[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 35573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12587]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-650-02-1220-JG-064B]


The Interim Closure to Motorized Vehicle Use of Selected Routes 
Within the Western Rand Mountains Area of Critical Environmental 
Concern

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, United States Department of the 
Interior.

ACTION: Temporary closure to motorized vehicle use of BLM routes R5, 
R50, R40, R15, R25, R35, R37, R12 and R48, and all other unauthorized 
routes and trails, within the Western Rand Mountains ACEC in Kern 
County, California.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: This closure is effective March 29, 2002 and will 
remain in effect until a Record of Decision is signed on the West 
Mojave Plan, which is expected to be signed by June 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Office Manager, Bureau of Land 
Management, Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 South Richmond Road, 
Ridgecrest CA 93555, (760) 384-5405. The closure is posted in the 
Ridgecrest Field Office and at places near and/or within the area to 
which the closure applies. Maps identifying the affected areas are 
available at the Ridgecrest Field Office as well as on the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) California website at www.ca.blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This temporary closure is implemented 
pursuant to 43 CFR 8341.2 (Special rules governing the use of off 
highway vehicles on public lands). The closure was approved on March 
29, 2002 and will remain in effect until a Record of Decision is signed 
on the West Mojave Plan, which is expected to be signed by June 2003. 
The ACEC will remain open for all other non-motorized uses currently 
allowed under 43 CFR. Maps showing the affected area are available by 
contacting the Ridgecrest Field Office. All designated routes entering 
the ACEC will be posted with public notices and standard motorized 
vehicle closure signs. Management fences and/or barriers will be 
installed at key access points to block entry by motorized vehicles.
    This closure order is issued to provide for the protection of the 
desert tortoise and desert tortoise critical habitat within the Western 
Rand Mountains ACEC. This interim closure was made necessary by the 
high incidence of noncompliance exhibited by public land visitors 
willfully operating off highway vehicles on closed routes and traveling 
cross country within the ACEC. Recent surveys show that over 90% of the 
closed routes in the ACEC are being ridden regularly by visitors 
operating off highway vehicles. Visitor compliance with the designated 
route system is essential to protect the desert tortoise, a species 
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
    Exemptions to this closure include vehicles conducting official 
government business which shall be allowed on closed routes and areas 
as authorized. Official government business may include public service 
emergencies, resource monitoring/research, and management activities, 
and other actions authorized by BLM's Ridgecrest Field Office Manager.

    Authority: 43 CFR subparts 8341.2 (Special rules) and 8364.1 
(Closure and restriction orders). Any person who violates this 
closure order may be subject to a fine, not to exceed $1,000 and/or 
imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.

    Dated: March 21, 2002.
Hector A. Villalobos,
Field Office Manager.

Closure Order

    Notice is hereby given that effective March 29, 2002, BLM Routes 
R5, R50, R40, R15, R25, R35, R37, R12, and R48, and all other 
unauthorized routes and trails, in the Western Rand Mountain Area of 
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) are closed to all motorized 
vehicle use. No person may use, drive, transport, park, let stand, 
or have charge or control over any motorized vehicle in the area 
located within the closure signs.
    This closure order is issued to provide for the protection of 
the desert tortoise and desert tortoise critical habitat within the 
Western Rand Mountains ACEC. This interim closure was made necessary 
by the high incidence of noncompliance exhibited by visitors 
willfully operating off highway vehicles on closed routes and 
traveling cross country within the ACEC. Recent surveys show that 
over 90% of the closed routes in the ACEC are being ridden 
regularly. Visitor compliance with the designated route system is 
essential to protect the desert tortoise, a species listed as 
threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The ACEC will remain 
open for all other non-motorized uses currently allowed under 43 
CFR.
    The authority for this closure is found in 43 CFR Subparts 
8341.2 (Special rules) and 8364.1 (Closure and restriction orders). 
Any person who violates this closure order may be subject to a fine, 
not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.
    Exemptions to this closure include vehicles conducting official 
government business which shall be allowed on closed routes and 
areas as authorized. Official government business may include public 
service emergencies, resource monitoring/research, and management 
activities, and other actions authorized by BLM's Ridgecrest Field 
Office Manager.
    The closure will remain in effect until rescinded by the 
Ridgecrest Field Office Manager.

    Dated: March 29, 2002.

Hector A. Villalobos,
Ridgecrest Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 02-12587 Filed 5-17-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P