[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27577-27578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12522]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-650-01-1220-JG-O64B]


Closure Order for Motorized Vehicle Use, Furnace Creek Canyon 
Road, Mono County, California

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

ACTION: Notice of vehicle closure in Furnace Creek Canyon, White 
Mountains, Mono County, California.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the route through Furnace Creek 
Canyon is closed to motorized vehicle use.
    Order: The public lands, located to the southwest from a point near 
the mouth of Furnace Creek canyon approximately 1.25 miles below the 
U.S. Forest Service boundary and 2.5 miles from HWY 264, are closed to 
the use of

[[Page 27578]]

motorized or off-road vehicles. No person may use, drive, transport, 
park, let stand, or have charge or control over any motorized vehicle 
in the area located east of the closure signs and locked gate. 
Exemptions to this order may be granted to law enforcement and other 
emergency vehicles in the course of official duties and for other 
approved administrative activities performed by the Bureau of Land 
Management or U.S. Forest Service. Exemptions may also be granted to 
those persons involved with ranching activities associated with the 
Whitewolf Grazing Allotment.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This closure became effective Friday, March 7, 2003. 
The closure will remain in effect unless rescinded by the authorizing 
official. The permanent decision regarding motorized or off-road 
vehicle use in Furnace Creek will be determined through an amendment of 
the California Desert Conservation Area Plan, which is expected to 
occur by June 30, 2004. BLM will implement the purposed action soon 
after the effective closure date of March 7, 2003 without prior notice 
and opportunity for public comment because of the imminent need for 
regulatory authority to prevent damage to wetland and riparian 
resources.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Office Manager, Bureau of Land 
Management, Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 South Richmond Road, 
Ridgecrest CA 93555, (760) 384-5400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM has established national standards 
for the management and protection of riparian and wetland habitat on 
the Public Lands. Monitoring conducted during November 2002 and 
February 2003 indicates that the Furnace Creek fluvial system is not 
meeting the BLM's standards for a properly functioning riparian system. 
presently, portions of the Furnace Creek drainage are considered 
``functional-at risk''. Riparian-wetland areas are considered 
``functional-at risk'' when an existing soil, water, or vegetation 
condition makes them susceptible to degradation. Presently, there are 
seven locations in Furnace Creek where the existing vehicle route 
crosses the stream. Significant erosion and sedimentation of the stream 
are occurring at two stream crossings. Erosion in both locations is 
contributing excessive sediment to the adjacent riparian area. 
moreover, head-cutting is forming at both locations. Head-cuts are a 
fluvial geomorphic feature indicative of unstable conditions. The 
proposed closure order is consistent with protecting and restoring 
Furnace Creek to a properly functioning riparian system.
    Bureau of Land Management's regulatory policy concerning the use of 
off-road vehicles on public lands is found in 43 CFR 8341. Whenever the 
authorized officer determines that OHV use will cause or is causing 
considerable adverse effects on resources (soil, vegetation, wildlife 
habitat, cultural, historic, scenic, recreation, or other resources), 
the area must be immediately closed to the type of use causing the 
adverse effects. The closure must remain in force only until the 
adverse effects are eliminated and measures to prevent their recurrency 
have been implemented (whichever occurs first). A considerable adverse 
environmental effect resulting from the use of off-road vehicles is 
defined in 43 CFR part 8341 as any environmental impact that causes:
    (a) Significant damage to cultural or natural resources, including 
but not limited to historic, archaeological, soil, water, air, 
vegetation, scenic values; or
    (b) Significant harassment of wildlife and/or significant 
disruption of wildlife habitats; . . . and is irreparable due to the 
impossibility or impracticality of performing corrective or remedial 
action.
    Furnace Creek canyon will remain open for human use that does not 
entail the use of a motorized vehicle within the area closed by this 
order. Maps depicting the affected area are available by contacting the 
Ridgecrest Field Office, California Desert Conservation Area, 
Ridgecrest, CA. A gate will be erected at the closure points and the 
affected area will be posted with public notices and standard motorized 
vehicle closure signs.

    Authority for this closure is found in 43 CFR 8364.1. Violations 
of this order may be subject to the penalties provided according to 
43 CFR 8360.0-7.


    Dated: March 11, 2003.
Hector A. Villalobos,
Ridgecrest Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-12522 Filed 5-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-AG-M