[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29780-29781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10260]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-062-05-1220-PM]


Notice of Camping, Parking, Wood Cutting and Wood Gathering 
Restrictions, Moab Field Office, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), DOI.

ACTION: Notice of camping, parking, wood cutting, and wood gathering 
restrictions--Moab Field Office, Utah.

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SUMMARY: This notice, applicable to specified public lands administered 
by BLM's Moab Field Office, limits camping to developed sites and areas 
(developed campgrounds and designated camping sites), allows BLM to 
limit the size of designated camping and parking areas, and requires 
the use of portable toilets at designated camp sites where toilets are 
not provided. Additionally, this notice prohibits wood cutting and 
gathering, including Christmas tree cutting, in these intensively used 
areas. These actions are necessary to protect natural resources, 
maintain quality recreation opportunities, and provide for public 
safety.

DATES: This notice is effective May 24, 2005, and shall remain in 
effect until modified by the authorized officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell von Koch, Recreation Branch 
Chief, BLM Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood Avenue, Moab, Utah 84532, 
or telephone 435-259-2100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Frequent use of public lands near Moab, Utah 
for camping and parking (and related vehicle and off-highway vehicle 
use) at undeveloped sites, and associated wood cutting and gathering, 
are damaging soils, vegetation, cultural resources, and scenic values 
in the locations that are listed below and may damage paleontological 
values in some of the areas. In addition, certain of these areas have 
nearby residences, and sanitation is a problem at heavily used sites. 
The following actions are necessary to halt ongoing impacts and prevent 
future degradation of resource values, limit impacts on neighboring 
landowners, provide for sanitation and public safety, and maintain the 
quality of recreation opportunities.

Camping, Parking, Wood Cutting and Gathering Restrictions

    To provide for public safety and halt ongoing impacts and prevent 
future degradation of resource values, limit impacts on neighboring 
landowners (where present), and maintain the quality of recreation 
opportunities, the following actions are necessary on a year-round 
basis. Camping on BLM administered public land in the following areas 
is limited to developed campgrounds and designated camping sites. 
Possession, set up for usage, and use of portable toilets for solid 
human body waste is required for overnight use at all designated 
campsites in the areas described below, except at sites where 
constructed toilets are provided. (A portable toilet is defined as (1) 
containerized and reusable, (2) commercially available biodegradable 
system that is landfill disposable, or (3) a toilet within a camper, 
trailer, or motorhome.) Disposal of portable toilet waste off public 
land is required. Wood cutting and gathering, including Christmas tree 
cutting, on BLM administered public land within all of the areas 
described below is prohibited at all times.
    (1) Kane Creek Crossing: the area of public land where the Kane 
Creek Road crosses Kane Creek (below Hurrah Pass). This includes the 
public lands in the following sections: T. 27 S., R. 21 E., Sections 
10, 14 and 15, the southern half of Section 3, and the southern half of 
Section 9.
    (2) Courthouse/Mill/Tusher/Bartlett/Hidden/Brinks Canyon area: this 
area includes public lands south of the Blue Hills Road (including side 
roads up Courthouse Wash, Mill Canyon, Tusher Canyon, Bartlett Canyon, 
and Hidden Canyon), west of U.S. Highway 191, north of Utah Highway 
313, and east of the Dubinky Well Road.
    (3) Areas identified in the Canyon Rims Special Recreation 
Management Area Recreation Plan where camping is restricted. These are 
public lands within a one-mile radius around Windwhistle and Hatch 
Campgrounds, the Looking Glass Rock interpretive site, and the Needles 
and Anticline overlooks.
    (4) Areas to the west of and adjacent to residential areas in Moab 
and Spanish Valley. These include the lands in the following sections: 
T. 26 S., R. 21

[[Page 29781]]

E., Section 12; T 26 S., R. 22 E., Sections 18, 20, and 28 and 29.
    (5) The area around Dripping Springs (Ten Mile Canyon). These 
include the public lands in the following sections: T 24 S., R. 18 E., 
Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 (of which only small portions are 
accessible to vehicular camping due to topography).
    (6) Areas south of Moab (in San Juan County) within one mile on 
either side of the LaSal Mountain Loop Road and the Pack Creek Road, 
and within one-half mile on either side of the Black Ridge Road. This 
area includes portions of T. 27 S., R. 23 E., Sections 17, 22, 30 and 
31, and portions of T. 28 S., R. 23 E., Sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
    These areas consist of approximately 55,970 acres of BLM 
administered public lands.

Exceptions

    The camping and wood cutting and gathering restrictions do not 
apply to activities permitted by the BLM, or to traditional and 
historic uses by Native Americans, BLM official uses, or military, 
fire, emergency, or law enforcement actions. Backpacking is defined as 
camping more than 1 mile from a road without a vehicle. Backpacking is 
not regulated by this notice.

Implementation

    Maps showing these and all current Moab Field Office camping and 
wood cutting and gathering restrictions are available for public review 
at the Moab Field Office. These restrictions are also shown on a map on 
the Moab Field Office's Web site at http://www.blm.gov/utah/moab. BLM 
will provide public land users with information about these camping and 
wood cutting and gathering restrictions using brochures, signs, and 
bulletin boards with maps at major entry areas. Enforcement actions 
will be taken as necessary in accordance with 43 CFR 8360.0-7, or 
violators may be subject to the enhanced penalties provided for by 18 
U.S.C. 3571.

Future Planning

    This notice of camping, parking, wood cutting, and wood gathering 
shall not be construed as a limitation on BLM's future planning efforts 
and/or management of such uses on public lands. BLM will periodically 
monitor resource conditions and trends in the areas described above and 
may modify this notice or implement additional limitations or closures 
as necessary.


    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1.

    Dated: February 2, 2005.
Margaret Wyatt,
Moab Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 05-10260 Filed 5-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P