[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6653-6655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1727]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-074-1220-PA-241A]


Notice of Proposed Closure of Certain Lands to Off-Highway 
Vehicle Use to Implement the Medicine Lodge Resource Management Plan, 
and Big Desert Management Framework Plan, Upper Snake River District, 
Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
SUMMARY: The Idaho Falls Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
proposes to close or seasonally restrict certain public lands in the 
Upper Snake River District, Idaho, to use by motor vehicles, including 
off-highway vehicles, snowmobiles and other snow machines under BLM's 
off-highway vehicle regulations. The notice affects lands covered by 
two land use plans and several activity level plans. The Medicine Lodge 
Resource Management Plan and the Big Desert Management Framework Plan 
described certain lands as ``Closed to Off Highway Vehicles,'' and 
classified others as ``Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized.'' The purpose of 
these proposed closures is to manage the specified lands to protect 
watershed, wildlife, and scenic values from damage caused by off-
highway vehicle use, and to prevent undue and unnecessary disturbance 
to big game populations migrating to crucial winter range habitat.

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the appropriate address 
below on or before February 21, 2001. BLM will not necessarily consider 
any comments received after that date in making its decisions on the 
final order.

ADDRESSES: Anyone wishing to make comments may submit them in person or 
by mail to the Field Manager, BLM Idaho Falls Field Office, 1405 
Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401-2100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Comment Procedure

    Your comments on the proposed closure order should be specific, 
should be confined to issues pertinent to the proposed closure order, 
and should explain the reason for any recommended change. Where 
possible, your comments should refer to the specific section or 
paragraph of the proposal or to the specific tract of land that you are 
addressing. BLM may not necessarily consider or include in the 
Administrative Record for the final closure order comments that BLM 
receives after the close of the comment period or comments delivered to 
an address other than those listed above.
    BLM will make your comments, including your name and address, 
available for public review at the Idaho Falls Field Office during 
regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays). Under certain conditions, BLM may keep your 
personal information confidential. You must prominently state your 
request for confidentiality at the beginning of your comment. BLM will 
consider withholding your name, street address, and other identifying 
information on a case-by-case basis to the extent allowed by law. BLM 
will make available to the public all submissions from organizations 
and businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses.

II. Background

    The authority for these closures is 43 CFR 8342.2(c), which directs 
BLM to ``* * * take action by marking and other appropriate measures to 
identify designated areas and trails so that the public will be aware 
of locations and limitations applicable thereto. The authorized officer 
shall make appropriate informational material, including maps, 
available for public review.''
    The proposed closures implement the Medicine Lodge Resource 
Management Plan (RMP), the Big Desert Management Framework Plan (MFP) 
and associated activity level plans include the Sands Habitat 
Management Plan, Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area Plan, and the Snake 
River Activity/Operations Plan, and will remain in effect permanently 
with the publication of the final notice. This notice identifies by 
legal land description the precise areas that are closed to implement 
the plans.
    There are several closure areas identified in the Medicine Lodge 
RMP. This notice only deals with the Tex Creek/Willow Creek, Big Bend 
Ridge, and Stinking Springs areas as well as river bottoms along the 
South Fork of the Snake River. The Big Desert MFP has identified a 
critical wildlife area along the main stem of the Snake River below 
Idaho Falls, Idaho.
    The Tex Creek and Willow Creek areas are crucial wildlife areas 
lying east of Idaho Falls, Idaho. A majority of the lands are included 
in the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area and are cooperatively managed 
with Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game and Bureau of Reclamation lands.
    The closure affecting the Big Bend Ridge area implements the Sands 
Habitat Management Plan. An objective of this plan is to minimize the 
degree of harassment of elk due to human activity within the habitat 
management plan boundaries from November 15 to April 15 of the next 
year annually. Within the overall area, a seasonal ``No Human Entry'' 
closure is already in effect from January 1 through April 30 of each 
year throughout the majority of the wintering big game range. This 
closure notice would cover the transition area or migration route to 
the winter range and protect the habitat from OHV use. The established 
designated routes across public land along Fourth of July Creek, 
Saddorous Hill, and Hidden Reservoir/Jackson Mill roads will remain 
open.
    Areas along the South Fork of the Snake River includes the Stinking 
Springs area and critical floodplain river bottom lands. The Snake 
River Activity/Operations Plan restricted OHV use to a

[[Page 6654]]

few existing roads and trails such as the Stinking Springs Trail. The 
river bottom lands are experiencing increases in new OHV trails. BLM 
considers these lands sensitive riparian habitat areas. Therefore, BLM 
needs to restrict OHV use on these lands.
    Under the authority and for the reasons stated in the Background 
section, the Idaho Falls Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 
issues the following closure notice.

Closure of Certain Public Lands in the Upper Snake River District 
to Motor Vehicle Use

Tex Creek/Willow Creek Area

    Effective (30 days after the date of publication of final closure 
order in the Federal Register), Bureau of Land Management (BLM)--
administered public lands located in the Tex Creek/Willow Creek area, 
described below, that are designated as ``Closed to Off Highway 
Vehicles (OHV)'' or ``Semi Primitive Non-motorized'' in the Medicine 
Lodge Resource Management Plan are closed to motor vehicle use, 
including off highway vehicles (OHV) and snow machines. The only 
exceptions to this closure are administrative use of vehicles by the 
Bureau of Land Management and use by BLM permittees, including State 
and local government agencies. The area is bounded generally by the 
Bone Road on the west, Caribou National Forest on the east, the 
Bonneville and Bingham County lines on the south, and Ririe Reservoir 
to the north, and is located within the Tex Creek Wildlife Management 
Area. The legal description of the lands is as follows:

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 1 N., R. 40 E.,
    Sec. 1, W\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, S\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, Lots 3 and 4, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, W\1/2\ 
SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, E\1/2\ SE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, W\1/2\ SW\1/4\, N\1/2\ NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, E\1/2\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, W\1/2\, W\1/2\ SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, E\1/2\ E\1/2\;
    Sec. 19, N\1/2\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 28, N\1/2\ NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SW\1/
4\ SW\1/4\, W\1/2\ SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, N\1/2\ N\1/2\;
    Sec. 32, Lots 1 and 2, N\1/2\ SE\1/4\, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\, NE/14 
NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, Lots 1-4, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, W\1/2\ 
NW\1/4\, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\, N\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\.
T. 1 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 7, Lots 2 and 3, SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, SW\1/4\, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 15, SE\1/4\, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 17, NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, W\1/2\, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\.
T. 2 N., R. 40 E.,
    Sec. 23, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, NE\1/
4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 25, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, W\1/2\ SE\1/4\.
T. 2 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 35, SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\.
T. 1 S., R. 40 E.,
    Sec. 2, SW\1/4\, S\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 3, Lot 1, E\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, E\1/2\ NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, E\1/2\, NW\1/4\, N\1/2\ SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, SW\1/4\, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\, S\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 13, E\1/2\, E\1/2\ W\1/2\;
    Sec. 24, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\ SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 25, W\1/2\ NE\1/4\.
T. 1 S., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 7, Lots 3 and 4;
    Sec. 18, Lots 1-4;
    Sec. 19, Lots 1-4, SE\1/4\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\, 
SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\ SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, E\1/2\E\1/2\.
T. 1 S., R. 42 E.,
    Sec. 18, NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, N\1/2\ SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SE\1/
4\.

Stinking Springs

    Effective (30 days after the date of publication of final closure 
order in the Federal Register), Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-
administered public lands located in the Stinking Springs area north of 
the South Fork of the Snake River near Heise, Idaho, described below, 
are closed to motor vehicle use, including off-highway vehicles (OHV) 
and snow machines. The only exceptions to this closure are 
administrative use of vehicles by the Bureau of Land Management and use 
by BLM permittees, including State and local government agencies. The 
Stinking Springs Trail shall remain open to all modes of travel from 4/
15 to 11/15 of each year. Snow machines and full size passenger 
vehicles are prohibited year round. The area is bounded generally by 
the South Fork of the Snake River on the south and west, the Kelly 
Canyon Road and Targhee National Forest on the north and east. The 
legal description of the lands is as follows:

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 4 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 32, SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, and lands east of the Kelly 
Canyon Road in the NE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NE\1/
4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, All.
T. 3 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 2, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 3, All;
    Sec. 4, SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\ SW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 5, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, Lots 6 and 8;
    Sec. 9, Lots 2 and 3, NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 10, NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, 
SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, Lot 2, N\1/2\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, Lots 7 and 8, NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 16, Lots 5 and 6.

Big Bend Ridge

    Effective (30 days after the date of publication of final closure 
order in the Federal Register), BLM-administered public lands located 
in the Rattlesnake-Box Canyon, July Creek and Blue Creek areas, 
described below, are closed to motor vehicle use, including off-highway 
vehicles (OHV) and snow machines from October 1 to December 31 of each 
year, except on designated roads. The only exceptions to this closure 
are administrative use of vehicles by the Bureau of Land Management and 
use by BLM permittees, including State and local government agencies. 
The area is bounded by the Targhee National Forest on the east and 
north, Ashton Reservoir on the south, and the Sand Creek road on the 
west. The legal description of the lands is as follows:

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 9 N., R. 42 E.,
    Sec. 1, Lot 4, SW\1/4\ NW\1/4\, W\1/2\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 2, All;
    Sec. 3, All;
    Sec. 4, All;
    Sec. 5, Lots 1, 2, and 4, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 6, Lot 1, SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, All;
    Sec. 10, W\1/2\, SE\1/4\, N\1/2\ NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\ SE\1/4\, W\1/2\ NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ NE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 17, SE\1/4\, E\1/2\ NE\1/4\, S\1/2\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, N\1/2\ N\1/2\;
    Sec. 21, N\1/2\ N\1/2\, SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\.
T. 10 N., R. 42 E.,
    Sec. 30, Lot 5;
    Sec. 31, Lots 1-8, NE\1/4\ SE\1/4\.
T. 10 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 1, Lots 1-3, S\1/2\ N\1/2\, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 2, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, N\1/2\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\, E\1/2\ E\1/2\;
    Sec. 13, NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ 
SW\1/4\.
T. 11 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 29, S\1/2\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, NW\1/4\.

[[Page 6655]]

South Fork of the Snake and Main Snake Rivers

    Effective (30 days after the date of publication of final closure 
order in the Federal Register), BLM-administered public lands located 
in the South Fork of the Snake and Main Snake River corridors, 
described below, designated as Closed to Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) in 
the Snake River Activity/Operations Plan, and Big Desert MFP are closed 
to motor vehicle use, including off-highway vehicles (OHV) and snow 
machines. The only exceptions to this closure are administrative use of 
vehicles by the Bureau of Land Management and use by BLM permittees, 
including State and local government agencies. The areas are bounded 
generally by the South Fork Snake and Main Snake Rivers. The legal 
description of the lands is as follows:
    Dry Canyon: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
east and west of the South Fork Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 2 N., R. 43 E.,
    Sec. 5, Lots 1-4;
    Sec. 6, Lots 1-3, Lots 8-13, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, and those portions 
of BLM lying within Lots 5-7;
    Sec. 7, Lots 2, 3, and 6, and those portions of BLM lying within 
Lot 4.

    Warm Springs: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
east of the South Fork Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 3 N., R. 42 E.,
    Sec. 12, Lots 3-6, 10 and 11;
    Sec. 13, Lots 10 and 11.

    Mud Creek Bar: Those portions of the following described lands 
lying east of the South Fork Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 3 N., R. 42 E.,
    Sec. 4, Lots 9 and 10;
    Sec. 5, Lots 15 and 16;
    Sec. 9, Lot 11.

    Wolf Flat: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
north of the South Fork Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 3 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 10, Lots 1 and 2;
    Sec. 11, Lots 3 and 4;
    Sec. 15, Lot 6.

    Kelly Island: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
east and north of the South Fork Snake River and west and south of the 
South Fork county road (USFS road 206).

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 3 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 5, Lots 13 and 14.
T. 4 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 31, Lots 13 and 14;
    Sec. 32, Lot 3.

    Kelly Canyon: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
north and west of the Kelly Canyon Road.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 4 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 29, Lot 5, SE\1/4\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, SW\1/
4\ NE\1/4\, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 32, NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, N\1/2\ NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NE\1/
4\.

    Cress Creek Trail: Those portions of the following described lands 
lying north and east of the South Fork Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 4 N., 40 E.,
    Sec. 23, Lots 6 and 11, SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\, W\1/2\ SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ 
SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, Lots 8 and 9.

    Twin Bridges: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
east of the south bridge and up the South Fork Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 4 N., 40 E.,
    Sec. 21, Lots 5-13.

    Lorenzo Bridge: Those portions of the following described lands 
lying east of the South Fork Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 5 N., R. 39 E.,
    Sec 28, Lots 18-21, excluding the boat ramp access area.

    Menan Bridge: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
South of the Snake River and east of the Menan Bridge.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 5 N., R. 38 E.,
    Sec 22, Lots 15, 16, 19, and 20.

    Kellers Island: Those portions of the following described lands 
lying west of the Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 5 N., R. 38 E.,
    Sec 7, Lot 13;
    Sec. 18, Lots 16 and 17.

    Deer Parks: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
south of the Butte Market Lake Canal and north of the Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 5 N., R. 37 E.,
    Sec 12, Lots 9-12;
    Sec. 13, Lots 9 and 10;
    Sec. 14, Lots 9-12.

    Ducks Unlimited Tract C: Those portions of the following described 
lands lying east of the Snake River.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 4 N., R. 37 E.,
    Sec 10, Lots 7, 15-17.

    Firth River Bottom: Those portions of the following described lands 
lying west of the Snake River and east of the Peoples Canal.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 1 South, R. 36 E.,
    Sec 26, Lots 9-11, and 17.

    Firth River Bottom: Those portions of the following described lands 
lying east of the Snake River and east of the Peoples Canal.

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 1 South, R. 36 E.,
    Sec 27, Lot 6;
    Sec. 34, Lots 8 and 15.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Gardetto, Wildlife Management 
Biologist, (208) 524-7545.

    Dated: January 8, 2001.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
Idaho Falls Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-1727 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-U