[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6951-6952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3407]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-070-08-7122-00-56-36, SRP-98-02]


Temporary Closure of Selected Public Lands

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Temporary Closure of Selected Public Lands in Paz County, 
Arizona, during the Operation of the 1998 Whiplash Parker 200 Desert 
Race.

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SUMMARY: The Lake Havasu Field Office announces the temporary closure 
of selected public lands under its administration La Paz County, 
Arizona. This action is being taken to help ensure public safety and 
prevent unnecessary environmental degradation during the official 
permitted running of the 1988 Whiplash Parker 200 Desert Race.


[[Page 6952]]


DATES: February 20, 1998, through February 22, 1998.

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS: Specific restrictions and closure periods 
are as follows:

Designated Course

    1. The portion of the course comprised of BLM lands, roads and ways 
located 2 miles either side of Shea Road from the eastern boundary of 
the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation to the junction with 
Swansea Road and 2 miles either side of Swansea Road from its junction 
with Shea Road to the eastern bank of the Central Arizona Project Canal 
is closed to public use from 9:00 a.m. Friday, February 20, 1998, to 
8:00 p.m. Sunday, February 22, 1998 (Mountain Standard Time).
    2. Vehicles are prohibited from the Gibraltar Mountain (AZ-070-12) 
Wilderness Area and the Cactus Plain (AZ-070-12A/B) Wilderness Study 
Area (WSA).
    3. The entire area encompassed by the designated course and all 
area within 1 mile outside the designated course are closed to all 
vehicles except authorized and emergency vehicles.
    4. Vehicle parking or stopping along Shea Road, and Swansea Road is 
prohibited except for designated spectator areas. Emergency parking for 
brief periods of time is permitted.
    5. Spectator viewing (public land) is limited to the designated 
spectator areas located South and North of Shea Road as signed app. 7 
miles east of Parker, Arizona.
    6. The following regulations will be in effect for the duration of 
the closure.
    Unless otherwise authorized, no person shall:
    a. Camp in any area outside of the designated spectator areas.
    b. Enter any portion of the race course or any wash located within 
the race course, including all portions of Osborne Wash.
    c. Spectate or otherwise be located outside of the designated 
spectator areas.
    d. Cut or collect firewood of any kind, including dead and down 
wood or other vegetative material.
    e. Be in possession of any alcoholic beverage unless that person 
has reached the age of 21 years.
    f. Firearms must be unloaded and cased, and are not be used during 
the closure.
    g. Fireworks are prohibited.
    h. Park, stop, or stand any vehicle outside of the designated 
spectator areas.
    i. Operate any vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle (OHV), 
which is not legally registered for street and highway operation, 
including operation of such a vehicle in Spector viewing areas, along 
the race course, and in designated pit areas.
    j. Park any vehicle in violation of posted restrictions, or in such 
a manner as to obstruct or impede normal or emergency traffic movement 
or the parking of other vehicles, create a safety hazard, or endanger 
any person, property or feature. Vehicles so parked are subject to 
citation, removal and impoundment at the owner's expense.
    k. Take any vehicle through, around or beyond a restrictive sign, 
recognizable barricade, fence or traffic control barrier.
    l. Fail to keep their site free or trash and litter during the 
period of occupancy or fail to remove all personal equipment, trash, 
and litter upon departure.
    m. Violate quite hours by causing an unreasonable noise as 
determined by the authorized officer between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 
a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
    n. Allow any per or other animal in their care to be unrestrained 
at any time. Sings and maps directing the public to the designated 
spectator areas will be provided by the Bureau of Land Management and/
or the event sponsor. The above restrictions do not apply to emergency 
vehicles owned by the United States, the State of Arizona or to LA Paz 
County. Vehicles under permit for operation by event participants must 
follow the race permit stipulations. Operators of permitted vehicles 
shall maintain a maximum speed limit of 35 mph on all Paz County and 
BLM roads and ways. Authority for closure of public lands is found in 
43 CFR 8340, Subpart 8341; 43 CFR 8360, Subpart 8364.1, and 43 CFR 
8372. Persons who violate this closure order are subject to arrest and, 
upon conviction, may be fined not more than $100,000 and/or imprisoned 
for not more than 12 months.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Pittman, District Law 
Enforcement Ranger, or Myron McCoy, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Lake 
Havasu Field Office, 2610 Sweetwater Avenue, Lake Havasu City, Arizona 
86406, (520) 505-1200.

    Dated: February 5, 1998.
Jaime T. Provencio,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-3407 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M