[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36396-36397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16988]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-330-7123-00-6067]


Samoa Dunes Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Establishment of supplementary rules.

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SUMMARY: The primary purpose of these supplementary rules is the 
enhancement of public safety and the protection of natural resources 
within and around the public lands commonly known as the Samoa Dunes 
Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area. Both areas have been 
designated for the primary use of off-highway vehicles. Potential 
safety hazards to pedestrians and off-highway vehicles were identified, 
mainly due to the poor visibility of off-highway vehicles utilizing the 
dunes, trails and roads of these areas. The use of whip masts and 
flags, to enhance off-highway vehicle visibility, would greatly reduce 
the potential for accidents involving off-highway vehicles. The 
supplementary rule requiring whip masts and flags has been worded to 
complement and be consistent with a similar Bureau of Land Management 
regulation being used at the Imperial Dunes Recreation Area, El Centro, 
California (Federal Register/Vol. 53, No. 192, page 38953, Tuesday, 
October 4, 1988) and a similar State regulation affecting the Pismo 
Dunes Recreation (14 CFR 4609.1(c)).
    Also, off-highway vehicles have been willfully disregarding signs, 
fences and other similar interpretive/physical barriers erected to 
prevent off-highway vehicles from entering sensitive biological areas 
and adjacent areas of private property. The prohibition against vehicle 
barrier violations will serve to protect and preserve public and 
private property concerns.
    In addition to the regulations contained in 43 CFR Part 8340, 8341, 
8343, 8365 and 9268, the California Vehicle Code and additional 
supplementary rules established by the Arcata Field Office, the 
following supplementary rules shall apply to the Samoa Dunes Recreation 
Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area:
    1. Safety flags, whips and masts: All off-highway motor vehicles 
registered under California Vehicle Code Section 38010 or other off-
road vehicles, as defined in 43 CFR 8340.0-5(a) shall be equipped with 
a whip, which is any pole, rod, mast or antenna, that is securely 
mounted on the vehicle and which extends at least eight (8) feet from 
the surface of the ground when the vehicle is stopped. When the vehicle 
is stopped, the whip shall be capable of standing upright when 
supporting the weight of any attached flags. At least one whip attached 
to each vehicle shall have a solid red or orange colored safety flag 
with a minimum size of six (6) inches by twelve (12) inches and be 
attached within ten (10) inches to the top of the whip. Flags may be of 
pennant, triangle, square or rectangular shape. Club or other flags may 
be mounted below the safety flag or on a separate whip.
    2. Vehicle Barriers: Taking any vehicle through, around, or beyond 
any structure, restrictive sign, recognizable barricade, fence, gate or 
traffic control barrier is prohibited. These actions affect 
approximately 412 acres of public land located in the Samoa Dunes 
Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes

[[Page 36397]]

Riding Area (T.5N., R.1W., Section 31 and T.5N., R.1W., Section 30/31, 
Humboldt Meridian).

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Cann, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, or Michael Dodson, Law Enforcement Ranger, Bureau of Land 
Management, Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, California 
95521, (707) 825-2300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority for establishing supplementary 
rules is contained in 43 CFR 8365.1-6. Copies of these rules will be 
available in the Arcata Field Office. These rules will also be posted 
near and/or within the lands, sites or facilities affected in the Samoa 
Dunes Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area. Violations of 
supplementary rules established under authority of 43 CFR 8365.1-6 are 
punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000 and/or imprisonment not to 
exceed 12 months, under authority of 43 CFR 8360.7.
Daniel Averill,
Acting Arcata Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-16988 Filed 7-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P