[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 187 (Wednesday, September 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 56549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15818]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ-330-06-2641-HO-AZZF]


Topock Project Area Emergency Road Closure

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Lake Havasu Field Office, Arizona, 
Interior.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations, subpart 
8364.1, the Bureau of Land Management, Lake Havasu Field Office, will 
close portions of roads on public lands to motorized and mechanized 
vehicle use. The purpose of the emergency closure is to protect soils, 
vegetation and cultural resources that have been adversely impacted, or 
are at risk of being adversely impacted, by off-highway vehicle (OHV) 
use. In addition, this closure is needed to alleviate congestion in the 
project area during Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation 
and Liability Act (CERCLA) remediation of hexavalent chromium in the 
groundwater at the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Topock Compressor 
Station in Needles, California. Copies of this Emergency Closure Notice 
and map are available at the BLM Lake Havasu Field Office, 2610 
Sweetwater Avenue, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406, phone (928) 505-1200.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This emergency road closure is in effect beginning 
August 1, 2006, and will remain in effect until considerable adverse 
effects giving rise to the closure are eliminated, and measures are 
implemented to prevent recurrence of these adverse effects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Dodson, Law Enforcement 
Ranger, Bureau of Land Management Lake Havasu Field Office, 2610 
Sweetwater Avenue, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406, phone (928) 505-1200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Lake Havasu Field Office and other 
entities have observed and documented considerable adverse effects to 
soils, vegetation, and cultural resources from motorized or mechanized 
vehicle use in this area. Based on this information, the BLM authorized 
officer has determined that motorized or mechanized vehicle use in this 
area is causing, and will continue to cause, considerable adverse 
effects. In addition, portions of roads in the emergency road closure 
area are utilized by Pacific Gas and Electric Company to control and 
remove hexavalent chromium from the groundwater. The emergency road 
closure in the area will help protect public safety and remediation 
efforts during CERCLA operations, by restricting motorized and 
mechanized use of the area. The public lands affected are closed to 
travel by motorized and mechanized vehicle use (including trucks, sport 
utility vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, cars, motorcycles, bicycles), 
except for authorized access to private lands and rights-of-way (ROW), 
use by fire and law enforcement vehicles, emergency activities, and 
other authorized government uses. The authorities for this emergency 
closure and restriction order are 43 CFR 8364.1 and 9268.3(d). BLM is 
implementing this action on 269 acres of public land in San Bernardino 
County, California. OHV use on the remainder of the public lands 
administered by the BLM Lake Havasu Field Office will continue to be 
managed according to existing Federal Register orders, and the 1985 
Yuma District Resource Management Plan.
    Description of Closed Area: This emergency closure affects 269 
acres of public lands and roads, subject to the exceptions below, 
located within the Topock Project area. Public lands in the following 
described tracts are hereby closed to motorized and mechanized 
vehicles:

T. 7 N., R. 24 E, portions of sections 5, 6, 7 and 8.

    Private lands within the closure boundary are not under the 
jurisdiction of the BLM, and not affected by this emergency closure.

Exceptions to the Emergency Closure and Restriction Orders

    Exceptions to this closure include emergency personnel (law 
enforcement, fire, medical), authorized BLM personnel, and persons 
authorized access to private lands and Rights of Way within the closure 
boundary.

Penalties

    Under section 303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
(FLPMA) of 1976, (43 U.S.C. 1733(a), and 43 CFR 8360-7, if you violate 
these closures or restrictions on public lands within the boundaries 
established, you may be tried before a United States Magistrate and 
fined no more than $1,000 or, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or 
both. Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced fines 
provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571.

    Dated: July 31, 2006.
Timothy Z. Smith,
Field Manager, BLM Lake Havasu Field Office.
 [FR Doc. E6-15818 Filed 9-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-32-P