[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 105 (Wednesday, May 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34727-34729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13545]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ-050-00-1232-PA-AZ11; 8371]


Arizona: Fee Demonstration Pilot Program Supplementary Rules; 
Yuma, Maricopa, and La Paz Counties, Arizona, and Imperial County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior

ACTION: Establish supplementary rules governing public occupancy, use, 
and conduct in areas designated by, and included in, the national Fee 
Demonstration Pilot Program.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Yuma Field Office is 
responsible for administering 1.7 million acres within southwestern 
Arizona and southeastern California. Recreational use accounts for 
several million visitor-days annually. This concentration of visitor 
use results in significant resource damage, social conflicts, and 
threats to visitor safety. In addition to the regulations which apply 
to all public lands, the following supplementary rules will apply to 
the designated fee sites within the Fee Demonstration Project Area, as 
listed below, and are designed to provide for public safety and welfare 
and to protect natural resources. The recreation sites that have been 
designated under the national Fee Demonstration Pilot Program, and for 
which these rules apply are Betty's Kitchen Watchable Wildlife and 
Interpretive Area, Squaw Lake Campground, Senator Wash Reservoir North 
Shore, Senator Wash Reservoir South Shore, Senator Wash Reservoir Boat 
Ramp and Day-Use area, Imperial Dam Long-Term Visitor Area, Oxbow 
Campground, Ehrenberg Sandbowl Off-Highway Vehicle Area, and the La 
Posa Long-Term Visitor Area. These rules will apply to the above 
identified sites and to any additional recreation sites that are 
formally added to the national Fee Demonstration Pilot Program.

Section 1: Definitions

    Disorderly Conduct: A person commits disorderly conduct when his or 
her actions disturb the public peace, offends public morals, or 
undermines safety.
    Fee Demonstration Project Area (FDPA): all lands owned by the 
United States and administrated by the Bureau of Land Management, Yuma 
Field Office that are designated and included in the National Fee 
Demonstration Pilot Program.
    Fee Use Areas: any designated and posted area within the FDPA which 
requires a fee or payment for use.
    Firearms: any loaded or unloaded pistol, rifle, shotgun, or other 
weapon which is designed to, or may be readily converted to expel a 
projectile by the ignition of a propellant, spring, or compressed air.
    Hunting: taking or attempting to take wildlife.
    Occupancy: the erecting of a tent or shelter of natural or 
synthetic material, preparing a sleeping bag, or other bedding material 
for use; or parking a motor vehicle, motor home, or trailer.
    Operator: a person who operates, drives, controls, or otherwise has 
charge of a motor vehicle or any other mechanical equipment.
    Per Day: a calendar day which starts at 12 midnight and ends at 
11:59 p.m. or on the 24 hour clock starting at 0000 hours and ending at 
2359 hours.
    Permit: a self-service fee envelop, form, window sticker, or 
written authorization from the Bureau of Land Management for the 
occupancy and/or use of the Fee Use Areas where use is

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otherwise prohibited, restricted, or regulated.
    Person: an individual, firm, corporation, society, association, 
partnership, or private or public body.
    Pet: any animal under human care.
    Possession: exercising direct physical control or dominion, with or 
without ownership, over property.
    Registered Owner: the person identified by the relevant state 
authority as being the individual to whom the motor vehicle is 
registered.
    Vehicle: any motorized vehicle capable of or designed for travel on 
or immediately over land or roadways, whether or not the vehicle is 
registered.
    Weapon: a firearm, compressed gas or spring-powered pistol or 
rifle, bow and arrow, crossbow, blowgun, sling shot explosive devise, 
or any other implement designed to discharge projectiles; also nu-
chucks, clubs, and any device modified as a striking instrument.

Section 2: Permits

    (a) Fee Use Permits must be purchased immediately upon entry. Fees 
must be pre-paid for each day of use of occupancy.
    (b) Fee Use Permits must be displayed in a clearly visible manner 
in the front windshield of the vehicle, with all required information 
completed in order to be valid.
    (c) An authorized Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officer may 
revoke without reimbursement any Fee Use Permit when the conduct of the 
permittee, permittee's family, or guests does not comply with the rules 
for use of that area or is inconsistent with the goals of BLM's Fee Use 
Permit program.
    (d) Failure to comply with all terms and conditions of the permit 
may result in the revocation of the Fee Use Permit and/or issuance of a 
criminal citation.
    (e) The operator of a vehicle is responsible for compliance with 
all requirements of the permit. In the absence of the operator, the 
registered owner of record is then responsible for compliance with all 
permit requirements.
    (f) Permits issued from any area other than the Yuma Field Office 
are not valid for occupancy or use in Fee Use Areas administered by the 
Yuma Field Office.

Section 3: Public Use and Recreation

3.1  Firearms, Fireworks and Weapons

    The following are prohibited in a Fee Use area.
    (a) Possessing or using fireworks, explosives, or blasting agents 
within the Fee Use Areas, unless otherwise approved by an authorized 
BLM officer.
    (b) Displaying, brandishing, or discharging of a firearm within the 
Fee Use Areas.

3.2  Pets

    This section does not apply to dogs used by authorized Federal, 
State, or local law enforcement officers in the performance of their 
duties.
    The following are prohibited in a Fee Use area:
    (a) Allowing a pet to make noise that is unreasonable when 
considering the location, time of day or night, and the impact on 
public land users, or after designated quiet hours.
    (b) Failure to remove waste deposited by a pet at any location 
within developed sites including campgrounds, picnic areas, parking 
areas, and visitor centers.
    (c) Allowing a pet, other than a seeing-eye dog, hearing-ear dog, 
or other animal specifically trained to assist a handicapped person, to 
enter any building or any designated swimming area operated by the 
Bureau of Land Management.
    (d) Leaving a pet unattended without adequate food, water, or 
shelter for any period of time.
    (e) Failing to maintain a dog under physical restraint at all 
times, on a tether or leash no longer than six (6) feet in length.

3.3  Alcoholic Beverages

    The use and possession of alcoholic beverages within the Fee Use 
Areas is permitted in accordance with the provisions of this section.
    The following are prohibited in a Fee Use area:
    (a) Leaving alcoholic beverages unattended and in plain view within 
a campsite.
    (b) Selling or giving an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 
years of age.
    (c) The presence by a person in the Fee Use Areas who is under the 
influence of alcohol or a controlled substance to a degree that may 
endanger oneself or another person and who causes any disturbance, or 
damages property or public land resources.

3.4  Disorderly Conduct

    The following are prohibited in a Fee Use area:
    (a) Committing any disorderly conduct (see Definitions above).
    (b) Engaging in fighting, threatening, or violent behavior.
    (c) Using language, utterances, gestures, or engaging in a display 
or act that is obscene, physically threatening or menacing, or done in 
a manner that is likely to inflict physical, mental, or emotional 
injury.
    (d) Breaching the peace in any manner which is disruptive or 
interferes with other public lands users;

3.5  Occupancy

    The Fee Use Area permittee is responsible for maintaining his/her 
campsite in a neat, orderly, and sanitary condition.
    The following are prohibited in a Fee Use area:
    (a) Failing to maintain a campsite free of trash, garbage, or waste 
on the ground.
    (b) Digging, draining, digging a ditch, or leveling the ground at a 
campsite.
    (c) Clearing, cutting, or damaging vegetation to enhance your 
campsite.
    (d) Collecting wood or other plant materials for use in a campfire 
or for any other purpose.
    (e) Failing to obtain a Fee Use Permit immediately upon entry or 
occupancy of any site within the Fee Use Area without first obtaining a 
permit.
    (f) Violating the terms or conditions of any Fee Use Permit.
    (g) Creating or sustaining unreasonable noise between the hours of 
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
    (h) Possessing or using glass beverage containers is prohibited 
within 500 feet of any waterway or swimming area.
    (i) Using paint, markers, or spray paint within any Fee Use Area 
except by authorized officials.
    (j) Possessing paint, markers, or spray paint within the Fee Use 
Area except when such containers are located in the trunk of a motor 
vehicle or some other portion of the motor vehicle which is not readily 
accessible to the operator or passengers.

3.6  State Laws Applicable

    Unless specifically addressed by regulations set forth in 43 CFR, 
it is violation of this supplementary rule to violate any law or 
provision of State law.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These supplemental rules become effective May 31, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Lowans, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, Yuma Field Office, 2555 E. Gila Ridge Road, Yuma, AZ 85365; 
(520) 317-3200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority for establishing supplementary 
rules is contained in 43 CFR 8365.1-6. These rules will be available in 
the local office having jurisdiction over the lands, sites, or 
facilities affected. Violations of these supplementary rules are 
punishable by a fine not to exceed $100,000 and/or imprisonment not to 
exceed 12 months.


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    Dated: May 19, 2000.
Gail Acheson,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-13545 Filed 5-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M