[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74111-74112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29277]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[14XL 1109AF LLUTW01100 L12200000.AL0000 24 1A]


Notice of Closure: Target Shooting Public Safety Closure on the 
Lake Mountains in Utah County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), pursuant to its 
regulations, is maintaining an existing closure of approximately 900 
acres of public land on the Lake Mountains in Utah County, Utah, to the 
discharge or use of firearms or dangerous weapons

[[Page 74112]]

for the purposes of recreational target shooting to protect public 
safety, property and resources. This closure does not restrict other 
public activities or access to the Lake Mountains area.

DATES: This notice reestablishes the temporary target shooting closure 
order within the described area for no longer than two years from 
December 15, 2014, or earlier if a land use planning decision is 
completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Hotze, Field Manager; Phone: 
801-977-4300; Salt Lake Field Office; 2370 South Decker Lake Boulevard, 
West Valley City, Utah 84119; email: [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 individual 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 individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This temporary closure affects public lands 
on the Lake Mountains, Utah County, Utah. The legal description of the 
affected public lands is:

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 7 S., R. 1 E.
    Sec. 6, lot 1, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lot 1.
    T. 7 S., R. 1 W.
    Sec. 13, lots 2, 11, 12 and portions of lots 3, 4, 9, and 10, 
and the SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ lying east of the 345 KV power line*;
    Sec. 24, portions of lots 1-3, 10, 13, 17, 18, and portions of 
lots 11 and 12, and the NW\1/4\ lying east of the 345 KV power 
line*;
    Sec. 26, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and portions of the 
N\1/2\NW\1/4\ lying east of the 345 KV power line*;
    *BLM right-of-way UTU 0115794.
    The area described contains approximately 900 acres more or 
less.

    The Salt Lake Field Office hereby closes a portion of the Lake 
Mountains, Utah County, Utah, to all target shooting for public safety 
reasons. The area will be closed under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1--
Closures and Restrictions and in conformance with BLM Washington Office 
Instruction Memorandum 2013-035, Requirements for Processing and 
Approving Temporary Public Land Closure and Restriction Orders. Due to 
unsafe conditions and danger to the public, it is imperative for the 
BLM to reestablish the closure on the area.
    The Lake Mountains are a small mountain range located on the west 
side of Utah Lake. The range is only about 8 miles wide and 12 miles 
long. The city of Saratoga Springs borders the north side of the 
mountains and Eagle Mountain City is along the west side. State Highway 
68 runs along the eastern bench of the Lake Mountains; it is a main 
arterial road and is used by residential, agricultural and recreational 
traffic. There are a number of communication sites on the top of the 
mountain, as well as a major power line that runs along a lower 
elevation ridge. Across Highway 68, there are private residences along 
the lake shore. Utah Lake is a popular area for recreationists, 
boaters, and anglers. A lake access point known as ``the Knolls'' is 
one of the few public access points on the western shoreline and is 
located just off Highway 68. The Lake Mountains are comprised of a 
mixed ownership pattern of lands managed by the BLM, Utah School and 
Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), and several private 
property owners. The area encompassed by the closure is primarily used 
by residents of Utah County and southern Salt Lake County for target 
shooting.
    Prior to the 2012 closure, the Lake Mountains received about 4,000 
target shooters each month; and on weekends, as many as 400 shooters 
concentrated into 5 areas, and other dispersed locations. The slopes of 
the Lake Mountains provide a natural backstop ideal for target 
shooting; however, some shooters chose to target practice in the 
relatively flat terrain on the lower slopes. Given the topography of 
the area and the number of people who visit it, the area subject to 
this Order is not conducive to safe target shooting. Target shooting in 
the area has resulted in nearby private residences being shot and near-
misses of automobiles and people. An additional danger is the annual 
threat from target shooting-related wildfires adjacent to private 
residences, a major power line located on the eastern bench, 
communication towers on the ridge top, and public land resources.
    The previous two-year closure proved effective in redirecting 
target shooting to safer locations, allowing cleanup of the area, 
eliminating illegal dumping and significantly reducing target shooting-
related wildfires. Since the implementation of the closure in August 
2012, no near-misses from errant gunfire have been reported to law 
enforcement.
    Since the implementation of the original 2012 target shooting 
safety closure, several additional actions have been taken by private 
landowners, other agency partners and the BLM to augment the closure. 
Regular patrols have been conducted by the Utah County Sheriff's 
Office, BLM law enforcement rangers and private property owners. 
Barricades have been installed to identify the closure boundary, 
especially along private property and in areas receiving recurring 
violations, such as the Little Cove area. Utah County is completing the 
construction of a fence along the west side of Highway 68 with gates to 
allow public access on a few controlled routes. Utah County also has 
started planning for development of a nearby managed target shooting 
range. In April 2014, SITLA closed approximately 1,500 acres of state 
lands adjacent to and near the BLM closure to recreational access. 
Additionally, the BLM is initiating an amendment to its land use plan 
to develop a more permanent solution for the target shooting issues in 
this area. With the closure and these subsequent actions, volunteers 
have been able to clean up the large amounts of trash and household 
appliances in these areas.
    This closure is made under the authority of the regulations in 43 
CFR 8364.1--Closures and Restrictions, and is in conformance with BLM 
Washington Office Instruction Memorandum 2013-035, Requirements for 
Processing and Approving Temporary Public Land Closure and Restriction 
Orders. 43 CFR 8364.1(a) states: ``To protect persons, property, and 
public lands and resources, the authorized officer may issue an order 
to close or restrict use of designated public lands.'' The closure only 
applies to the discharge or use of firearms or dangerous weapons for 
the purposes of recreational target shooting and does not affect legal 
hunting. Any person who violates the above restriction 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 also 
may be subject to the enhanced fines provided for in 18 U.S.C. 3571.

    Authority:  43 CFR 8364.1

Jenna Whitlock,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-29277 Filed 12-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P