[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27804-27805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12809]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[ID-036-1210-00]


Notice of Recreation Use Restrictions and Regulations for Egin 
Lakes Access and Red Road Recreation Sites Adjacent and Within the Sand 
Mountain Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of recreation use restrictions for Egin Lakes Access and 
Red Road recreation sites adjacent and within the Sand Mountain WSA, 
Idaho.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with Title 43 Group 8000-
Recreation Programs, and in accordance with the principles established 
by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, that certain lands located in and 
adjacent to the Sand Mountain WSA which includes the area known as the 
St. Anthony Sand Dunes Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) in 
Fremont and Jefferson Counties, Idaho have recreation use restrictions 
placed upon them. Actions are implemented under the authority of 43 CFR 
8364.

DATES: Effective date: May 26, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District, Idaho 
Falls Field Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401, 
telephone (208) 524-7500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The WSA is 21,000 acres of public land that 
has current vehicle and recreation use restrictions within it that were 
established through the Federal Register on August 13, 1992. Both the 
WSA and SRMA are within the Egin-Hamer Winter Seasonal Closure Area 
established through the Federal Register on December 16, 1997.
    Recreation use in the SRMA has increased nearly 1000% from an 
estimated 14,000 visits in FY84 to over 136,000 visits in FY 98. The 
Egin Lakes Access Site alone recorded over 72,000 visits in which over 
20,000 visitors were campers using the undeveloped camping area or the 
developed parking lot to camp. Use along the Red Road where there are 
numerous undeveloped recreation sites recorded over 24,000 visits in 
which over 2000 visitors were overnight campers.
    Open campfire sites inside the Sand Mountain WSA but outside the 
Red Road Open Sand Campfire Area have increased tremendously in the 
last few years, especially around major access routes onto the open 
sand and around Dry Lake Bed (Hidden Lake) causing degradation of the 
natural values of the area. The last few years have also had non-
traditional dispersed recreation uses occur on Hidden Lake which is a 
dry lake bed in the winter but has water throughout the spring, summer, 
and fall seasons. Snowmobile and Personal Water Craft users have been 
using the lake in the summer for water craft skimming. This activity 
has created safety problems to other recreation users along the lake 
shore and in the water. These uses were not present at the time the 
roadless inventory for wilderness values was conducted by the BLM 
during 1970s and are not considered a type of primitive and unconfined 
recreation use for a wilderness characteristic.
    To reduce the litter and debris left in open campfires causing 
safety problems to recreation users, the degrading of natural values of 
the area and prohibiting non-primitive type of recreation activities 
inside the WSA, the following restrictions will be implemented and 
apply to the Sand Mountain WSA: 1) Open campfires are prohibited inside 
the Sand Mountain WSA except in the designated Red Road Open Sand 
Campfire Area; 2) Use of personal water craft or any other motorized 
vehicle or craft is prohibited on any body of water inside the WSA.
    Use in the developed and undeveloped recreation sites and areas 
surrounding and within the WSA have increased over 20% the last three 
years. The use has created public safety and

[[Page 27805]]

natural environment concerns within these sites and areas.
    To reduce these public safety and natural environment concerns in 
these sites and areas, the following restrictions are to be 
implemented: (1) Quiet hours within the Egin Lakes Access Site and Red 
Road Recreation Area is from 11pm until 7am; (2) The burning of any 
foreign material other than wood in all camp fires is prohibited 
throughout the St. Anthony Sand Dunes SRMA. Prohibited material 
includes but not limited to pallets, treated lumber, tires, glass, 
aluminum, etc.; (3) Engaging in fighting; (4) Addressing any offensive, 
derisive, or annoying communication that has a direct tendency to cause 
acts of violence by the person to whom, individually, the remark is 
addressed.
    Maps of the areas where the restrictions and regulations apply will 
be available at the Idaho Falls Field Office. Signs with the rules and 
regulations will be posted at all entrances into the WSA as well as at 
the recreation sites and areas. The new rules and regulations will 
incorporated into the existing St. Anthony Sand Dunes and Sand Mountain 
WSA information flyer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Boggs, Bureau of Land Management, 
Upper Snake River District, Idaho Falls Field Office, 1405 Hollipark 
Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401, (208) 524-7527.

    Dated: May 13, 1999.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-12809 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
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