[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 4754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01753]



[[Page 4754]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCON03000.LF2200000.JS0000.LFESGZT40000]


Notice of Temporary Closure of Public Lands in Mesa County, 
Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of temporary closure.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a temporary closure is in effect 
on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
Grand Junction Field Office, Grand Junction, Colorado.

DATES: This temporary closure will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. 
(Mountain Time) on January 29, 2014 until 11:59 p.m. (Mountain Time) on 
January 29, 2015 or until the Authorized Officer determines adequate 
rehabilitation has occurred, whichever comes first.

ADDRESSES: The Grand Junction Field Office address is 2815 H Road, 
Grand Junction, CO 81506.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Stevens, Grand Junction Field 
Office Manager, at the above address or by phone at 970-244-3000. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339 to contact 
the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or 
question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This temporary closure affects public lands 
burned in the Pine Ridge Fire northeast of Grand Junction in Mesa 
County, Colorado. The BLM originally issued a one-year temporary 
closure following the fire. This closure ended on July 12, 2013. A 
second temporary closure is required for plants to establish to 
stabilize soil. The public lands within the temporary closure are 
administered by the BLM Grand Junction Field Office. The northern 
boundary of the temporary closure is located at Route 7729A; the 
western boundary of the temporary closure is located approximately 
eight miles west of De Beque, Colorado; the eastern boundary of the 
temporary closure is located at United States Interstate 70 and the 
Colorado River; and the southern boundary of the temporary closure is 
located at Cottonwood Creek. The legal description of the affected 
lands is:

Colorado, Sixth Principal Meridian

T. 9 S., R. 97 W., Sections 18, 19, and 30;
T. 9 S., R. 98 W., Sections 13 to 36, inclusive;
T. 10 S., R. 98 W., Sections 1 to 3, inclusive;
T. 9 S., R. 99 W., Sections 25 and 36.

    The temporary closure encompasses all public lands within the 
13,920 acres burned by the fire. This temporary closure is necessary 
due to the potential for erosion and sedimentation in the Colorado 
River that could result from travel on the burned area. The fire 
destroyed much of the natural vegetation that held soils in place. A 
temporary closure of public land to motorized and mechanized vehicles 
within the burned area is necessary to stabilize soils, prevent erosion 
and protect public health and safety. An annual mix was seeded shortly 
after the burn to stabilize the soil. The annual seeding had very poor 
germination and did not successfully stabilize the soil. The burned 
area was seeded again with native perennials once there was snow cover 
on the ground. The second seeding had a much higher success rate, but 
the plant species need more time to establish before public use is 
allowed. Public use of the burned area will hamper these efforts and 
delay rehabilitation.
    The BLM will post closure signs at main entry points to the 
temporary closure area. The closure notice will be posted in the Grand 
Junction Field Office along with maps of the affected area and other 
documents associated with this closure including the Environmental 
Assessment for the Pine Ridge Fire (DOI-BLM-CO-130-2012-0048-EA). 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 8360.0-7 and 43 CFR 
8364.1, the BLM will enforce the following rule on public land affected 
by the Pine Ridge Fire described as follows: You must not enter the 
Pine Ridge Fire Temporary Closure Area by any means of motorized or 
mechanized transportation.
    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 firefighting forces in the 
performance of their official duties; and persons with written 
authorization from the BLM.
    Any person who violates the above rule(s) and/or restriction(s) may 
be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined no more than 
$1,000, imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Such violations 
may also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 
3571.

John Mehlhoff,
BLM Colorado Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-01753 Filed 1-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P