[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 45 (Monday, March 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10740-10741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5093]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-076-1220-BA]


Notice of Closure to Off-Highway Vehicle Use in the Bennett Hills

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice to the public of closure on public lands administered by 
the Bureau of Land Management, Shoshone Field Office, Idaho.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the issuance of an emergency 
motorized closure in the Bennett Hills. Certain lands administered by 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Shoshone Field Office are closed to 
off-highway vehicle (OHV) use and over-the-snow vehicles, with the 
exception of designated routes. A description of the closed area is 
provided below. The closure will remain in effect until such time as 
the authorized officer of the Shoshone Field Office determines the 
closure may be lifted, after the snowmelts in the spring and designated 
roads are dry. The closure is in accordance with 43 CFR 8364.1.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The BLM Shoshone Field Office, 400 
West F. Street, Shoshone, ID 83352, telephone: (208) 732-7200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An emergency motorized closure has gone into 
effect in the Bennett Hills. The motorized closure area consists of all 
BLM administered land within King Hill creek on the west, below 5,000 
feet elevation on the north, Highway 93 on the east, and Highway 26 on 
the south. Designated routes that remain are identified on a detailed 
map available at the Shoshone Field Office. The BLM Shoshone Field 
Office coordinated with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to 
identify crucial big game winter range that is now closed to motorized 
travel. Due to the harsh winter and deep snow pack, big game are 
congregating on historic winter range areas and experiencing additional 
stress. Throughout the Bennett Hills, motorized travel, including 
snowmobiles, is restricted to designated routes and county roads which 
enable motorized access to higher elevation areas, above 5,000 feet. 
These upper elevation areas are typically not used by big game animals 
in the winter and therefore can still be accessed and remain open to 
over-the-snow vehicles. The BLM advises public land users to avoid 
wildlife if encountered in these open areas.

[[Page 10741]]

    The area of the closure includes BLM lands, specifically described 
wholly or partially:

Boise Meridian

    T. 3 S., to T. 5 S and R. 11 E., to R. 18 E. The motorized 
closure area consists of all BLM administered land within these 
boundaries: King Hill creek on the west, below 5,000 feet elevation 
on the north, Highway 93 on the east, and Highway 26 on the south.

    Detailed maps of the area closed to OHV and recreational use are 
available at the Shoshone Field Office at the address above.

    Dated: January 13, 2004.
Bill Baker,
Shoshone Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-5093 Filed 3-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P