[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16005-16006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7936]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Designation of Potential Wilderness as Wilderness, 
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
SUMMARY: The Great Sand Dunes Wilderness within Great Sand Dunes 
National Monument was designated by Public Law 94-567, dated Oct 20th, 
1976. According to the act the wilderness was to comprise 33,450 acres 
with a potential wilderness addition of 670 acres. Public Law 95-625, 
dated Nov 10th, 1978 added 1,109 acres to Great Sand Dunes National 
Monument and Public Law 96-87, dated Oct 12th, 1979, amended this 
addition to 1,900 acres and further added that ``The Secretary shall 
designate the lands described by this paragraph for management in 
accordance with the adjacent lands within the monument * * *.'' This 
amendment, therefore, has the effect of authorizing inclusion of the 
1,900 acres in the wilderness area. At the time the Acts were approved 
the added lands had non-conforming uses prohibited by the Wilderness 
Act of 1964 and so were designated as potential wilderness until such 
time as the non-conforming uses were eliminated.
    The National Park Service depicted the wilderness and potential 
wilderness additions on maps entitled ``Great Sand Dunes Wilderness, 
Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado'', numbered 140-20,006-D 
and dated January, 1980. In May, 1980, the NPS published the legal 
description of the wilderness and potential wilderness additions. The 
maps and legal description are on file at the headquarters of Great 
Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, 11500 Highway 150, Mosca, CO 
81144.
    At the time of the establishment of the wilderness area two of the 
potential wilderness units had been purchased by the government but had 
non-conforming uses which precluded them from being included in the 
original wilderness

[[Page 16006]]

declaration. One was occupied by the previous owner under a ``Life 
Estate Agreement'' while the other was occupied under a ``Use and 
Occupancy'' agreement. The former expired upon the death of the 
occupant in 1995 while the latter's term expired in 1999. Subsequently 
each unit reverted to the exclusive control of the government and the 
non-conforming uses were eliminated. Additionally, improvements 
existing on one of the units were removed and the area restored to a 
natural state.
    The other two units were privately held, accessible by motor 
vehicle, and with potential further development. One 40 acre tract was 
purchased in 2000 and the remaining lands purchased in 2004. 
Subsequently, the government holds all rights and privileges to the 
land including mineral rights (which never passed from the government 
in the first place).
    Note that Public Law 106-530, dated Nov 22, 2000, abolished Great 
Sand Dunes National Monument and instead established Great Sand Dunes 
National Park and Preserve. The potential wilderness lands hereby 
designated as wilderness total 2,505 acres more or less and are 
described as:

Sixth Principal Meridian

T. 25 S., R. 73 W.,
    Section 31, surveyed, that portion of Segregated Tract 39 in the 
N\1/2\ according to Government Independent Resurvey approved October 
7, 1943;
    Section 32, surveyed, that portion of Segregated Tract 39 in the 
W\1/2\ NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, N\1/2\ NW\1/4\, and W\1/2\ SW\1/4\ NW\1/4\ 
according to Government Independent Resurvey approved October 7, 
1943.
T. 26 S., R. 73 W.,
    Section 11, surveyed, those portions of E\1/2\ lying 
northwesterly beyond 50 feet of the centerline of that portion of 
the Medano Pass Primitive Road northeasterly of Little Medano Road, 
northwesterly of the center of that portion of the intermittent 
stream leading into Medano Creek southwesterly of said Little Medano 
Road and northerly of the center of that portion of Medano Creek 
below the confluence thereof with said intermittent stream and 
excluding in said E\1/2\ a strip of land 50 feet on each side of the 
centerline of said Little Medano Road;
    Section 14, surveyed, that portion of E\1/2\ W\1/2\ lying west 
of the center of Medano Creek;
    Section 23, surveyed, that portion of W\1/2\ NW\1/4\ lying west 
of the center of Medano Creek;

New Mexico Principal Meridian

That southeasterly portion of the former Luis Maria Baca No. 4 Grant 
lying within the authorized boundaries of the former Great Sand 
Dunes National Monument in Saguache County.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Bowman, Chief Ranger, Great Sand 
Dunes National Park and Preserve, 11500 Highway 150, Mosca, CO 81146, 
(719) 378-6321, [email protected].

    Dated: February 4, 2009.
Michael D. Snyder,
Director Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. E9-7936 Filed 4-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-CL-P