[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 34661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16899]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-030-1220-00]


Emergency Closure of the Lordsburg Playa to Off-Highway Vehicles 
(OHV), Hidalgo County, NM

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Interior.

ACTION: Emergency closure.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that effective immediately, the Las 
Cruces Field Office is implementing emergency closure of an existing 
OHV area known as the Lordsburg Playa. The area is closed to all 
vehicle use except for administrative purposes. This closure extends to 
both motorized and non-motorized vehicles, including landsail craft. 
This action is taken to aid in reducing the blowing dust from the 
Lordsburg Playa across Interstate Highway 10 west of Lordsburg, New 
Mexico. The dust storms have caused four fatalities on this portion of 
the Interstate and resulted in closure of the Interstate on 5 
consecutive days since June 13. The authority for this emergency 
closure is 43 CFR 8364.1: Closure and Restriction Orders.
    The following public land is affected by the closure:

T.23 S., R.20 W., NMPM
    Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, all;
    Section 11, W\1/2\;
    Sections 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, all;
    Section 26, N\1/2\;
    Section 27, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\E\1/2\, W\1/2\, SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\;
    Sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, all;
    Section 34, W\1/2\.
T.24 S., R.20 W., NMPM
    Section 5, N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Section 6, all.

DATES: This closure is effective June 19, 1998 and shall remain in 
effect until rescinded or modified by the authorized officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim C. McCormick, Assistant Field 
Office Manager for Renewable Resources, or Dwayne Sykes, Multi-Resource 
Staff Chief, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, New Mexico or call (505) 525-
4300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Violations of this closure are punishable by 
fines not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed one year.
    The purpose of this action is to reduce impacts to the soil on the 
Lordsburg Playa. Once the soil surface is disturbed, it is highly 
susceptible to wind erosion. Windy conditions this year have produced 
heavy dust storms in the area resulting in low visibility on nearby 
Interstate Highway 10. These conditions have caused 4 fatal accidents 
on the highway and required that the highway be closed for up to 9 
hours per day for 5 consecutive days since June 13.
    Copies of this closure order and maps showing the location of the 
area are available from the Las Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las 
Cruces, New Mexico, 88005 during normal business hours, Monday through 
Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

    Dated: June 19, 1998.
Josie Banegas,
Acting Field Manager, Las Cruces.
[FR Doc. 98-16899 Filed 6-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P