[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 8 (Friday, January 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2063-2064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-306]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-210-1220-MA]


Notice of Emergency Closure of Certain Public Lands to Motorized 
Vehicles in Twin Falls and Owyhee Counties, ID and Elko County, NV, 
Under Murphy Complex Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Closure-Emergency/Safety.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Jarbidge Field Office is 
implementing an emergency closure in order to protect cultural and 
natural resources and stabilization treatments as recommended in the 
Department of the Interior's Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation 
Plan for the Murphy Complex Fire. The closure allows motorized vehicle 
traffic (e.g. All-Terrain Vehicles, pickups, motorcycles, sport utility 
vehicles, etc.) on established roads within the fire perimeter, legal 
boundaries and transportation routes (please refer to supplementary 
information for description of closure area). The purpose of the 
closure is to restrict off-road vehicle use while providing continued 
public access to and through the area. Vehicles traveling cross-country 
in a burned area may damage reemerging plants, increase erosion and 
spread noxious weeds. Closure signs will be posted at main entry points 
to this area. Maps of the closure area may be obtained at the address 
listed below.

DATES: This closure is effective upon publication in the Federal 
Register, and will remain in effect for two years from January 11, 
2008. It may be lifted sooner if BLM determines that revegetation and 
stabilization efforts have resulted in successful re-growth of desired 
vegetation, as described below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Max Yingst, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, Jarbidge Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 2536 
Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301-7975, or call (208) 736-2362.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the closure and a map of the closed area may be 
obtained at the BLM, Jarbidge Field Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin 
Falls, Idaho 83301, telephone (208) 736-2350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2007, the Murphy Complex Fire 
consumed 496,760 acres in the Idaho BLM Twin Falls District, Jarbidge 
Field Office. This closure order applies to

[[Page 2064]]

approximately 510,477 acres of BLM lands and is considered an emergency 
situation to enhance protection of the resources involved. The Normal 
Fire Emergency Rehabilitation Plan (NFRP) Environmental Assessment, 
BLM, Lower Snake River District states: ``Access within the [Emergency 
Stabilization and Rehabilitation] project area may be temporarily 
limited during the recovery period (e.g., access limited to existing 
roads and trails).'' This order affects public lands in Owyhee and Twin 
Falls Counties, Idaho and Elko County, Nevada thus described:

Township 10S, Range 10E, sections 01, 02, 10-16, 20-29, 35, 36
Township 10S, Range 11E, sections 07-36
Township 10S, Range 12E, sections 07-11, 14-23, 25-36
Township 11S, Range 10E, sections 01, 02, 11-14, 23-26, 35, 36
Township 11S, Range 11E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 11S, Range 12E, sections 01-12, 14-23, 27-34
Township 12S, Range 07E, sections 25, 26, 32-36
Township 12S, Range 08E, section 31
Township 12S, Range 10E, sections 01 and 12
Township 12S, Range 11E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 12S, Range 12E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 13S, Range 06E, sections 13, 24, 25, and 36
Township 13S, Range 07E, 01-05, 07-36
Township 13S, Range 08E, sections 06, 07, 17-20, 28-36
Township 13S, Range 09E, sections 31-35
Township 13S, Range 11E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 13S, Range 12E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 13S, Range 13E, sections 18-21, 26-36
Township 14S, Range 06E, sections 01, 12, 13, and 24
Township 14S, Range 07E, sections 01-36
Township 14S, Range 08E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 14S, Range 09E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 14S, Range 10E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 14S, Range 11E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 14S, Range 12E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 14S, Range 13E, sections 01-31
Township 15S, Range 07E, sections 01-30, 32-36
Township 15S, Range 08E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 15S, Range 09E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 15S, Range 10E, sections 01-36
Township 15S, Range 11E, sections 01-36
Township 15S, Range 12E, sections 01-12, 14-23, 26-35
Township 15S, Range 13E, section 06
Township 16S, Range 07E, sections 01-05, 08-16, 21-28, 32-36
Township 16S, Range 08E, all sections of BLM lands
Township 16S, Range 09E, sections 01-21, 24, 25, 28-32
Township 16S, Range 10E, sections 03-09, 17-20, 30
Township 16S, Range 11E, sections 01-03, 11-13
Township 16S, Range 12E, sections 02-11, 14-23
Township 16S, Range 13E, sections 11-16, 21-28
Township 16S, Range 14E, sections 05-08, 18, 19, 29, 30
Township 47N, Range 56E, sections 01-04, 08-17, 20-29, 33, 34
Township 47N, Range 57E, sections 01-13, 16-21
Township 47N, Range 58E, sections 04-09, 18

    BLM lands per county (acres):

Elko County, NV--18,631
Owyhee County, ID--435,968
Twin Falls County, ID--55,878
    A total of approximately 510,477 acres.

    The closure does not apply to authorized vehicles, rescue vehicles, 
BLM operation and maintenance vehicles, resource management activities, 
or use by fire and law enforcement vehicles. In addition, access to 
private property by property owners may be authorized by the BLM Field 
Manager. Nothing in this closure is intended to affect legal hunting as 
consistent with Idaho Department of Fish and Game regulations; however 
there will be no exceptions granted for cross country travel.
    Under section 303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733(a) and 43 CFR 8360-7), if you violate this 
closure on public land 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 by Title 18 U.S.C. 3571.
    Conditions for Ending Closure: Soil stabilization and revegetation 
treatments will be considered successful, if and when the following 
occur:
    1. Slopes and soils show signs of stabilization and have not 
experienced slope failure through at least one winter season.
    2. Re-growth of vegetation has sufficiently obscured cultural sites 
exposed by the fire.
    3. Seeding treatments on burned areas are successfully established.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1 and 43 CFR 8341.2

Rick Vander Voet,
Jarbidge Field Office Manager, Idaho Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. E8-306 Filed 1-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P