[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 18 (Friday, January 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 4139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1594]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA 180-1150 BS]


Notice of Emergency Closure of Public Lands in Amador County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that certain access roads and certain 
areas are temporarily closed to all public entry that could result in 
the spread of Phytophthora cinnamomi, a fungus related to the one 
responsible for sudden oak death, to uninfected stands of Ione and 
whiteleaf manzanita as well as to other susceptible plants including 
natives and ornamentals. These activities include motor vehicle 
operation and foot traffic.

DATES: The closure will take effect on October 27, 2004 and continue 
until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deane Swickard, Folsom Field Office 
Manager, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, California 95630, telephone (916) 
985-4474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Phytophthora cinnamomi is a root and crown 
fungus that attacks Ione manzanita (Archtostaphylos myrtifolia) and 
whiteleaf manzanita (Archtostaphylos viscida). The Ione manzanita is 
listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and occurs in 
Amador and Calaveras Counties, California. Infected stands of these 
species experience rapid desiccation and mortality at the onset of hot 
weather. Phytophthora cinnamomi is primarily spread by humans driving 
or walking through infested areas, and then into non-infested areas.
    The closed area is the Ione Manzanita Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC), and portions of nearby public lands 
portions in which the Ione manzanita occurs, a total of about 240 
acres. Legal descriptions of the closed areas are:

T.5 N, R.10 E, M.D.B. & M.;
    Sec. 32, NE \1/4\ SE \1/4\, SW \1/4\ SE \1/4\, E \1/2\ SE \1/4\;
    Sec. 33, SW \1/4\ NW \1/4\, NW \1/4\ SW \1/4\.
T.7 N, R.9 E, M.D.B. & M.;
    Sec. 28, S \1/2\ SE \1/4\ SW \1/4\;
    Sec. 33, NW \1/4\ NE \1/4\.

    Closure signs will be posted at main entry points to this area. 
Maps of the closure area may be obtained from the Folsom Field Office, 
63 Natoma Street, Folsom, California, 95630. Phone: (916) 985-4474.
    Under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1(a), the Bureau of Land 
Management will enforce the closure of the infested lands to prevent 
the spread of the fungus to uninfested stands of the federally 
threatened Ione manzanita and other susceptible vegetation. Official 
vehicles, including fire or law enforcement, are exempt from the 
emergency order. Currently, there is no legal public access to the 
subject lands. The only people affected by the emergency closure order 
are adjacent property owners.
    The authority for this closure is found under section 303(a) of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 CFR 8360.0-7). Any 
person who violates this closure may be tried before a United States 
Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000 or imprisoned for no more that 
12 months, or both. Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced 
fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 8571.

(Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1(a))

    Dated: October 27, 2004.
D.K. Swickard,
Folsom Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 05-1594 Filed 1-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P