the 
Middle Deschutes Wild and Scenic River boundaries, as defined in the 
Middle Deschutes/Lower Crooked Wild and Scenic Rivers' Management Plan, 
including BLM lands within: Township 12 South, Range 12 East, Section 
29, SW SE; Section 29, SE SW; Section 32, W\1/2\. Township 13 South, 
Range 12 East, Section 5, W\1/2\, Section 6, E\1/2\ SE \1/4\, Section 
7, E\1/2\ NE\1/4\, Section 8, NW, Section 8, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\, Section 8, 
SE, Section 17, E\1/2\, Section 20, NE, Section 21, SW NW, Section 21, 
S\1/2\, Section 27, SW NW, Section 27, NW SW, Section 28, E\1/2\, 
Section 33, SE NW, Section 33, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\, Section 33, E\1/2\, 
SE\1/4\, Section 34, W\1/2\ SW\1/4\. Township 14 South, Range 12 East, 
Section 4, N\1/2\, Section 4, N\1/2\ SE\1/4\, Section 9, NE NE, Section 
10, NW NW, Section 10, SW SW, Section 11, S\1/2\, Section 14, W\1/2\ 
E\1/2\, Section 14, E\1/2\ W\1/2\, Section 14, NW NW, Section 22, SW 
NE, Section 26, SE SE.
    BLM managed public lands within the Middle Deschutes Wild and 
Scenic River boundaries are closed to shooting yearlong except when 
legally hunting game birds, game mammals, and furbearers during 
official state waterfowl, big game, upland game, and furbearer seasons. 
Shooting is defined as ``the discharge of firearms''. A firearm is 
defined as ``a weapon, by whatever name known, which is designed to 
expel a projectile by the action of powder and which is readily capable 
of use as a weapon.'' The purpose of this closure is to protect 
wildlife resources and to improve public safety. More specifically, 
this closure was partly ordered to protect nesting golden eagles within 
the river corridor. Currently, the occurrence of shooting jeopardizes 
the nesting success of golden eagles within the river corridor and 
poses a threat to

[[Page 39860]]

recreationists and other public land users. Exemptions to this closure 
order may be made on a case-by-case basis by the authorized officer. 
This closure will be evaluated in the Urban Interface Amendment to the 
Brothers/La Pine Resource Management Plan of 1989 and future amendments 
to the Two Rivers Resource Management Plan of 1986. The authority for 
this closure is 43 CFR 8364.1: Closure and restriction orders.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Nichols, Wildlife Biologist, BLM Prineville District Office, P.O. 
Box 550, Prineville, Oregon 97754, telephone (541) 416-6725.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Violation of this closure order is 
punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to 
exceed 12 months as provided in 43 CFR 8360.0-7.

    Dated: July 14, 1997.
James G. Kenna,
Deschutes Resource Area Manager, Prineville District Office.
[FR Doc. 97-19506 Filed 7-23-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M