[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 14 (Monday, January 24, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3328-3332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1191]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

27 CFR Part 9

[Notice No. 28]
RIN: 1513-AA79


Proposed Establishment of the High Valley Viticultural Area 
(2003R-361P)

AGENCY: Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposes to 
establish the ``High Valley'' viticultural area in Lake County, 
California. Located above the eastern shore of Clear Lake near the town 
of Clearlake Oaks, the proposed 14,000-acre area is about 85 miles 
north of San Francisco, and is largely within the established Clear 
Lake and North Coast viticultural areas. We designate viticultural 
areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines 
and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. We 
invite comments on this proposed addition to our regulations.

DATES: We must receive written comments on or before March 25, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments to any of the following addresses:
     Chief, Regulations and Procedures Division, Alcohol and 
Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Attn: Notice No. 28, P.O. Box 14412, 
Washington, DC 20044-4412.
     202-927-8525 (facsimile).
     [email protected] (e-mail).
     http://www.ttb.gov/alcohol/rules/index.htm. An online 
comment form is posted with this notice on our Web site.
     http://www.regulations.gov (Federal e-rulemaking portal; 
follow instructions for submitting comments).
    You may view copies of this notice, the petition, the appropriate 
maps, and any comments we receive about this proposal by appointment at 
the TTB Library, 1310 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20220. To make an 
appointment, call 202-927-2400. You may also access copies of the 
notice and comments online at http://www.ttb.gov/alcohol/rules/index.htm.
    See the Public Participation section of this notice for specific 
instructions and requirements for submitting comments, and for 
information on how to request a public hearing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: N. A. Sutton, Program Manager, 
Regulations and Procedures Division, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade 
Bureau, 925 Lakeville St., No. 158, Petaluma, CA 94952; phone 415-271-
1254.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on Viticultural Areas

TTB Authority

    Section 105(e) of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (the FAA 
Act, 27 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) requires that alcohol beverage labels 
provide the consumer with adequate information regarding a product's 
identity and prohibits the use of misleading information on those 
labels. The FAA Act also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to 
issue regulations to carry out its provisions. The Alcohol and Tobacco 
Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) administers these regulations.
    Part 4 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 4) allows the 
establishment of definitive viticultural areas and the use

[[Page 3329]]

of their names as appellations of origin on wine labels and in wine 
advertisements. Part 9 of the TTB regulations (27 CFR part 9) contains 
the list of approved viticultural areas.

Definition

    Section 4.25(e)(1)(i) of the TTB regulations (27 CFR 4.25(e)(1)(i)) 
defines a viticultural area for American wine as a delimited grape-
growing region distinguishable by geographical features, the boundaries 
of which have been recognized and defined in part 9 of the regulations. 
These designations allow vintners and consumers to attribute a given 
quality, reputation, or other characteristic of a wine made from grapes 
grown in an area to its geographic origin. The establishment of 
viticultural areas allows vintners to describe more accurately the 
origin of their wines to consumers and helps consumers to identify 
wines they may purchase. Establishment of a viticultural area is 
neither an approval nor an endorsement by TTB of the wine produced in 
that area.

Requirements

    Section 4.25(e)(2) of the TTB regulations outlines the procedure 
for proposing an American viticultural area and provides that any 
interested party may petition TTB to establish a grape-growing region 
as a viticultural area. Section 9.3(b) of the TTB regulations requires 
the petition to include--
     Evidence that the proposed viticultural area is locally 
and/or nationally known by the name specified in the petition;
     Historical or current evidence that supports setting the 
boundary of the proposed viticultural area as the petition specifies;
     Evidence relating to the geographical features, such as 
climate, elevation, physical features, and soils, that distinguish the 
proposed viticultural area from surrounding areas;
     A description of the specific boundary of the proposed 
viticultural area, based on features found on United States Geological 
Survey (USGS) maps; and
     A copy of the appropriate USGS map(s) with the proposed 
viticultural area's boundary prominently marked.

High Valley Petition

    TTB has received a petition from Kevin Robinson of Brassfield 
Estate Winery proposing a new viticultural area to be called ``High 
Valley'' in Lake County, California. Located about 85 miles north of 
San Francisco, the proposed 14,000-acre viticultural area, with 
approximately 1,000 acres planted to vines, sits above the eastern 
shore of Clear Lake, near the town of Clearlake Oaks.
    The proposed High Valley viticultural area's boundary encompasses 
the largely enclosed, elongated bowl-shaped High Valley basin and the 
surrounding mountain ridges. The proposed area measures about 8.5 miles 
east-to-west and 3 miles north-to-south, with elevations between 1,600 
and approximately 3,000 feet.
    The proposed High Valley viticultural area is largely within the 
established Clear Lake viticultural area (27 CFR 9.99) in Lake County. 
The Clear Lake area is, in turn, entirely within the multi-county North 
Coast (27 CFR 9.30) viticultural area. To encompass the mountain ridges 
surrounding the High Valley, a small east-northeast portion of the 
proposed High Valley viticultural area extends beyond the Clear Lake 
and North Coast areas' common eastern boundaries.
    Below, we summarize the evidence presented in the petition.

Name Evidence

    The ``High Valley,'' ``High Valley Road,'' and ``High Valley 
Ridge'' names all appear on the Clearlake Oaks, California USGS 
Quadrangle map, and on the California State Automobile Association's 
``Mendocino and Sonoma Coast Region'' February 1999 map. The 2002 ``SBC 
Pacific Bell Directory'' lists three local businesses that incorporate 
``High Valley'' into their name. The petition states that the ``High 
Valley'' name is the popular and historic reference used to identify 
the region. The petition's reference section lists Tom Butler's 1960 
manuscript, ``High Valley Memories,'' which is on file at the Lake 
County Historical Courthouse Museum.

Boundary Evidence

    The proposed High Valley area's boundary line encompasses a 1,600-
foot minimum elevation, according to the USGS maps, delineating the 
proposed area from adjacent lower areas. The following table includes 
information from the USGS maps, and provides a summary of geographical 
points found in the lower elevations surrounding the proposed 
viticultural area.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               Elevation in feet
               Geographical area                 Direction from proposed High Valley boundary     on USGS map
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clear Lake.....................................  West........................................              1,326
Long Valley....................................  North.......................................              1,200
North Fork of Cache Creek......................  East........................................              1,100
Clearlake Oaks Township........................  South.......................................              1,400
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The petition explains that the alpine ridges of High Valley create 
a mountainside grape-growing environment not found beyond the proposed 
boundaries. The majority of the proposed area's vineyards are planted 
primarily on these highland slopes, with the remainder on the western 
valley floor.
    According to the petition, early viticultural efforts in the High 
Valley area ceased with Prohibition, and walnuts, prunes, green beans, 
and other crops became the area's popular agricultural commodities. The 
petition states that approximately 25 very old ``centennial vines'' 
(possibly zinfandel) still exist on the southeast ridge above the 
valley floor.

Distinguishing Features

Topography
    The High Valley basin sits between 1,700 and 1,800 feet in 
elevation, as shown on USGS maps. To the north, the High Valley Ridge 
rises to over 3,000 feet in elevation, while the east, south, and west 
ridges surrounding the valley average between 2,200 and 2,400 feet in 
height. According to the USGS maps, the lowest elevation within the 
proposed boundaries lies at the 1,600-foot contour line, which forms 
part of the area's southern boundary.
    The petition explains that the proposed High Valley viticultural 
area boundary trends east-west and includes the ridges surrounding the 
basin. According to the petition, this transverse valley orientation, 
rarely found in the California Coastal Range, contributes to some of 
the distinctive climatic features of the proposed area.

[[Page 3330]]

Climate
    The petition provided weather station data from several locations 
within the proposed High Valley viticultural area, including vineyards 
on the area's southeastern and western mountain ridges, and on the 
eastern and western portions of the valley floor. Using this data, the 
petition states that the proposed High Valley area's climate is cooler 
than those in the surrounding viticultural areas of Lake County.
    The Winkler degree-day heat summation method of climate 
classification, the petition notes, classifies High Valley as a Region 
3 climate and occasionally a cooler Region 2, depending upon the year 
and a vineyard's location within the proposed area. Amber Knolls, a 
grape-growing region approximately 5 miles west of High Valley's 
proposed boundary, has consistently warmer growing season temperatures, 
and is frequently a Region 4 climate in the degree-day classification 
system, according to the Lake County weather data provided in the 
petition.
    The petitioner explains that High Valley's cool growing climate 
results from the valley's east-west orientation, High Valley Ridge's 
topography, and the perpetual ``wind machine'' generated from the Clear 
Lake basin. The high east-west ridges above the valley trap the cooling 
afternoon breezes as they blow in from the Clear Lake basin. Also, the 
cooling mountain-valley winds from the high northern elevations of the 
Mendocino National Forest drift down the ridges to the valley floor. 
The High Valley area, according to the petition, is one of the coolest 
grape-growing regions in Lake County, with a frost season that 
frequently extends into June. The grape varietals planted in the 
proposed area reflect this cooler and shorter growing season.
    The petition presents limited rainfall data for the years 2000 
through May 2003 and documents a wide variation in annual precipitation 
in High Valley. This data shows that the proposed High Valley 
viticultural area received 18 inches of precipitation in both 2000 and 
2001, 29 inches in 2002, and 35 inches from January through May 2003. 
The petition states that, in recent years, other Lake County grape-
growing regions received more precipitation than the proposed High 
Valley viticultural area. For example, the petition notes the following 
average precipitation amounts: Red Hills, 24 to 40 inches; Kelseyville, 
46 inches; and the Putah Creek basin, 47 inches.
Geology
    Originally a small east-west trending fault basin with drainage to 
the east, volcanic activity altered High Valley's shape and created a 
series of high ridges along its eastern side, forming the valley's 
largely enclosed basin and redirecting the valley's drainage westward 
into Clear Lake. This volcanic activity also created Tule Lake, a small 
lake on the valley's central floor, as well as Round Mountain, once an 
active volcanic cinder cone rising 400 feet above the northern valley 
floor.
    The petition notes that the dominant rock types in the proposed 
High Valley viticultural area are Jurassic sedimentary rocks of the 
Franciscan Complex, basalt flows, and Quaternary volcanic deposits. As 
explained in the petition, the Franciscan Complex forms the base 
material and most of the exposed rock in the southern ridges and 
western portions of High Valley, while the Quaternary volcanics overlay 
the basalts found throughout the valley's eastern half. Round Mountain 
is a prominent High Valley feature of the Quaternary volcanics, 
according to the petition.
Soils
    The petition notes that the two primary soil types of High Valley 
are weathered volcanic residue and Franciscan Complex weathered 
sandstone, shale, or phyllitic rocks. The east side of the proposed 
area contains soils derived primarily from volcanics, while the west 
side contains soils from Jurassic to Cretaceous sedimentary and 
phyllitic source material.
    The petition states that the four basic soil formations within the 
proposed viticultural area include (1) Franciscan Hills that form the 
southern and western boundaries, (2) the alluvial basin of High Valley, 
(3) the alluvial terrace along the southeast boundary, and (4) the 
volcanic ridges along the area's northeastern portion near Round 
Mountain.
    Wolfcreek loam soil, a very deep well-drained clay to sandy loam 
with moderately slow permeability, covers most of the High Valley 
floor, according to the petition. The eastern half of the proposed High 
Valley viticultural area contains Konocti variants, Konocti, Hambright, 
Benridge, and Sodabay Series soils. The petition notes that the Maymen, 
Hopland, and Mayacama Series soils dominate the southeast region of the 
proposed High Valley area. The western hills and ridges contain 
primarily Millsholm, Bressa, Hopland, Estel, and Maymen Series soils.
    According to the petition, while the High Valley soils are 
permeable in mild and moderately-warm to warm temperatures, Big Valley 
soils allow only moderately-warm to warm temperature permeation. The 
petition adds that the soils of High Valley's slopes and ridges permit 
excellent drainage, unlike Big Valley's less favorable soil drainage 
characteristics. Further, the vine-planted slopes of the proposed High 
Valley viticultural area incline about 30 percent, comparatively 
steeper than the 0 to 2 percent incline of Big Valley vineyards, 
according to the petition.
Water Resources
    The petition asserts that the proposed High Valley area contains 
aquifers and natural springs to meet its irrigation needs. The limited 
capability of Schindler Creek to take runoff out of High Valley 
contributes to the valley's unusually high water table. The springs of 
the valley's western and eastern mountain slopes and canyons flow down 
to the valley floor, which also contains springs, as well as numerous 
ponds, according to the petition.

Overlapping Boundaries

    The proposed High Valley viticultural area lies almost entirely 
within the Clear Lake viticultural area, which surrounds the large lake 
of that name in Lake County, California. In turn, the Clear Lake 
viticultural area is entirely within the larger, multi-county North 
Coast viticultural area. A portion of the proposed High Valley area 
lies outside of the two larger areas. The following table shows the 
overlapping relationships by acreage and percentage.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Percentage of High
                                    Acreage of area     Valley area in
     Viticultural area name       within High Valley       this area
                                         area              (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Coast.....................              11,651                81.6
Clear Lake......................              11,520                80.7
Outside any viticultural area...               2,622                18.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 3331]]

    The North Coast and Clear Lake viticultural areas share a portion 
of their east boundary line, which runs diagonally northwest to 
southeast through the eastern portion of the proposed High Valley 
viticultural area. This common boundary line extends straight northwest 
from the northwest corner of section 1, T13N, R7W, on the Benmore 
Canyon map, which is outside the proposed High Valley southeastern 
boundary line, to Round Mountain in section 21, T14N, R7W, on the 
Clearlake Oaks map. At the peak of Round Mountain, this shared boundary 
line divides. The North Coast viticultural area boundary line runs 
straight north-northwest, while the Clear Lake viticultural area 
extends straight northwest. TTB has determined that the difference in 
overlapping acreage between the two viticultural areas, above Round 
Mountain, is less than 1 percent when overlaid with the proposed High 
Valley viticultural area boundary lines.
    To the east of the established North Coast and Clear Lake 
viticultural areas' common boundary line, the proposed High Valley 
viticultural area's east and northeast sections extend beyond any 
established viticultural area. This 2,622-acre, predominantly 
mountainous region includes the eastern ridges that surround High 
Valley, according to the USGS maps. The east side of Round Mountain and 
a small portion of the valley floor also lie outside the North Coast 
and Clear Lake viticultural areas.
    This High Valley eastern area, beyond the North Coast and Clear 
Lake boundary line overlap, possesses distinguishing geographical 
features similar to the High Valley's western region, according to the 
petition. The petition states that the portion of the proposed area 
outside the established Clear Lake and North Coast viticultural areas 
contains the mountainous terrain and high ridges that make High Valley 
an enclosed basin with distinct watershed boundaries. The valley floor 
to the east of Round Mountain is the natural extension of the valley, 
with similar elevations and topography, as noted on the USGS maps. 
Soils derived primarily from basalts occur throughout the proposed area 
from Schindler's Creek east to the boundary line.

Boundary Description

    See the narrative boundary description of the petitioned-for 
viticultural area in the proposed regulatory text published at the end 
of this notice.

Maps

    The petitioner(s) provided the required maps, and we list them 
below in the proposed regulatory text.

Impact on Current Wine Labels

    Part 4 of the TTB regulations prohibits any label reference on a 
wine that indicates or implies an origin other than the wine's true 
place of origin. If we establish this proposed viticultural area, its 
name, ``High Valley,'' will be recognized as a name of viticultural 
significance. Consequently, wine bottlers using ``High Valley'' in a 
brand name, including a trademark, or in another label reference as to 
the origin of the wine, will have to ensure that the product is 
eligible to use the viticultural area's name as an appellation of 
origin. The proposed part 9 regulatory text set forth in this document 
specifies the ``High Valley'' name as a term of viticultural 
significance for purposes of part 4 of the TTB regulations.
    For a wine to be eligible to use as an appellation of origin the 
name of a viticultural area specified in part 9 of the TTB regulations, 
at least 85 percent of the grapes used to make the wine must have been 
grown within the area represented by that name, and the wine must meet 
the other conditions listed in 27 CFR 4.25(e)(3). If the wine is not 
eligible to use the viticultural area name as an appellation of origin 
and that name appears in the brand name, then the label is not in 
compliance and the bottler must change the brand name and obtain 
approval of a new label. Similarly, if the viticultural area name 
appears in another reference on the label in a misleading manner, the 
bottler would have to obtain approval of a new label. Accordingly, if a 
new label or a previously approved label uses the name ``High Valley'' 
for a wine that does not meet the 85 percent standard, the new label 
will not be approved, and the previously approved label will be subject 
to revocation, upon the effective date of the approval of the High 
Valley viticultural area.
    Different rules apply if a wine has a brand name containing a 
viticultural area name that was used as a brand name on a label 
approved before July 7, 1986. See 27 CFR 4.39(i)(2) for details.

Public Participation

Comments Invited

    We invite comments from interested members of the public on whether 
we should establish the proposed viticultural area. We are also 
interested in receiving comments on the sufficiency and accuracy of the 
name, boundary, climactic, and other required information submitted in 
support of the petition. Please provide any available specific 
information in support of your comments.
    Because of the potential impact of the establishment of the 
proposed High Valley viticultural area on brand labels that include the 
words ``High Valley'' as discussed above under Impact on Current Wine 
Labels, we are particularly interested in comments regarding whether 
there will be a conflict between the proposed area name and currently 
used brand names. If a commenter believes that a conflict will arise, 
the comment should describe the nature of that conflict, including any 
negative economic impact that approval of the proposed viticultural 
area will have on an existing viticultural enterprise. We are also 
interested in receiving suggestions for ways to avoid any conflicts, 
for example by adopting a modified or different name for the 
viticultural area.

Submitting Comments

    Please submit your comments by the closing date shown above in this 
notice. Your comments must include this notice number and your name and 
mailing address. Your comments must be legible and written in language 
acceptable for public disclosure. We do not acknowledge receipt of 
comments, and we consider all comments as originals. You may submit 
comments in one of five ways:
     Mail: You may send written comments to TTB at the address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section.
     Facsimile: You may submit comments by facsimile 
transmission to 202-927-8525. Faxed comments must--
    (1) Be on 8.5- by 11-inch paper;
    (2) Contain a legible, written signature; and
    (3) Be no more than five pages long. This limitation assures 
electronic access to our equipment. We will not accept faxed comments 
that exceed five pages.
     E-mail: You may e-mail comments to [email protected]. Comments 
transmitted by electronic mail must--
    (1) Contain your e-mail address;
    (2) Reference this notice number on the subject line; and
    (3) Be legible when printed on 8.5- by 11-inch paper.
     Online form: We provide a comment form with the online 
copy of this notice on our Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/alcohol/rules/index.htm. Select the ``Send comments via e-mail'' link under 
this notice number.
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: To submit comments to us via 
the Federal e-rulemaking portal, visit http://www.regulations.gov and 
follow the

[[Page 3332]]

instructions for submitting comments. You may also write to the 
Administrator before the comment closing date to ask for a public 
hearing. The Administrator reserves the right to determine, in light of 
all circumstances, whether to hold a public hearing.

Confidentiality

    All submitted material is part of the public record and subject to 
disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your comments that you 
consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.

Public Disclosure

    You may view copies of this notice, the petition, the appropriate 
maps, and any comments we receive by appointment at the TTB Library at 
1310 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20220. You may also obtain copies at 
20 cents per 8.5- x 11-inch page. Contact our librarian at the above 
address or telephone 202-927-2400 to schedule an appointment or to 
request copies of comments.
    For your convenience, we will post this notice and any comments we 
receive on this proposal on the TTB Web site. We may omit voluminous 
attachments or material that we consider unsuitable for posting. In all 
cases, the full comment will be available in the TTB Library. To access 
the online copy of this notice, visit http://www.ttb.gov/alcohol/rules/index.htm. Select the ``View Comments'' link under this notice number 
to view the posted comments.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    We certify that this proposed regulation, if adopted, would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The proposed regulation imposes no new reporting, 
recordkeeping, or other administrative requirement. Any benefit derived 
from the use of a viticultural area name would be the result of a 
proprietor's efforts and consumer acceptance of wines from that area. 
Therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required.

Executive Order 12866

    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action as 
defined by Executive Order 12866, 58 FR 51735. Therefore, it requires 
no regulatory assessment.

Drafting Information

    N.A. Sutton of the Regulations and Procedures Division drafted this 
notice.

List of Subjects in 27 CFR Part 9

    Wine.

Proposed Regulatory Amendment

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, we propose to amend 
title 27, chapter 1, part 9, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 9--AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREAS

    1. The authority citation for part 9 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 27 U.S.C. 205.

    2. Amend subpart C by adding Sec.  9.------ to read as follows:

Subpart C--Approved American Viticultural Areas


Sec.  9.------  High Valley.

    (a) Name. The name of the viticultural area described in this 
section is ``High Valley''. For purposes of part 4 of this chapter, 
``High Valley'' is a term of viticultural significance.
    (b) Approved Maps. The appropriate maps for determining the 
boundaries of the High Valley viticultural area are three United States 
Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24,000 scale topographic maps. They are 
titled:
    (1) Clearlake Oaks Quadrangle, California--Lake County; edition of 
1958; photorevised 1975, minor revision 1994;
    (2) Benmore Canyon Quadrangle, California--Lake County; provisional 
edition of 1989, minor revision 1994; and
    (3) Lucerne Quadrangle, California--Lake County; edition of 1958, 
photorevised 1975, minor revision 1994.
    (c) Boundary. The High Valley viticultural area is located in Lake 
County, California, near the village of Clearlake Oaks. The boundary of 
the High Valley viticultural area is as described below:
    (1) The point of beginning is on the Clearlake Oaks map on the 
northern boundary line of section 16 (also the southern boundary of the 
Mendocino National Forest), T14N, R8W, at the intersection of High 
Valley Road and the 3,200-foot elevation line;
    (2) From the beginning point, proceed 2.4 miles due east along the 
northern boundary lines of sections 16, 15, and 14 (also the southern 
boundary of the Mendocino National Forest) to the northeast corner of 
section 14, T14N, R8W; then
    (3) Proceed 3.15 miles straight east-southeast to the intersection 
of the 2,000-foot elevation line and the eastern boundary of section 
17, T14N, R7W; then
    (4) Proceed easterly 2.7 miles along the 2,000-foot elevation line 
to its first intersection with the eastern boundary of section 22, 
T14N, R7W, on the Benmore Canyon map; then
    (5) Proceed approximately 300 feet due south along the eastern 
boundary of section 22, T14N, R7W, to its intersection with the 
headwaters of the north branch of the Salt Canyon Creek; then
    (6) Proceed easterly 0.4 mile along the north branch of the Salt 
Canyon Creek to its intersection with the 1,600-foot elevation line in 
section 23, T14N, R7W; then
    (7) Proceed southerly along the 1,600-foot elevation line 4.1 miles 
to its intersection with State Route 20, just north of Sweet Hollow 
Creek, in section 35, T14N, R7W; then
    (8) Proceed 1.7 miles generally southwest and then westerly to 
State Route 20's intersection with the 1,600-foot elevation line just 
northwest of BM 1634, Wye, in section 3, T13N, R7W; then
    (9) Proceed 15.2 miles generally northwest along the 1,600-foot 
elevation line, crossing the Clearlake Oaks map, to the elevation 
line's intersection with an unnamed intermittent stream in Pierce 
Canyon in the northeast quadrant of section 20, approximately 0.4 mile 
east of VABM 2533, T14N, R8W, on the Lucerne map; then
    (10) Proceed northerly and then northeasterly along the unnamed 
intermittent stream in Pierce Canyon and then the stream's northern 
fork approximately 1.6 miles to the northern fork's intersection with 
the 3,000-foot elevation line in section 16, T14N, R8W, on the 
Clearlake Oaks map; and then
    (11) Proceed 0.15 mile straight northeast, returning to the 
beginning point.

    Signed: January 10, 2005.
John J. Manfreda,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-1191 Filed 1-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-31-P