[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 2411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-606]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-030-1210-BE]


Notice of Designation of Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice implements Section 6 of the Northern California 
Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act (Act) (Pub. L. 109-362). The Act 
designates the 11,271 acre Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area and 
requires that this area ``shall be designated as wilderness and as a 
component of the National Wilderness Preservation System, on the 
earlier of--(1) the date on which the Secretary publishes in the 
Federal Register notice that the conditions in the potential wilderness 
area that are incompatible with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et 
seq.) have been removed; or (2) the date that is 5 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act.''
    The Secretary of the Interior has determined that the conditions of 
the Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area that were incompatible have 
been removed, and therefore the area is now suitable for wilderness 
designation.

DATES: The Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area shall become the 
Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness on January 13, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Bureau of Land Management, Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon 
Road, Arcata, California 95521. Detailed information concerning this 
action is available for review at this address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management, 
at the above address or at (707) 825-2321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 6(b) of the Act provides that the 
11,271 acre Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area be managed as 
wilderness except as necessary for ecological restoration and subject 
to valid existing rights until its designation as wilderness. Section 
6(c) of the Act allows the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to use 
motorized equipment and mechanized transport for ecological restoration 
within the potential wilderness area, but requires that restoration to 
the maximum extent practicable be undertaken through the ``minimum tool 
or administrative practice necessary * * * with the least amount of 
adverse impact on wilderness character and resources.''
    The Elkhorn Ridge area's designation as a potential wilderness was 
intended to provide the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, 
time to assess and, if necessary, restore 1,565 acres of previously 
logged private in-holdings acquired shortly before the Act's passage.
    After designation of the Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area, 
the BLM's Arcata Field Office assessed the in-holdings to determine 
their condition relative to the Act and the BLM wilderness inventory 
criteria. Through this assessment, the BLM determined that impacts from 
past activities are successfully recovering through natural 
rehabilitation and are compatible with the Act's requirements and with 
wilderness designation. The Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area 
appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature and 
exhibits outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive and 
unconfined recreation. Although some traces of past logging operations 
and associated road construction remain, the BLM has determined that 
the benefits of mechanized restoration are outweighed by the adverse 
impacts of such mechanized restoration on wilderness character. The BLM 
has determined that additional restoration actions would not be 
beneficial or necessary prior to wilderness designation and would not 
further the purposes of the Act.
    As provided for under section 6(d) and 6(e) of the Act, the Elkhorn 
Ridge Potential Wilderness Area shall become wilderness on January 13, 
2011. The area shall be known as the Elkhorn Ridge Wilderness and 
administered in accordance with section 4 of the Wilderness Act (16 
U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). As the Elkhorn Ridge Potential Wilderness Area 
has been managed as wilderness pursuant to section 6(b) of the Act, the 
designation of this area as wilderness will not change any public uses 
of the area. The BLM will take this designation of the Elkhorn Ridge 
Wilderness into account as it moves forward with its long term planning 
and management.

    Authority:  Sec. 6, Pub. L. 109-362.

Sylvia V. Baca,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-606 Filed 1-12-11; 8:45 am]
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