[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81881-81882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33016]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-660-00-7123-HA]


Restrictions on Use of Public Lands

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs-South Coast Field 
Office, Desert District, California, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice-temporary closure of public lands to motorized vehicles.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with title 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 
subpart 8341.2(a), notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) prohibits persons from operating motor vehicles on 
public lands within the Windy Point areas, Riverside County. The public 
lands hereby closed to motorized vehicles include all such lands within 
\1/4\ E Section 14, Section 22, Section 23, and W \1/2\ / NE \1/4\ 
Section 24, Township 3S, Range 3E. This closure shall be in effect 
year-round from January 31, 2001 until completion of the Coachella 
Valley Multiple Species Habitat and Natural Communities Conservation 
Management Plan, which addresses all aspects of the habitat use, 
including any restrictions to motorized vehicles.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 25, 1980, the U.S. Department 
of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the Coachella 
Valley Fringe-toed Lizard (CVFTL), as ``threatened'' under the 
authority of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended. The 
State of California Fish and Game Commission designated the CVFTL as 
``endangered''. These listings were prompted by the USFWS, California 
Department of Fish and Game, and CVFTL biologists/researchers' concerns 
that the lizards' historical range was being rapidly reduced by 
agricultural and urban development, along with the presence of off-
highway vehicles.
    The CVFTL is specially adapted to live in an environment of wind 
blown (aeolian) sand. The lizard's body shape, such as wedge-shaped 
nose and fringed toes, allow it to run easily over the sand and into 
loose surface to evade predators or the heat of the desert surface. In 
addition, insects and some plant material in the blowsand

[[Page 81882]]

ecosystem provide food for the CVFTL. As human population in the 
Coachella Valley grows, the protection of windblown sand dunes become 
increasingly important for CVFTL habitat and survival.
    The CVMV was listed as endangered by the USFWS in October 1998 
under the authority of the ESA of 1973, as amended. The CVMV has not 
been listed by the State of California under its Endangered Species 
Act.
    The CVMV occurs primarily on areas of loose windblown sand in the 
Coachella Valley. It is an annual or short-lived perennial plant. The 
plant is highly ephemeral in nature with growth highly dependent on 
rainfall patterns. Much of the plant's original habitat has been lost 
to agricultural, residential, and business development. Remaining 
habitat is threatened by these impacts as well as by OHVs, exotic plant 
invasion and wind farms.
    The CVFTL is intimately associated with its habitat, virtually any 
activity which disturbs or destroys habitat will almost certainly 
destroy individual lizards. A similar relationship exists for the CVMV 
and the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard (FTHL). In addition, other rare 
animals, such as the Palm Springs pocket mouse, Coachella Valley/Palm 
Springs ground squirrel, Coachella Valley Jerusalem cricket and 
Coachella giant sand treader cricket, which have adapted to living in 
actively moving sand would also be protected if this closure were 
implemented.
    It was determined by the BLM that the venue for addressing the 
management of OHVs in the Windy Point area is the CVMSHCP, which is 
currently in development.
    Any person who fails to comply with this order may be subject to 
the penalties provided in 43 CFR 8360.0-7.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Atkinson, BLM, Palm Springs-
South Coast Field Office, P.O. Box 1260, North Palm Springs, CA 92258, 
telephone 760-251-4824.
    Gavin Wright, BLM, Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, P.O. Box 
1260, North Palm Springs, CA 92258, telephone 760-251-4855.

    Dated: November 28, 2000.
James G. Kenna,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-33016 Filed 12-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-U