[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 57903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27704]



[[Page 57903]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-680-99-2822-00-D889]


Closure and Restriction Orders

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, (BLM) Interior.

ACTION: Emergency closure of certain public lands to human entry in the 
Juniper Flats area, San Bernardino County, California.

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SUMMARY: Public lands in the Juniper Flats area are closed to human 
entry from October 17, 1999 to July 1, 2000. Closed are approximately 
16,000 acres burned in the Willow fire. You are not to enter the closed 
area by any means of access, including but not limited to: motor 
vehicles, OHVs, equestrian, bike or foot traffic. The closure protects 
persons, property, soil, cultural resources, vegetation, wildlife, and 
wildlife habitat.

DATES: This closure order goes into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, 
October 17, 1999 and shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on 
Saturday, July 1, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Read, Barstow Field Office 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 
92311; or call (760) 252-6000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Saturday August 28th, the Willow Fire 
started on U.S. Forest Service lands adjacent to BLM lands in the 
Juniper Flats area. The fire burned 63,486 acres, including 
approximately 16,000 acres of BLM land. Natural resources comprising 
the local ecosystems were extensively damaged by the fire. The 
vegetative cover was burned away leaving bare soils exposed and 
vulnerable to erosion. The loss of vegetation has also stressed 
wildlife populations by reducing available cover and forage.
    The fire damaged cultural resources, soils, vegetation, wildlife, 
and wildlife habitat. As a result these resources are extremely 
sensitive to further impacts from human activity. We are closing the 
area to prevent disturbances to these types of sensitive resources. By 
preventing disturbances we will help avoid excessive soil erosion and 
loss, vegetative damage, wildlife mortality, riparian area degradation, 
destruction of fences, and water quality impacts. Temporarily closing 
the area provides a protected environment for natural systems to begin 
recovering. A successful recovery is needed to sustain the long term 
health of the land.
    In general, the closed public lands are east of Deep Creek Road, 
south of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe rail lines, west of Highway 
18, and north of Deep Creek. The authority for this closure is 43 CFR 
8364.1, 18 U.S.C. 3571. This closure only applies to those portions of 
the following sections burned during the Willow Fire: San Bernardino 
Base and Meridian, T.3N. R.1W. sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; T.3N. R.2W. 
sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; T.3N. R.3W. sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12; T.4N. R.1W. sections 31 and 32; T.4N. R.2W. 
sections 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35; T.4N. R.3W. sections 
21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35. If you fail 
to comply with this closure order you may be fined up to $100,000.00 or 
be imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both.
    You are exempt from this closure if you are engaged in one of these 
activities: law enforcement, emergency services, government business, 
or work to maintain utilities and infrastructure. You may be exempt if 
permitted by a BLM Authorizing Officer. You and your guests are exempt 
to access your residence or property if it is within the closed area. 
This closure only affects public lands. County roads and segments of 
roads through private lands are unaffected. You are exempt to use the 
portion of Bowen Ranch Road that is a County road. The exempt portion 
crosses public lands in section 31 of T.4N. R.2W., and sections 1, 11 
and 12 of T.3N. R.3W., ending at the boundary of the Bowen Ranch.
    Two previous closures provided immediate protection for the burned 
area. While those closures were in effect a long term rehabilitation 
strategy was developed. The strategy is contained in a report compiled 
by the fire rehabilitation team. The closure is being re-issued as part 
of the rehabilitation strategy. Our intent is to protect the damaged 
natural systems through at least the first growing season. The growing 
season runs from the fall to the spring. This is when there is 
sufficient rainfall for the vegetation to grow. The recovery effort 
will be evaluated next spring to determine if the closure needs to be 
re-issued again.
Tim Read,
BLM, Barstow Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-27704 Filed 10-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M