[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 82 (Thursday, April 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 23097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10745]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[OR-084-6332-00; GP-0063]


Off-Highway Vehicle Designations for the Cascades Resource Area, 
Salem District, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior, Salem District.

ACTION: This notice supplements the, ``Availability of the Resource 
Management Plan and Record of Decision, Salem, Oregon'' notice 
published in the July 20, 1995, edition of the Federal Register (60 FR 
37464) and establishes the final Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) designations 
on all public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
within the Cascades Resource Area, Salem District, Oregon. This notice 
supersedes all other previous notices related to OHV designations or 
closures pertaining to BLM-administered lands in the Cascades Resource 
Area. Authority for this action is contained in 43 CFR 8342.1.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM-administered lands in the Cascades 
Resource Area lie within Clackamas, Multnomah, Marion, and Linn 
Counties in northwest Oregon. The Salem District Resource Management 
Plan (Salem District RMP, May 1995) allocated acres in each of the 
three major OHV designations (Closed, Limited, or Open) and indicated 
that designations would be mapped in subsequent planning efforts. Areas 
and acres of land with unique and sensitive resource values were 
designated in the RMP as ``Closed'' to use of OHV's. Acreage where 
OHV's could be used with certain restrictions was listed as 
``Limited.'' The remaining area was listed as ``Open.'' The OHV 
designations completed by BLM-administered lands in the Cascades 
Resource Area are based on an interdisciplinary team review. Other 
general information of OHV designation definitions may be found in 43 
CFR 8340.0-5.

SUMMARY: Additional information and maps showing the OHV designations 
can be obtained from the Salem District Office. The OHV designations 
for the Cascades Resource Area have been completed and are as follows:

Closed

    Approximately 11,010 acres are ``Closed,'' to OHV use. These areas 
include: Carolyn's Crown ACEC/RNA, 261 acres; Larch Mountain 
Environmental Education Site, 183 acres; Middle Santiam ACEC/ONA, 108 
acres; North Santiam ACEC, 31 acres; Sandy River Gorge ACEC/RNA, 400 
acres; Soosap Meadows ACEC, 343 acres; Molalla Non-Motorized Shared-Use 
Trail System, 2,634 acres; White Rock Fen ACEC, 51 Acres; Wilhoit 
Springs ACEC, 170 acres; Willamette River ACEC, 76 acres; Williams Lake 
ACEC, 98 Acres; and Table Rock Wilderness, 6,350 acres. There are also 
36 progeny test sites totaling 305 acres that are closed to OHV use.

Limited

    Approximately 87,300 acres of BLM-administered lands in the 
Cascades Resource Area are designated as ``Limited to Existing Roads 
and Designated Trails.'' The remaining 70,700 acres are designated as 
``Limited to Designated Roads.'' This includes Riparian Reserves that 
were listed as ``Limited'' in the Salem District RMP to help address 
concerns about erosion and water quality. OHV organizations and users 
will have the opportunity to propose the designation of existing trails 
and the development of new trails on BLM-administered lands designated 
as ``Limited to Existing Roads and Designated Trails.''

Open

    No acres were designated as ``Open'' for BLM-administered lands in 
the Cascades Resource Area. When Riparian Reserves were mapped, they 
significantly fragmented BLM-administered lands with a potential 
``Open'' designation. Further fragmentation occurs with the ownership 
pattern of alternating sections of private and BLM-administered lands. 
An overall ``Limited'' designation more accurately reflects the current 
situation, rather than designating very small areas as ``Open'' in 
between Riparian Reserves designated as ``Limited.''

Penalties

    Pursuant to the penalties contained in 43 CFR 8340.0-7, any person 
who violates or fails to comply with the designations set forth in this 
notice are subject to arrest, conviction, and punishment pursuant to 
appropriate laws and regulations. Such punishment may be a fine of not 
more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not longer than 12 months, or 
both.

Exemptions

    The following persons, operating in their official duties, are 
exempt from the provisions of the OHV designations: BLM employees; 
state, local, and federal law enforcement, fire protection, or 
emergency personnel; holders of BLM road use permits that included 
roads within a closed area; and purchasers of BLM timber within the 
closure area including their employees and subcontractors. Access by 
additional parties may be allowed, but must be approved in advance by 
the Authorized Officer.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This order is in effect June 1, 1999, and is permanent 
until canceled, amended or replaced.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Prather, Cascades Area 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Salem District, 1717 Fabry Road SE, 
Salem, Oregon 97306, (503) 375-5683.

    Dated: April 19, 1999.
Richard Prather,
Cascades Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-10745 Filed 4-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M