[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64095-64096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24662]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Notice of Seasonal Closure of Crystal Cave, Installation of 
Locking Gate, and Implementation of Crystal Cave Recreation Management 
Plan Including Visitor Use Permit System

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that public access to Crystal Cave in 
the Salt Lake Field Office District of the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) will be controlled via a visitor use permit system to protect a 
maternity colony of Townsend's Big-eared Bats (Corynorhinus townsendii, 
a Utah sensitive species of special concern), to maintain the integrity 
of unique geologic cave formations, and to ensure visitor safety and 
compliance through the installation of a bat-friendly locking gate. The 
seasonal closure and permit system will begin upon the installation of 
the bat-friendly locking gate and implementation of the Crystal Cave 
Management Plan.

DATES: Public access to Crystal Cave will be controlled via permit 
system

[[Page 64096]]

from Oct 1-March 31 and seasonally closed from April 1-Sept 30 each 
year. Future changes to these closure dates may be necessary as ongoing 
bat migration research at Crystal Cave is accomplished. Any changes to 
access dates will be given via subsequent Federal Register notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding public 
access to Crystal Cave, contact the BLM's Salt Lake Field Office at 
(801) 977-4300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This seasonal closure to public access of 
Crystal Cave will serve to protect both a maternity colony of 
Townsend's Big-eared Bats and unique geologic cave formations, and to 
ensure visitor safety and compliance through the installation of a bat-
friendly locking gate. The BLM decision is to manage access to Crystal 
Cave by constructing a bat-friendly gate and implementing a Cave 
Management Plan coupled with a visitor use permit system.
    With increasing visitation, additional measures are needed to 
effectively protect the cave. Formations are being illegally removed 
and critical bat habitat is being disturbed. A permit system will 
provide an opportunity to educate the public on the importance of 
protecting critical cave resources.
    Installation of a gate will provide the maximum security for 
Crystal Cave resources while minimizing the negative effects on the 
cave's ecology. The gate will be constructed as a joint effort between 
the Salt Lake BLM Field Office, Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Salt 
Lake NSS Grotto, the Timpanogos NSS Grotto, and other interested 
individuals.
    The Crystal Cave Management Plan will set forth direction for long-
range management planning and oversight of this important resource and 
identify specific management actions for recreation use at Crystal 
Cave. The management plan will emphasize recreational use while 
providing for natural resource conservation and enhancement.
    The authority for establishing this restriction is found at 43 CFR 
8364.1(a). This restriction does not apply to:
    (1) Any Federal, State or local government officer or member of an 
organized rescue or fire fighting force while in the performance of an 
official duty.
    (2) Any Bureau of Land Management employee, agent, contractor, or 
cooperator while in the performance of an official duty.
    (3) Any Federal, State, local, or contract law enforcement officer, 
while in the performance of their official duties, or while enforcing 
this closure notice.
    Violation of this closure is punishable by a fine not to exceed 
$100,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months as provided in 43 
CFR 8360-0.7 as further defined in 18 U.S.C. 3571.

    Dated: September 20, 2004.
Glenn A. Carpenter,
Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-24662 Filed 11-1-04; 1:52 pm]
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