[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 52 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 13441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6575]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[UT-030-99-1610-00]


Land Use Restrictions: Utah; Grand Staircase-Escalante National 
Monument; Off-Highway Vehicle Use

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of a temporary closure to off-highway vehicle use for 
protection of the Kodachrome Bladder Pod (Lesquerella tumulosa) 
endangered plant species near Kodachrome Basin, Utah.

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SUMMARY: This notice closes approximately 3,062 acres to off-highway 
vehicle (OHV) use, with one designated route within the closed area. 
OHV access on the designated route, Rock Springs Bench Road, will 
remain open. Access and use on private land are not affected by this 
closure. The legal descriptions for the closed area is: All of T38S 
R02W Sections 23, 22, 21 and the parts of T38S R02W Sections 15, 16, 
and 17 that are within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument 
boundaries. Temporary fencing and signing may be used as necessary to 
facilitate this action. The authority for this action is 43 CFR 8341.2.

DATES: This closure will begin immediately and remain in effect pending 
completion of a Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management 
Plan, which is expected to be completed by the fall of 1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of maps are available at the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Office, 
337 S. Main, Suite 010, Cedar City, Utah, 84720.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Leatherman, Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument Office, at (435) 865-5107.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 3,062 acre habitat includes the area 
near Kodachrome Basin State Park. The Bladder Pod was listed as an 
endangered plant species on October 6, 1993. Most of the area is 
currently designated as open to OHV use as documented in the Paria 
Management Framework Plan completed in 1981. Under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, BLM is required to protect the habitat for all 
listed species. Monitoring plots were established in 1997 to determine 
changes in the population. In 1998, when these plots were visited, 
mortality from OHV use was documented. An interdisciplinary team was 
assigned to review the protection requirements and determine 
appropriate actions to protect this population. The team determined 
impairment was occurring and that closure of the area was appropriate 
to protect this species. Therefore, BLM is temporarily closing the area 
to OHV use. The Rock Springs Bench Road, a designated OHV access route, 
will remain open. Access and use on private lands in the area is not 
affected by these restrictions.
G. William Lamb,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-6575 Filed 3-17-99; 8:45 am]
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