[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23854-23855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11102]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-030-1310-01]


Emergency Closure of the Bennett Ranch 3-d Seismic Project Area 
To Off-road Travel, Otero County, New Mexico

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 the area that 
was recently the site of the Bennett Ranch 3-d Seismic Project. Off-
road vehicle use is limited to designated roads and trails except for 
administrative purposes. This closure extends to both motorized and 
non-

[[Page 23855]]

motorized vehicles. This action is taken to aid in the recovery of 
vegetation from the impacts of a recently completed 3-d Seismic Project 
which left many tracks of mashed vegetation in the grassland. There is 
concern that future traffic could follow these tracks, damaging the 
grassland and creating undesired new roads. 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. 25 S., R. 12 E.,
    Secs. 33 through 36.
T. 25 S., R. 13 E.,
    Sec. 31.
T. 26 S., R. 12 E.,
    Secs. 1, 3, 4, 9 through 15, 21 through 28 and 33 through 35.
T. 26 S., R. 13 E.,
    Secs. 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31.

DATES: This closure is effective April 9, 1999 and shall remain in 
effect until rescinded or modified by the authorized officer. This 
closure will be rescinded once the vegetation has substantially 
recovered from the impacts of the seismic project.

ADDRESSES: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell Jentgen, Geologist, at the 
address above or call (505) 525-4351.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Violations of this closure are punishable by 
fines not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 1 year.
    The Bennett Ranch 3-d Seismic Project was conducted by Geco-Prakla 
between March 20 and April 8, 1999. The project included a limited 
amount of off-road travel by large vibrator buggies and support 
vehicles along designated lines of travel. This off-road travel was 
restricted to only that which was absolutely necessary to meet the 
objectives of normal 3-d seismic exploration for oil and gas. The off-
road vehicles used on this project were all equipped with oversize low 
pressure tires to minimize impacts to soil and vegetation.
    This off-road travel has left linear tracks of mashed vegetation 
which are expected to recover completely after seasonal summer 
rainfall. However, these tracks are attractive pathways for additional 
traffic in an area where few roads exist. To prevent the creation of 
new and undesired roads on these tracks and to prevent long-term damage 
to the vegetation, it is essential that no additional off-road traffic 
follow these tracks giving the vegetation an opportunity to recover. 
Geco-Prakla will post signs along all roads entering the closure to 
inform drivers of this restriction. The tracks will be monitored by the 
BLM to determine when recovery is sufficient to rescind this closure.

    Dated: April 28, 1999.
Linda S. C. Rundell,
Field Manager, Las Cruces.
[FR Doc. 99-11102 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P