[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 68813]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27932]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD07000 L12200000 PA0000]


Notice of Closure of Airport Mesa/Carizzo Creek Shooting Area in 
Eastern San Diego County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has closed approximately 
210 acres of public land described as the Airport Mesa/Carrizo Creek 
shooting area located in eastern San Diego County, California. The 
closure order prohibits recreational shooting and target practice. The 
use of firearms will continue to be allowed for hunting consistent with 
California Department of Fish and Game regulations and seasons. This 
closure order is necessary in order to protect U.S. Border Patrol 
agents as they perform their duties along the top of Airport Mesa.

DATES: The closure order is effective as of June 19, 2012, until June 
19, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Steward, BLM El Centro Field 
Office, 1661 S. 4th St., El Centro, CA 92243, telephone 760-337-4400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM recognizes that recreational target 
shooting is a valid use of public lands, and seeks to balance this with 
the need to provide for public safety. The BLM El Centro Field Office 
prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for this temporary closure 
(DOI-BLM-CA-D070-2012-0058-EA). This 2-year temporary closure will 
allow the BLM to proceed through a land use plan amendment process and 
utilize public input to consider a permanent closure of the area and 
options for alternative shooting areas.
    The purpose of this closure order is to protect persons, property, 
and public land and resources, and the protection of U.S. Border Patrol 
agents as they perform their duties along the top of Airport Mesa.
    The closure order is in accordance with provisions of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (Pub. L. 94-579, 90 stat. 2743, 
43 U.S.C. 1701 et. seq.) and 43 CFR 8360.0-7.
    The order closes the following public lands in eastern San Diego 
County to recreational shooting and target practice:

San Bernardino Base and Meridian,

T. 18 S., R. 8 E.,
    Sec. 3, S\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\ and S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, lot 9, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, lot 12 and SW\1/4\NW\1/4\.

    The areas described aggregate 230.20 acres, according to the 
official plats of the surveys of the said lands, on file in the 
Bureau of Land Management.

    The following persons are exempt from the identified restrictions:
    (1) Federal, State, or local law enforcement officers, while 
engaged in the execution of their official duties;
    (2) BLM personnel or their representatives while engaged in the 
execution of their official duties;
    (3) Any member of an organized rescue, firefighting force, or 
emergency medical services organization while in the performance of 
their official duties;
    (4) Any person in receipt of a written authorization of exemption 
obtained from the authorized officer; and
    (5) Any person with a legal California hunting license in their 
possession and in the legal act of hunting.
    This Notice and maps of the restricted area will be clearly posted 
at main entry points to the Airport Mesa shooting area and will also be 
available at the BLM El Centro Field Office.

    Authority:  43 CFR 8364.1; 43 CFR 8360.0-7.

Margaret L. Goodro,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2012-27932 Filed 11-15-12; 8:45 am]
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