[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23856-23857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11101]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CO-034-99-1220-00]


Designation Order; Notice of Overnight Camping Closure Within the 
BLM Gunnison Forks Wildlife Area and Implementation of Motorized 
Vehicle Use Restrictions at the Gunnison Forks and on Newly Acquired 
Public Lands in Delta County, Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Montrose District, Uncompahgre Field 
Office, Montrose Colorado.

ACTION: Notice; camping closure on public lands administered by the 
Bureau of Land Management in the Gunnison Forks Wildlife Management 
Area and the implementation of motorized vehicle use restrictions in 
the Gunnison Forks area and on the newly acquired public lands 
resulting from the Tri-State acquisition of February 1999.

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SUMMARY: Notice is given that overnight camping is prohibited on all 
BLM Public Lands within the Gunnison Forks Wildlife Management Area 
located at the confluence of the Gunnison River and North Fork of the 
Gunnison River and all public lands north of the Gunnison River between 
the Towns of Austin and Lazear. In addition, no overnight parking is 
permitted on the gravel bar adjacent to the Gunnison River and North 
Fork River at the Forks. Vehicles which park on the site for day use 
may not block the access to the river. All motorized use in the Forks 
areas is restricted to designated routes as indicated by signs. Notice 
is also given that motorized vehicle use on all newly acquired public 
lands resulting from the Tri-State land acquisition (February, 1999) is 
hereby restricted to existing roads and trails; no off-road travel is 
allowed.

DATES: The camping closure and motorized vehicle restriction are 
effective immediately and will remain in effect until such time that 
the Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan and/or the Gunnison 
Gorge Recreation Management Area Plan is amended or revised.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This closure is established to assist the 
Bureau of Land Management in reducing problems associated with vehicle 
and camping use in the Gunnison Forks Wildlife Management area and in 
those areas adjacent to the area. The camping closure is necessary to 
prevent excessive impacts to soil, vegetation and other resources 
caused by long-term camping and inappropriate vehicle use.
    The restriction of motorized vehicle use to existing roads and 
trails in the newly acquired public lands is needed to prevent any 
resource impacts or damage which might be caused by off-road vehicle 
use. These lands contain significant scenic, recreational, watershed, 
geologic, wildlife, cultural, and other resources, including potential 
habitat for critical and/or threatened and endangered species which 
require protection from unrestricted motorized use.
    The camping closure and vehicle restrictions on the newly acquired 
public lands are consistent with the Uncompahgre Basin Resource 
Management Plan (1998), the Gunnison Gorge Recreation Area Management 
Plan (1985), and the Gunnison Forks Habitat Management Plan (1981).
    CFR Title 43, Chapter II, Part 8360, Subpart 8364.1 and Part 8340, 
Subpart

[[Page 23857]]

8341.2 provide BLM authority for the camping closure and off-road 
vehicle use restrictions.
    8360.0-7  Penalties: Violations of any regulations in these 
subparts by a member of the public are punishable by a fine not to 
exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: A map of the newly acquired public lands 
referred to in this notice and additional information concerning this 
closure and motorized vehicle restrictions may be obtained from Karen 
Tucker, Recreation Planner, Uncompahgre Field Office, 2505 South 
Townsend Ave., Montrose Colorado 80401, (970) 240-5309.

    Dated: April 28, 1999.
James Sazama,
Acting Uncompahgre Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-11101 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-M