[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9347-9348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-4702]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-030-09-1220-04:GP9-0996]


Wallowa/Grande Ronde River Special Recreation Permit Requirements

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior, Vale District Baker 
Resource Area.


[[Page 9348]]


ACTION: Special recreation permit requirements, Wallowa/Grande Ronde 
Rivers.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 CFR 8372.1, the following act is prohibited: 
Entering or being on the waters of the Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers 
between Minam, OR (River Mile 10--Wallowa River) and the confluence of 
the Grande Ronde and Snake Rivers (River Mile 0--Grande Ronde River).
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 8372.1-3, the following are exempt from the 
above prohibition:
    1. A person with an authorized watercraft as described in Exhibit A 
and who also has a special use authorization as described in Exhibit B 
allowing the otherwise prohibited act, or anyone travelling with that 
person.
    2. A. person who has entered the area and is not using any type of 
watercraft.
    3. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized 
rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
    Nothing in the above authorizes the use of Power boats between the 
Umatilla National Forest Boundary (1.5 miles below the confluence with 
the Wallowa River at approximately river mile 80) downstream to the 
Oregon/Washington state line (approximately river Mile 38.5) on the 
Grande Ronde River.
    * Umatilla N.F. Order No. 91-3
    * Oregon State Marine Board OAR 250-20-340 (3)
    Penalties: Violators are subject to imprisonment for not more than 
12 months, or a fine in accordance with the applicable provisions of 
Title 18 U.S.C. 3571, or both.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Exhibit A

Types of Authorized Watercraft

    Authorized watercraft on the Wallowa and Grande Ronde rivers 
include those types of float boats and powerboats traditionally and 
commonly being used for recreational purposes on this section of the 
Wallowa and Grande Ronde rivers in 1993 when the Final Management Plan 
for the Wallowa and Grande Ronde rivers was approved.
    Authorized Float Boats Include: cat-a-rafts, inflatable rafts, 
rigid hull and inflatable kayaks, canoes, drift boats, inner tubes. 
They may be propelled by paddles, oars, motors, or other devices, in 
accordance with pre-existing restrictions of the river corridor.
    Authorized Powerboats Include: Motorized, rigid hull watercraft 
with water cooled exhaust that are driven by propeller(s) or jet 
pump(s), are capable of upstream and downstream travel, and usually 
require trailering to enter and exit the water.

Types of Non-authorized Watercraft

    Non-valid Water craft on the Wallowa/Grande Ronde Rivers include 
those types of equipment that were not traditionally and commonly being 
used for recreational purposes on this section of the river in 1993 
when the Final River Management Plan for the Wallowa and Grande Ronde 
Rivers was approved.
    Non-valid Types of Water craft: Personal water vehicles such as jet 
skis, air boats, motorized surf boards, wind surf boards, sailboats, 
hover craft, winged water craft, any powerboats equipped with an over-
the-transon exhaust system, amphibious craft, mini-submarines, 
powerboats under 8 feet in length and designed to carry a maximum of 
two passengers, Water craft that must be straddled when ridden by the 
operator and/or passengers, and devices towed behind a powerboat for 
recreational purposes such as water skis, knee-boards, and various 
types of tubes.

Exhibit B

Types of Special Use Authorizations

    A. Required Year-long:
    1. A special Use Permit issued by an Authorized Officer to an 
individual or any type of business entity allowing a service to be 
conducted. This permit allows use by float boat and powerboat 
businesses.
    2. A properly executed self-issue permit and those required 
stipulations of the permit allowing private power boating or private 
floating. A permit is required for each powerboat and for each float 
party for day use and overnight trips.

Authorization

    This Order meets requirements of the Wallowa/Grande Ronde Rivers 
Final Management Plan. Non-valid Water craft as defined in Exhibit A of 
the Closure Order pose safety hazards to authorized power and float 
boat user and those using the non-valid craft. These types of craft are 
unexpected in this setting and some are difficult to see. Most are 
erratic in travel patterns and can suddenly and unpredictably change 
course. Some require long ropes for towing behind other boats, 
resulting in the rope becoming a safety hazard for other users on the 
water.
    The Final Management Plan provides for the issuance of permits. Use 
of the Wallowa and Grande Ronde Rivers has increased in recent years. 
Planning for future river recreation emphasized monitoring of both 
social and environmental effects of river use. This will require 
detailed information on the amount and type of river use. Permits 
contain information and education for boaters that address social and 
environmental issues when using the resources on the Wallowa and Grande 
Ronde Rivers. Permits also provide accountability for user's actions 
when recreating within the river corridor as well as information for 
managing emergencies and search and rescue. Permit stations provide a 
point of contact to distribute information to boaters to address these 
issues.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: This Order shall go into effect April 30, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Baker Resource Area, 3165 10th St. 
Baker City, Oregon 97814, Telephone (541)523-1256.
Edwin J. Singleton,
Vale District Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-4702 Filed 2-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M