[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65650-65651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27030]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUTW01100-LF2000ES-JS0000-LFESE4J7]


Notice of Closure to Motorized Vehicle Travel on Public Lands in 
the Big Pole Fire Area in Tooele County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of temporary closure

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a temporary closure to motorized 
vehicle travel was implemented as of May 17, 2010. This closure affects 
27,100 acres of public land administered by the Salt Lake Field Office, 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), within the Big Pole Fire area in 
Tooele County, Utah.

DATES: This temporary closure on motor vehicle travel within the 
described area will remain in effect for a minimum of

[[Page 65651]]

2 years from May 17, 2010, the date the closure order was signed by the 
authorized officer. The closure may be extended beyond this period, if 
necessary, until the BLM Salt Lake Field Office Manager has determined 
emergency stabilization and rehabilitation treatments have been 
successful and the threat of resource damage from motorized vehicle 
travel no longer exists in the area. The BLM will provide appropriate 
public notification when the motor vehicle travel restrictions are 
lifted for the area. Fencing and closure signs will be removed as 
necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Carpenter, District Manager, 
BLM, West Desert District, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 
84119; by phone at 801-977-4300; or by e-mail at [email protected]. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individuals during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This temporary closure affects public lands 
within the Big Pole Fire area in Tooele County, Utah, and encompasses 
all public lands administered by the BLM Salt Lake Field Office east of 
State Route 196, south of Interstate 80, west of the crest of the 
Stansbury Mountain range, and north of the Skull Valley Goshute Indian 
Reservation in Tooele County, Utah. The legal description of the 
affected area is all public lands within Townships 1, 2, 3 and 4 South, 
Ranges 7 and 8 West, Salt Lake Meridian.
    The closure and stabilization actions were analyzed pursuant to the 
National Environmental Policy Act, in the Big Pole Fire Motor Vehicle 
Closure environmental assessment (DOI-BLM-W010-2010-0005-EA) and FY2009 
Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation determination of NEPA 
adequacy (DOI-BLM-UT-W000-2009-0001-DNA), respectively. This closure is 
being implemented for the purposes of protecting soil, watershed, 
vegetation, and cultural resources which the BLM Salt Lake Field Office 
has determined are at immediate risk. The reasons for implementing this 
closure are based on a risk determination which, in turn, is based on 
field observations and stabilization planning conducted by the BLM 
staff specialists following the Big Pole Fire, which started on August 
6, 2009, and was declared contained on August 16, 2009. This wildfire 
was particularly intense due to winds in excess of 40 mph and heavy 
fuel loads of cheatgrass and juniper trees. The BLM monitoring revealed 
extensive resource damage caused by the burn patterns and the severity 
of a wildfire that burned over 44,000 acres in approximately 24 hours. 
Heavy soil scorching and a total loss of vegetative cover have resulted 
in a significantly greater risk for water runoff and soil erosion. Soil 
composition in the area is highly erodible. Subsequent motor vehicle 
traffic in burned areas has increased the risk of erosion and may have 
a negative impact on efforts to stabilize soils and establish new 
vegetation. Motor vehicle travel may also increase the spread of 
invasive species, such as cheatgrass, into areas damaged by wildfire. 
The BLM Salt Lake Field Office is implementing a comprehensive 
emergency stabilization and rehabilitation plan within the Big Pole 
fire area which includes seeding, planting, soil treatments, noxious 
weed control, fencing, signing, resource monitoring, and law 
enforcement. The following persons are exempt from this order: Federal, 
state, and local officers and employees in the performance of their 
official duties; members of organized rescue or fire-fighting forces in 
the performance of their official duties; and persons with written 
authorization from the Bureau of Land Management.
    The closure order has been posted at major entry points to the burn 
area. Copies of the closure order and maps of the closed area have been 
made available at the BLM West Desert District's Salt Lake Field 
Office, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119. The closure was 
also published on the BLM Salt Lake Field Office Web site and 
distributed to local government and media outlets.
    Penalties: Under the authority of Section 303(a) of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733(a)), 43 CFR 
8341.2(a), 43 CFR 8364.1, and 43 CFR 9268.3(d), the Bureau of Land 
Management is enforcing the following rule(s) within the Big Pole Fire 
Area:
    You must not use motorized vehicles in the closed area. Any person 
who violates the above rule may be issued a citation, tried before a 
United States Magistrate, and fined no more than $1,000, imprisoned for 
no more than 12 months, or both, as provided for in 43 CFR 8340.0-7. 
Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for 
by 18 U.S.C. 3571 and 3581.

    Authorities: 43 CFR 8341.2(a), 8364.1, and 9268.3(d).

Juan Palma,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-27030 Filed 10-25-10; 8:45 am]
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