[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1631-1633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-600]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-054-1220-AA; GP-03-0019]


Notice of Closure; Notice of Permanent Motor Vehicle Restriction 
on Public Lands; Deschutes/Crook County, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District, Deschutes 
Resource Area/Field Office.

ACTION: Notice is hereby given that off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel 
within the Millican Valley OHV Trail System is restricted to designated 
routes only. The Millican Valley OHV Trail System is located 
approximately 20 miles East of Bend, Oregon in Crook and Deschutes 
Counties. Specifically, this closure order

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applies to all public lands within the following perimeter description:
    Perimeter Description: Beginning at the intersection of State 
Highway 20 and BLM road 6521, then southeast on Highway 20 to 
the Horse Ridge summit, then southwest to road 6515-A and 
northwest. The perimeter then goes south through private property until 
it reaches road  6515-AA and south to the junction with road 
6515-C, then along road 6515-C south to County Road 
2015, then east to County Road 2016. The perimeter then follows the 
BLM/Forest Service property boundary east, south and east again 
crossing Forest Service roads 23 and 25 perpendicularly. The perimeter 
turns north between ranges 14 and 15 east, turning east on the north 
edge of section 19 of T20S R15E. It follows the BLM/private property 
boundary north running into the old Bend to Burns road. The perimeter 
then follows the old road east, continuing into the airstrip and 
finally Highway 20. At section 32 of T19S R 16E the perimeter follows 
the BLM/private property boundary north. The perimeter continues along 
the property boundaries in a generally northeasterly direction until it 
runs into and follows road 6522 northwest. It then turns north 
on the section line between 14 and 15 and 10 and 11 and turns west 
following the northern section lines of 10, 9, 8 and 7 of T19S R16E and 
section 12 of T19S R15E. The perimeter then turns north again following 
the section line between 1 and 2 of T19S R 15 E. At this point it 
follows the contour of West Butte until it runs into the southwest 
corner of the private property in section 18 of T18S R16E. The 
perimeter then goes north along the west section line of 7 and 6 to the 
middle of 6 where it follows the BLM/private property line east and 
north to the north section line of section 6. It turns north and goes 
through private property in the east quarter of section 31 in T17S 
R16E. It again follows the private property boundary east and north 
through sections 30 and 29. In section 29 it follows an existing road 
east and north until it meets SW Reservoir Road. The perimeter crosses 
SW Reservoir Road and follows road  6555-B in a northwesterly 
direction until it runs into private property. It follows the private 
property line west and north to the north quarter of section 35, T16S 
R15E. Here, it turns west and runs into the high voltage transmission 
line with steel supports. It follows the transmission line south to the 
southern section line of section 21, T17S R15E. The perimenter follows 
section 21 west and continues west on Alfalfa Market Road to the 
powerline supported by double wooden poles. The perimeter follows this 
powerline south to its intersection with the previously mentioned 
transmission line and again goes south following the steel tower 
transmission line to road 5620-B. The perimeter follows 
5620-B until it intersects with 6521 and follows 
6521 to the point of beginning.

SUMMARY: The BLM is required to restrict motorized use to designated 
trails within the Millican Valley OHV Trail System. In addition, there 
are seasonal restrictions on those portions of the trail system called 
North and South Millican. North Millican is considered that portion of 
the trail system between Highway 20 and Kitchen Hill and is closed to 
OHV's from December 1st through April 30th. South Millican is the area 
of the trail system south of Highway 20. It is closed to OHV's from 
December 1st through July 31st. These restrictions are necessary to 
comply with the federal consent judgment in Central Oregon Forest 
Issues Committee, Oregon Natural Desert Association and Oregon Natural 
Resources Council v. James G. Kenna, Deschutes Area Manager, Prineville 
District, Bureau of Land Management, Civil Action No. 98-29-ST (D. OR.) 
that was lodged with the United States District Court for the District 
of Oregon on November 23, 1999.
    This 1999 federal consent judgment resulted from the settlement of 
a lawsuit between the Oregon Forest Issues Committee and other 
environmental organizations who took BLM to federal court in 1998, 
regarding its environmental assessment/management plan for the Millican 
Valley OHV Trail System. In December 1999, the federal court requested 
BLM obtain public comments regarding the proposed federal court consent 
judgment.
    Public comments were considered and reviewed by the federal court 
judge before the consent judgment was finalized. The Millican Valley 
OHV Trail System interim map was produced as a result.

DATES: This closure will take effect on the date this notice is 
published in the Federal Register. The closure will remain in effect 
until the BLM modifies or rescinds this order.

ADDRESSES: Bureau of Land Management, Deschutes Resource Area, 3050 NE. 
3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Sarah Schartz, OHV 
Coordinator, 3050 NE. 3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754. (541) 416-6865.
    Discussion of Rules: The public lands affected by this proposed OHV 
restriction are all lands administered by the BLM within the Millican 
Valley OHV Trail System. Maps are available at entry points to the 
trail system as well as BLM and Forest Service offices in Central 
Oregon. In addition, maps are distributed to OHV dealerships around 
Central Oregon and they are available on the World Wide Web. Trails are 
numbered and signed on the ground, as are the seasonal closures.
    For the purpose of this restriction ``off-highway vehicle'' is 
defined as any motorized vehicle capable of, or designed for, travel on 
or immediately over land, water or other natural terrain, excluding: 
(1) Any non-amphibious registered motorboat; (2) any military, fire, 
emergency or law enforcement vehicle while being used for emergency 
purposes; (3) any vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by the 
authorized officer, or otherwise officially approved; (4) vehicles in 
official use; and (5) any combat or combat support vehicle when used in 
times of national defense emergencies.
    Prohibited Acts: Under 43 CFR 8360.0-7 The Bureau of Land 
Management will enforce the following rules within the Millican Valley 
OHV Trail System:
    a. Operation of an OHV off designated routes is prohibited, and
    b. Operation of an OHV within the North Millican portion of the 
Millican Valley OHV Trail System is prohibited from December 1st 
through April 30th, and
    c. Operation of an OHV within the South Millican portion of the 
Millican Valley OHV Trail System is prohibited from December 1st 
through July 31st.
    Exemptions: This closure does not apply to persons who are exempt 
from these rules (including: Federal, State, or local officer or 
employee in the scope of his or her duties, members of any organized 
rescue or fire-fighting force in performance of an official duty, and 
any person authorized in writing by the Bureau of Land Management).
    Penalties: The authorities for this closure are section 303(a) of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733(a) 
and 43 CFR 8360.0-7. Any person who violates this closure may be fined 
no more than $1000 or imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. 
Such violations may

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also be subject to the higher fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571.

Rachel A. Carver,
Acting, District Manager, Prineville District, Oregon, Bureau of Land 
Management.
[FR Doc. 03-600 Filed 1-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P