[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5656-5657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2513]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-190-98-1610-AF-24-1A]


Notice of Emergency Closure Policy and Procedures for Public 
Lands Managed by the Hollister Field Office, California

AGENCY:  Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of Proposed Implementation Policy for Emergency 
Closures on an As Needed Basis for Public Lands Administered by the 
Hollister Field Office, California.

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SUMMARY:  In order to facilitate emergency operations and protect 
resources in the event of severe seasonal storms and/or natural 
disasters, the Hollister Field Officer is hereby serving notice that it 
will be adopting an emergency closure policy to be enacted on an as-
needed basis when basic criteria are met. The closure will be invoked 
or lifted in public media such as Information Hot Lines, Press 
Releases, and on-the-ground postings. The lands covered by this 
emergency closure policy include all public lands administered by the 
Hollister Field Office. Public notices in the media and on recording 
information will specify which public lands will be temporarily closed, 
and will reflect local conditions. One of the following criteria shall 
be met: (1) State, County or Federal road access to the area is closed 
or restricted to residents and emergency personnel; (2) BLM or 
emergency response personnel cannot access and/or perform their duties 
in a given location; (3) Roads or trails are saturated with moisture to 
the point where vehicle traffic causes ruts or bogs leading to 
increased erosion. See attached moisture criteria supplement sheet.
    The above policy is intended to allow the BLM flexibility in 
implementing emergency closure while also utilizing the most time-
effective method of notifying the public. This will also facilitate 
management to minimize threats to public health and safety, as well as 
the potential for resource damage. Any time the closure policy is 
enacted, the following persons will be exempt:
    (1) Federal, State, or Local Law Enforcement Officers, while 
engaged in the execution of their official duties.
    (2) BLM personnel or their representatives while engaged in the 
execution of their official duties.
    (3) Any member of an organized rescue, fire-fighting force, 
Emergency Medical Services organization while in the performance and 
execution of an official duty.
    (4) Any member of a federal, state, or local public works 
department while in the performance of an official duty.
    (5) Any person in receipt of a written authorization of exemption 
obtained from the Hollister Field Office.
    (6) Local landowners, persons with valid existing rights or lease 
operations, or representatives thereof, who have a responsibility or 
need to access their property or to continue their operations on public 
land.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This policy will become effective March 6, 2000, and 
shall remain in effect until rescinded or modified by the Authorized 
Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  These closures and restrictions are under 
the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1 and 43 CFR 8341.2. Persons violating 
this closure shall be subject to the penalties provided in 43 CFR 
8360.0-7 and 8340.0-7, including a fine not to exceed $100,000 and/or 
imprisonment not to exceed 12 months. Parties exempt from the closure 
action shall be responsible for mitigating any resource damage caused 
by entering the closed area. Waivers can be granted for emergency 
circumstances, however in the event an emergency is caused by a 
negligent action, the responsible party would then be responsible for 
the mitigation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Manager, Hollister Field Office, 
20 Hamilton Court, Hollister, CA 95024, (831) 630-5000.


[[Page 5657]]


    Dated: January 19, 2000.
Robert E. Beehler,
Hollister Field Manager.

Supplemental Soil Moisture Closure Criteria

Clear Creek Management Area
    No action would be taken until the annual total precipitation 
exceeds 8 inches, the rain year would be the same as that used by the 
national weather service and rainfall data would be from the California 
Water Resources Board, nearest available rain gage. Once 8 inches of 
precipitation has been exceeded, the following would apply. Additional 
rainfall exceeding \1/2\ inch within a 24 hour period, or 1 inch within 
a 72 hour period would result in a 3 day closure. Once the area has 
been closed a field inspection will be completed prior to reopening, 
and daily thereafter to determine suitability of road conditions. When 
recorded field observations show that road and trail surfaces have not 
dried sufficiently to allow traffic without damage to the surface, the 
area shall remain closed. Closure criteria may be amended or refined as 
results of area closures are evaluated. Specific criteria may be 
developed for other areas as needed.

[FR Doc. 00-2513 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-U