[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 25 (Friday, February 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6075-6077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2960]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Parts 8560 and 8372

[AZ-010-01-1210-04]


Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, AZ-UT: Visitor Rules

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to implement recreation permit requirements.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has revised visitor rules 
for the Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass, and the Coyote Buttes 
Special Management Area portions of the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs 
Wilderness, AZ-UT. The objectives of the new rules are to prevent 
further damage to wilderness resources and to improve visitors' 
opportunities to enjoy the area. The rules represent the minimum level 
of visitor management needed to accomplish those objectives.
    BLM will drop certain ineffective rules and policies, carry forward 
those that are appropriate, and implement several new rules.

DATES:
    Existing Rules/Policies To Be Dropped. Effective as of March 1, 
1998.
    New General Rules. Effective as of March 1, 1998.
    New Specific Rules for Paria Canyon/Buckskin Gulch/Wire Pass/Coyote 
Buttes. Transition to the new rules will be as follows:
    a. December 24, 1997 through February 28, 1998: All existing rules/
policies continue.
    b. February 1, 1998 through February 28, 1998: Reservation requests 
for dates on or after March 1, 1998 through one year from the month of 
application will be accepted using new visitor limits.
    c. March 1, 1998: New visitor rules apply.
    New Rules for Commercial Guides and Organizations.
    a. Effective as of March 1, 1998.
    b. Applications for Special Recreation Permits will be accepted at 
any time.

ADDRESSES: The public may examine material pertaining to the action at:
    1. BLM, Arizona Strip Field Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. 
George, Utah 84790.
    2. BLM, Kanab Resource Area, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah 84741
    3. Electronic Access Addresses www.for.nau.edu/paria-permits/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Folks, (435) 688-3264 or Janaye 
Byergo, (435) 644-2672.


[[Page 6076]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Existing Rules/Policies to be Dropped
II. Existing Rules/Policies Carried Forward
III. New Rules

I. Existing Rules/Policies to be Dropped

    a. Group size is limited in Coyote Buttes to no more than 4 
persons.
    b. No more than 2 groups in Coyote Buttes per day.
    c. Pets must be leashed.
    d. Visitors pay fees after reservations are made for Coyote Buttes.
    e. Overnight visitors to Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, and Wire 
Pass pay fee at self-service stations at the trail heads.
    f. The number of overnight visits to Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, 
and Wire Pass are not limited.

II. Existing Rules/Policies Carried Forward

General

    a. BLM will operate a year-round fee/permit and reservation system.
    b. Use fees are collected for all visitors to Paria Canyon, 
Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass and Coyote Buttes.
    c. For visitors with current Golden Age or Golden Access cards, use 
fees are discounted 50% for cardholders only. Each cardholder's card 
number must be provided when making reservations.
    d. Golden Eagle passes do not apply to use fees, but are only for 
entrance fees to areas such as national parks or some national 
conservation areas.
    e. To keep fees as low as possible, refunds, date changes, and 
group size changes will not be made. Processing these types of actions 
substantially increases the cost of administration, which requires 
charging higher fees to recover costs. Be sure of trip plans before 
making application and paying fees.
    f. American Indian Access Rights--If it is determined that the 
canyons of Paria or Coyote Buttes are sacred or traditional areas to 
local Native American populations, then Native Americans are exempted 
from paying fees.
    g. Hikers must register at the trail heads when entering or leaving 
the area.
    h. Campfires and burning of trash or toilet paper are not allowed 
in the canyons or Coyote Buttes.
    i. Disturbing or defacing prehistoric or historic ruins, sites, 
artifacts or rock art panels is prohibited by law.
    j. All trash associated with an individual or group trip, including 
used toilet paper, must be packed out by that individual or group.
    k. The wilderness is closed to motor vehicles, motorized equipment, 
and other forms of mechanical transport, including bicycles and hang 
gliders.
    l. Hunters (during hunting season, in possession of a valid state 
license and permit/tag for the areas), livestock grazing permittees, 
and employees, contractors, and volunteers working onsite for a state 
or federal agency do not count against the total daily visitor limits, 
nor are they subject to fee requirements. However, these individuals 
are required to comply with group size limitations. They are subject to 
any closure or other restriction implemented to protect sensitive 
resources.
    m. BLM may, based on monitoring, temporarily or permanently close 
areas of Coyote Buttes or the canyons in order to protect sensitive 
resources.

Specific to White House Campground

    a. For campground use, visitors deposit fees at the self serve fee 
station located at the campground. Each group is required to fill-out a 
fee envelope and obtain fee receipt. The fee schedule is: $5.00/site/
night

Specific to Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass

    a. Day-use visitors to these areas deposit fees at self serve fee 
stations located at White House, Buckskin Gulch, and Wire Pass Trail 
heads. No reservations for day-use are needed. Each trip leader is 
required to fill-out a fee envelope and obtain fee receipt. The fee 
schedule is: $5.00/person/day.
    b. Group size for all use in the canyons is limited to ten persons 
per group. All groups larger than ten must split up and begin hiking on 
different days. These groups are not permitted to rejoin during the 
trip. Minimum distance is two miles apart.
    c. Visitors staying one or more nights in the canyons must camp 
only in existing campsites or, if necessary and safe, on shoreline 
terraces.
    d. Wrather Canyon is closed to camping.
    e. All camp, latrine, and pack stock restraint areas must be at 
least 200 feet from springs.
    f. Cutting of trees, limbs, or other plants to make camp 
``improvements'' is prohibited.
    g. Private recreational use of horses, burros, llamas, and goats is 
allowed in Paria Canyon. Horses must stay on the shoreline terraces.
    h. The use of horses in conjunction with an approved Special 
Recreation Use Permit is allowed only in Paria Canyon from Bush Head 
Canyon downstream to the wilderness boundary.

Specific to Coyote Buttes

    a. The Coyote Buttes Special Management Area (SMA) is limited to 
day-use only. No overnight camping in the SMA.
    b. Reservations are required for day-use in this area.
    c. All reservations are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
    d. Each trip leader is issued a permit.
    e. Day-use visitors pay fees to BLM's fee project partner, Northern 
Arizona University, via fax, or mail. A permit is then mailed to you. 
The fee schedule is: $5.00/person (permit required).
    f. No private recreational or commercial use of horses, burros, 
llamas, and goats is allowed.
    g. Walk-in permits (no reservation) may be available at times. 
Reservations for available walk-ins may be made only at the Paria 
Information Station up to seven days prior to the available date.

Specific to Commercial Guides and Organizations

    a. Organized groups, companies, or individuals who use the public 
lands for business or financial gain or benefit from salaries, or 
support other programs ( ie; professional guides, Sierra Club, schools, 
college clubs, Museum or Elder Hostel Sponsored trips, etc.) are 
considered commercial users.
    b. Commercial users intending to operate within the wilderness must 
obtain a Special Recreation Use Permit (43 CFR 8372) prior to operating 
on or utilizing public lands.

III. New Rules

General

    a. Dogs are allowed in the canyons and Coyote Buttes with the 
following requirements:
    (1) Owners pay a daily use fee: $5.00/day for each dog (fees are 
not required for guide dogs for the blind.)
    (2) Owners be informed of rules and restrictions
    (3) Owners agree to keep dogs under control at all times (to 
prevent harassment of wildlife and visitors).
    (4) Owners dispose of dog waste with the same method used for human 
waste.
    (5) All dogs must be on a leash in the Glen Canyon National 
Recreation Area portion of lower Paria Canyon.
    b. Visitors to areas requiring reservations must pay fees at the 
time reservations are made with BLM's fee project partner, Northern 
Arizona University, via fax or mail. A permit is then issued via mail.

Specific to Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass

    a. Reservations are required for overnight use in these areas.

[[Page 6077]]

    b. All reservations are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
    c. Each trip leader is issued a permit.
    d. Overnight use in Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, and Wire Pass is 
limited to a combined trail head entry total of no more than 20 persons 
per day.
    e. No fees are charged for children 12 years and under for day-use 
in Paria Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, and Wire Pass.
    f. Walk-in permits (no reservation) for overnight use may be 
available at times. Reservations for available walk-ins may be made 
only at the Paria Information Station up to seven days prior to the 
available date.

Specific to Coyote Buttes

    a. The Coyote Buttes SMA is divided near Top Rock Spring into the 
Southern and Northern Coyote Buttes SMAs.
    b. Visitor use in the Southern Coyote Buttes Special Management 
Area is limited to no more than ten persons per day.
    c. Visitor use in the Northern Coyote Buttes Special Management 
Area is limited to no more than ten persons per day.
    d. The maximum group size limit in Coyote Buttes is six persons.
    e. A separate reservation and fee payment must be made for each day 
requested.

Specific to Commercial Guides and Organizations

    a. Commercial users may, after receiving authorization through 
procedures set forth in 43 CFR 8372, operate in the canyons and Coyote 
Buttes under one or both of the following modes:
    (1) Authorized commercial users will depend on visitors to contract 
their services when visitors have either (a) successfully acquired a 
non-commercial use permit for areas requiring reservations/permits or, 
(b) desired a guide for areas not requiring reservations, such as day-
use in the canyons or the remaining non-fee/non reservation portions of 
the wilderness.
    (2) All authorized guides will be listed in various forms of BLM 
hiking information media, with the information sent to successful 
permit holders. Commercial guides may market their availability as 
guides. As guides are retained for service under this mode, they will 
not count against the group size limit or the total visitor limit for 
the given day. Parties will be limited to one guide each under this 
option.
    b. For areas requiring reservations/permits, commercial users 
compete with non-commercial visitors for permits on a first-come, 
first-served basis. Commercial users reserve no more than one entry day 
per week under this option. Fees for reserved dates will be paid at the 
time of reservation. For permits reserved under this option, guides 
will count against both the group size and the total visitor limit for 
the given day. BLM would not limit the number of guides per permit 
under this option.

    Dated: January 26, 1998.
Roger G. Taylor,
Arizona Strip Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-2960 Filed 2-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P