[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36216-36217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12912]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-200-1220-EA]


Extension of Special Rule Regarding Operation of Motorized 
Vehicle Designation

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of two year extension.

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SUMMARY: Public notice is hereby given that implementation of a Special 
Rule regarding the operation of motorized vehicle designations within 
the Texas Creek, Penrose, Grand Canyon Hills, and Sand Gulch areas will 
remain in effect and is extended for two years. The change in vehicle 
designation for these

[[Page 36217]]

areas became effective May 22, 2001 (66 FR 28198). These four areas, 
totaling 16,355 acres, will remain in the ``limited to existing roads 
and trails'' designation until interdisciplinary planning with all 
affected interests occurs to determine the appropriate designated 
travel routes in these areas. Interdisciplinary planning is currently 
underway for the Penrose area and planning will begin for the other 
three areas in 2003. The BLM has determined that it is necessary for 
the current designation of ``limited to existing roads and trails'' to 
remain in affect in order to prevent unacceptable impacts to public 
lands and to provide management consistency to these areas while 
planning efforts are underway.

DATES: The extension of this Special Rule goes into effect with the 
publication of this notice and shall remain in effect for two years. At 
the end of the two year period it may be reviewed and extended, or 
revoked.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain additional information by any of several 
methods. You may mail, hand deliver, or call in your requests to: Field 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Royal Gorge Field Office, 3170 East 
Main Street, Canon City, CO 81212, (719) 269-8500. You may also make 
requests via e-mail to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roy L. Masinton, Field Manager or 
Diana Kossnar, Outdoor Recreation Planner, at the address and phone 
number listed above, or John Nahomenuk, Outdoor Recreation Planner, 307 
W. Sackett Ave., Salida, CO 81201, 719-539-7289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Special Rule provision of 43 CFR 8341.2 
allows the authorized officer to close certain areas to specific types 
of OHV use. In the case of the Texas Creek, Penrose, Grand Canyon 
Hills, and Sand Gulch OHV ``Open'' areas, the authorized officer closed 
these areas to all forms of OHV use that goes off of existing travel 
routes. This changed the OHV designation for the areas to ``limited to 
existing roads and trails'', the same designation that is found on the 
surrounding public lands. The Special Rule was implemented to prevent a 
continuation of unacceptable impacts to soils, vegetation, wildlife, 
and wildlife habitat. The Royal Gorge Field Office will follow 
implementation of this Special Rule with amendments to the Royal Gorge 
Resource Management Plan. The plan amendments will be completed with 
full public involvement, interagency coordination and consultation as 
required by the BLM planning regulations (43 CFR part 1600).
    This Special Rule does not apply to emergency, law enforcement, and 
federal or other government vehicles while being used for official or 
emergency purposes, or to any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized 
or otherwise officially approved by BLM. Violation of this order is 
punishable by fines and/or imprisonment as defined in 18 U.S.C. 3571. 
Notice of this Special Rule and detailed maps of the four affected 
areas are posted at the Royal Gorge Field Office in Canon City and the 
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Office in Salida.

John L. Carochi,
Associate Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 02-12912 Filed 5-22-02; 8:45 am]
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