[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42712-42713]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17392]


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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: Implement an emergency closure of certain public lands in the 
Juniper Flats area, San Bernardino County, California.

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SUMMARY: In a previous Federal Register Notice, Public lands in the 
Juniper Flats area were closed to human entry. Approximately 16,000 
acres burned in the Willow fire were closed from October 17, 1999 to 
July 1, 2000. The closed area is not to be entered by any means of 
access unless addressed by the closure described below. This closure 
exempts human access (mechanized, motorized, equestrian, foot) within 
the confines of routes signed as open. No travel of any kind is 
authorized other than on these signed open routes. This closure also 
exempts non-mechanized access on the signed trail leading from the 
southernmost portion of the Bowen Ranch property, across BLM land, 
referred to as the ``upper parking lot'', to the Forest Service 
trailhead, referred to as the ``lower parking lot'', which leads to the 
Deep Creek Hot Springs.

DATES: This closure goes into effect at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, 
2000 and shall remain in effect until 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 
2001, unless non-compliance dictates an entire closure.

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 28, 1999, 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 affected 
public land has been closed to human entry since the fire, with the 
exception of foot travel on the hiking trail from Bowen Ranch to the 
Forest Service Trail leading to the Deep Creek Hot Springs. Although 
the landscape remains barren in many locations, treatments have been 
completed on several routes, including the installation of open route 
signs which should guide visitors over a temporary designated network 
of routes. This closure still allows for non-mechanized access on the 
trail leading to the Deep Creek Hot Springs. The trail is well marked 
and is located in T.3N. R.3W. Section 11. This closure also allows 
human, equestrian, mechanized, and motorized travel within the confines 
of signed open routes.
    In general, the closed public lands are east of Deep Creek Road, 
south of the Atchison Topeka and Sante Fe rail lines, west of 
California 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. R1W. sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; 
T.3N. R.2W. sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; T.3N.

[[Page 42713]]

R3W. 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. Failure to comply with this closure order may result 
in a fine up to $100,000.00 or imprisonment up to 12 months, or both.
    The only exemptions to this closure include the following 
activities: Law enforcement, emergency services, government business, 
or work to maintain utilities and infrastructure. Other specific 
exemptions may be permitted by the BLM Authorizing Officer.

Harold Johnson,
Acting Field Manager, BLM, Barstow Field Office.
[FR Doc. 00-17392 Filed 7-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M