[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50401-50402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25474]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CO-070-1230-00]


Castle Peak Area Travel Management Designations and Use 
Restrictions

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of change in off highway vehicle use designations, and 
area closure and use restrictions.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given on changes in the off highway vehicle 
use designations and travel related rules of conduct on approximately 
119,631 acres of public land administered by the Grand Junction 
District, Glenwood Springs Resource Area of the Bureau of Land 
Management. This order closes public lands in the Bull Gulch and Castle 
Peak Wilderness Study Areas to use and operation of all motorized and 
mechanized vehicles, limits use of said vehicles to designated routes 
on all other public lands in the Castle Peak planning area, and 
prohibits use of motorized vehicles in specified areas during the fall 
and winter seasons. The motorized and mechanized travel designations 
and use restrictions are established pursuant 43 CFR 8341.2(a), and 43 
CFR 8464.1. These designations and use restrictions modify current 
designations established in the Glenwood Springs Resource Area Resource 
Management Plan, record of decision signed in January 1984, and 
supersede general rules of conduct for recreational use of public lands 
in the affected area.
    The affected public lands are bounded by the Colorado River, Eagle 
River and Highway 131 and are located in Townships 2, 3, 4, and 5 
South, Ranges 83, 84, 85 and 86 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, 
Eagle County, Colorado.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The designations will be effective as of the date of 
approval of the Castle Peak Travel Management Plan. The use 
restrictions shall be effective as of September 15, 1997 until 
rescinded or modified by the Authorized Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public lands in the Castle Peak area contain 
important and fragile resource values and provide a variety of outdoor 
recreational opportunities. Changes in the current travel designations 
are needed to protect erosive soils, wintering wildlife habitat, 
sensitive water quality management areas, cultural resources, important 
scenic values, semi-primitive non-motorized settings, and wilderness 
values. Growing recreational use in the area is expected to continue, 
and travel management is needed to prevent conflicts between users and 
unacceptable impacts on resource values, while continuing to provide a 
variety of recreational opportunities.
    These travel designations and use restrictions are the result of 
the Castle Peak Travel Management Plan. Public comments were received 
throughout the planning process beginning in April 1996, which included 
scoping of the issues and potential solutions, review of alternatives 
and the plan proposed in September 1996, and review of the final plan 
with record of decision approved

[[Page 50402]]

by the Colorado State Director on August 8, 1997. Comments were 
received from users, adjacent landowners, interest groups, the Colorado 
Division of Wildlife and other State and local agencies.
    The areas, roads and trails affected by this order will be posted 
with appropriate regulatory signs. Information including maps of the 
restricted areas and travel management designations is available in the 
Resource Area Office and District Office at the addresses shown below.
    The Castle Peak Area described herein will be subject to the 
following designations, closures and use restrictions:

A. Closed Designation

    Use and operation of all motorized and mechanized vehicles 
including mountain bikes and snowmobiles operating over snow shall be 
prohibited year round within the following areas:
    (1) Bull Gulch Wilderness Study Area--15,201 acres located 8 miles 
north of the Town of Gypsum in all or portion of T2S R85W Secs. 21, 28, 
32, 33; T3S R85W Secs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 
18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32; T3S R86W Secs. 24; T4S R85W 
Secs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.
    (2) Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area--12,237 acres located 9 miles 
north of the Town of Eagle in all or portion of T3S R84W Secs. 5, 6, 7, 
8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 
33, 34 and 35.

B. Limited Designation

    All travel by motorized and mechanized vehicles, except snowmobiles 
operating over snow, is limited to designated routes year-round on all 
public lands not otherwise closed. Motorized and mechanized travel off 
the designated routes is prohibited.

C. Fall Limitation

    Between October 1 and April 30 annually, use and operation of all 
motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles operating over snow, is 
prohibited on the following routes. This fall limitation does not 
restrict non-motorized travel on these routes.
    1. Stagecoach Trail (Route #8535) and related spurs: 5.1 miles of 
route located 2 miles southwest of McCoy in T2S, R84W Secs. 10, 11, 12, 
13 and 24.
    2. Domantle Road (Route #8513) and related spurs: 3 miles of route 
located 11 miles northeast of the Town of Eagle in T3S R 84 W Secs. 11, 
12, and 13.

D. Winter Limitation

    Between December 1 and April 30 annually, all motorized vehicle 
use, including snowmobiles operating over snow, is prohibited on and 
off the roads and trails on public lands in the following areas and on 
all routes therein. This winter limitation does not restrict non-
motorized travel, or any travel on county roads.
    (1) Cottonwood Creek: 11,768 acres west of Eby Creek, northwest of 
the Town of Eagle in all or portion of T4S R84W Secs. 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 
19, 20, 29, 30, 31, and 32; T4S R85W Secs. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 
15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36.
    (2) Red Canyon: 5,451 acres east of Eby Creek and west of Milk 
Creek, northeast of the Town of Eagle in all or portion of T4S R83W 
Secs. 5, 7, 8 and 18; T4S R84W Secs. 8, 13, 14, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 
24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, and 33.
    (3) Bocco Mountain: 3,117 acres east of Milk Creek, north of the 
Eagle River to Alkali Creek and west of Highway 131, northeast of 
Wolcott in all or portion of T3S R83W Secs. 27, 28, 32, 33 and 34; T4S 
R83W Secs. 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10.
    (4) Domantle-Boore Flats: 10,134 acres north of Alkali Creek, south 
of Pisgah Mountain and east of the Winter Ridge Road, southeast of 
Burns in all or portion of T2S R83W Secs. 30, 31, 32; T2S R84W Secs. 
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35 and 36; T3S R83W Secs. 6, 7, 
and 18; T3S R84W Secs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.
    (5) Pisgah Mountain-Windy Point Area: 15,849 acres south of the 
Colorado River, west of Highway 131 to Big Alkali Creek, south of McCoy 
in all or portion of T2S R83W 7, 8, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 
27, 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36; T2S R84W Secs 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 
12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, and 28.
    (6) Black Mountain: 7,536 acres south of the Colorado River, west 
of the Winter Ridge Road to the Bull Gulch area near Burns in all or 
portion of T2S R84W Secs. 17, 18, 19, 30, 31; T2S R85W Secs. 13, 14, 
22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 36.

E. Motorized Routes

    Open to use and operation of all motorized vehicles including 
motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, four wheel drive vehicles and 
snowmobiles, subject to the conditions of use in 43 CFR 8341. Also open 
to non-motorized travel including mountain bikes, foot and horseback or 
pack animal unless otherwise restricted.

F. Single Track Motorized Routes

    Use and operation of motorized vehicles over 40'' in width is 
prohibited. Open to use of motorcycles and snowmobiles operating over 
snow and mountain bikes unless otherwise closed.

G. Non Motorized Routes

    Use and operation of all motorized vehicles is prohibited. Open to 
all non-motorized travel year round including mountain bikes, unless 
otherwise closed.
    Persons who are exempt from these restrictions include any Federal, 
State, or local officers engaged in fire, emergency and law enforcement 
activities; BLM employees engaged in official duties, and other persons 
specifically authorized to conduct or engage in the otherwise 
prohibited use or activity. These designations and use restrictions do 
not apply to use of county roads or private lands.
    The environmental impacts of these designations and use 
restrictions are described in the Castle Peak Travel Management Plan 
Environmental Assessment No. CO-078-07-49.
Penalties
    Violations of this closure and restriction order are punishable by 
fines not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Mottice, Area Manager, 
Glenwood Springs Resource Area, 50629 Highway 6/24, P.O. Box 1009, 
Glenwood Springs, CO 81602; (970) 947-2800. Mark Morse, District 
Manager, Grand Junction District, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 
81506; (970) 244-3000.
Mark Morse,
Grand Junction District Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-25474 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P