[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39923-39924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16145]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-680-00-1220-HQ]


Supplemental Rule Restricting Recreational Shooting to Protect 
Human Health and Safety in a Portion of Wonder Valley, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, Barstow 
Field Office, Desert District, California.

ACTION: On those public lands administered by the BLM and located 
within T.1 N., R.10 E., Sec 5 S\1/2\ and Sec 8 N\1/2\, San Bernardino 
Meridian, it is prohibited to fire any firearm. This supplemental rule 
does not affect the legitimate and legal pursuit of game or the 
discharge of a firearm for purposes of personal protection.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Title 43, Code of Federal Regulations 
Section 8365.1-6 the State Director may establish supplementary rules 
in order to provide for the protection of persons, property and public 
lands and resources. This authority was delegated to the District 
Managers and Field Managers pursuant to BLM Manual 1203, California 
Supplement.
    Penalties: Failure to comply with this supplementary rule is 
punishable by a

[[Page 39924]]

fine not to exceed $100,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed twelve 
months.

DATES: The supplemental rule will take effect at midnight, August 1, 
2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This supplemental rule was proposed to 
create a safer environment for residents living in northwestern Wonder 
Valley. Residents have complained that rounds from gunfire originating 
on public land has either caused property damage or nearly caused human 
injury. During a sixty-day comment period and an open house, many 
legitimate concerns regarding shooting in Wonder Valley surfaced. 
Comments received spanned the gamut between closing all of Wonder 
Valley to all shooting and taking no action. Consensus was, that by 
closing the 640-acres surrounding the Valle Vista uncontrolled shooting 
area in northwest Wonder Valley to shooting, the safety concerns of 
nearby citizens could be met while allowing recreational shooting to 
continue in other portions of Wonder Valley. The user group for the 
Valle Vista site will be redirected to controlled ranges or dispersed 
to contiguous blocks of public land on the fringes of Wonder Valley. 
This supplemental rule will not infringe upon Constitutional rights of 
an individual to own or possess a lawful firearm. The environmental 
effects of the suppelemntal rule have been analyzed separately by 
Environmental Assessment CA-680-00-29.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: BLM Barstow Field Office, 2601 
Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92231, telephone (760) 252-6000

Tim Read,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-16145 Filed 6-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M