[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 16410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7551]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-020-00-1220-00]


Notice of Closure of Public Lands

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Closure of Certain Public Lands in Box Elder County, 
Utah to Off Road Vehicle Use.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that effective immediately, selected 
public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Salt 
Lake Field Office, within western Box Elder County are closed to off 
road vehicle (ORV) (also commonly referred to as off highway vehicle--
OHV) use on an interim emergency basis. This action will allow BLM to 
address concerns related to unrestricted cross country travel in the 
specific places where we now have resource damage. The purpose of this 
closure is to protect wildlife, wildlife habitat, rangeland resources, 
soil, vegetation, cultural resources, historical resources, and other 
resources from ongoing and imminent adverse impacts from ORV use. 
Exemptions to this closure will apply for administrative and management 
purposes for the Bureau of Land Management, BLM authorized permittees, 
and law enforcement personnel. Other exemptions to this closure order 
may be made on a case by case basis by the authorized officer. This 
emergency closure will remain in effect until BLM completes a land use 
plan amendment for OHV management.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alice Stephenson, Environmental 
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 S. 
2300 W., Salt Lake City, UT 84119, telephone (801) 977-4300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As an interim measure, BLM is joining Box 
Elder County, the U.S. Forest Service and the State of Utah Sovereign 
Lands in imposing restrictions for OHV use on public lands in western 
Box Elder County. The BLM is temporarily closing selected public lands 
to off highway vehicle use consistent with the County's access road 
management plan and related map. The new restrictions for public lands, 
which are identified on the map, include full closure of very limited 
lands, seasonal closures of specific lands and closures to cross 
country travel for certain lands. This plan was adopted on July 7, 
1998, by the Box Elder County Commission as Ordinance No. 222 which 
applies to western Box Elder County. This ordinance is the product of 
recommendations made by the West Box Elder Access Management Team with 
extensive public involvement and support from BLM, State Sovereign 
Lands, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). With this interim emergency 
action, BLM joins the County, USFS and State Sovereign Lands in 
providing consistent OHV management in western Box Elder County 
regardless of land ownership. Without this action, and because all 
other lands in western Box Elder County have OHV restrictions, BLM 
public lands, which are currently open to OHV use without restriction, 
would be subject to increasing impacts from OHV use. These closures are 
a temporary action to protect public lands and resources until BLM 
completes the proposed plan amendment for off-highway vehicle 
designations for public lands in Box Elder County, Notice of Intent 
published April 15, 1997. Imposing the OHV use restrictions will 
protect wildlife, wildlife habitat, soil, vegetation, cultural 
resources, historical resources, and other resources from damage by 
off-highway vehicles (OHVs). This closure shall not be construed as a 
limitation on BLM's future planning and off-highway vehicle route 
designations.
    The referenced map and ordinance is available for review at the 
above address and at the Box Elder County Mapping Department.
    The authority for this closure is 43 CFR 8341.2 and 43 CFR 8364.1. 
Violations of this closure are punishable by a fine not to exceed 
$1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months as provided in 43 
CFR 8360.0-7.

Sally Wisely,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-7551 Filed 3-27-00; 8:45 am]
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