[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 165 (Thursday, August 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46708-46709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21622]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-050-1220-00-GP9-0281]


Deschutes and Crook Counties: ATV Restrictions

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District Office, DOI.

ACTION: Notice is hereby given that 30 days from the published date of 
this notice, all motorized use on public lands described legally in 
this notice is allowed only on routes designated and signed as open to 
motorized use. All other public lands including routes not signed and 
identified as open are closed to motorized use.

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Legal Description

    This closure order applies to all public lands within the entire 
area known as Cougar Butte. These public lands are located in Township 
21 South, Range 20 East, Sections 21-23, 25-27, and 36; Township 21 
South, Range 21 East, Sections 30-32; and Township 22 South, Range 21 
East, Sections 5 and 6.

General Location

    These public lands are located approximately 1-4 miles west and 
north of Hampton, Oregon in Deschutes and Crook Counties; approximately 
1-2 miles north of Highway 20; three-four miles east of Lizard Creek; 
2-6 miles west of Rhubarb Spring, west of the western boundary road of 
the Hampton Butte Wilderness Study Area. (OR-5-42). A map showing these 
public lands where motorized use is restricted is available for public 
review at the Prineville BLM office, 3050 NE Third, Prineville, OR 
97754.


[[Page 46709]]


SUMMARY: The purpose of this vehicle restriction is to limit all 
motorized use to designated routes, and limit camping to within 300 
feet of the designated route. All types of motor vehicles would be 
allowed on the first one-half mile of the designated route ending at a 
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trailhead. Camping would be allowed during 
the first one-half mile, and within 300 feet of either side of the 
route. ATV use only would be allowed to continue on the designated 
route to the fence located on the east side of Cougar Butte. No motor 
vehicle use would be allowed beyond this fence. The route would be 
clearly marked by signs and a user map would be provided at key access 
points. The need for reduced motorized use to designed routes only is 
due to resource degradation by motorized vehicles on steep slopes 
having erosive soils, trespass and adjacent private lands and 
unauthorized motorized use in the Hampton Butte Wilderness Study Area 
east of these legally described public lands.
    The creation of new vehicle routes continues to increase during 
hunting seasons. New motorized routes are created on public and 
adjacent private lands, due to limited public land acreage, rugged 
steep topography and irregular shaped public land ownership pattern.
    This designated order maintains natural and scenic values by 
limiting motorized use to designated routes and avoid unauthorized 
cross-country motorized use. More specifically, this closure restricts 
motorized use to designated routes to reduce impacts to natural values, 
including soils and vegetation, and to prevent unauthorized trespass on 
adjacent private lands.
    Exemptions to this closure order apply to administrative personnel 
or landowners accessing their property. Other exemptions to this 
closure order may be made on a case-by-case basis by the authorized 
officer. The authority for this vehicle restriction is 43 CFR 
8364.1(a): Closure and restriction orders.

Penalities

    Violation of this closure order is punishable by a fine not to 
exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months as provided 
in 43 CFR.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These supplementary rules will become effective 30 days 
from the published date of this notice, to allow for analysis of public 
comments and will remain in effect year-around until further notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Brothers/LaPine Resource Management 
Plan/Record of Decision was finalized July 1989. Public lands 
surrounding Cougar Butte were designated as Open for motorized use, so 
cross-country vehicle use was allowed. North of Hampton, Oregon, 
Motorized vehicle use in the Hampton Butte and Cougar Well Wilderness 
Study Areas are restricted to existing routes. User maps at key access 
points into both these WSAs identify routes open to motorized use. All 
other routes and public lands in both WSAs are closed year-round to 
motorized use.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Berry Phelps, BLM Prineville District 
Office, P.O. Box 550, Prineville, Oregon 97754 or call 541-416-6700.

    Dated: August 9, 1999.
James L. Hancock,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-21622 Filed 8-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M