[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 125 (Thursday, June 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39123-39124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14051]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[223-LLCOS01000-L11700000.PI0000-LXSIWILD0000]


Notice of Temporary Seasonal Closure of Public Lands in La Plata 
and Montezuma Counties, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of temporary closure.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a temporary closure to all forms 
of entry will be in effect seasonally for certain public lands 
administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Tres Rios Field 
Office in La Plata and Montezuma Counties, Colorado. The temporary 
closure is necessary to protect critical wildlife habitat and minimize 
stress to wintering mule deer and elk and nesting raptors.

DATES: In the Durango area of La Plata County, the temporary closure of 
BLM-administered lands identified as critical winter wildlife habitat 
will be in effect annually from 12:01 a.m. on December 1 through 11:59 
p.m. on April 15, with possible extension through April 30 if 
conditions warrant. The temporary closure of BLM-administered lands 
identified as critical raptor habitat will be in effect annually from 
12:01 a.m. on March 15 through 11:59 p.m. on July 31.
    In the Cortez area of Montezuma County, the temporary closure of 
BLM-administered lands identified as critical winter wildlife habitat 
will be in effect annually from 12:01 a.m. on December 1 through 11:59 
p.m. on April 30.
    All times noted are local.
    The temporary seasonal closures take effect on August 1, 2022 and 
will expire 30 days after publication in the Federal Register of a 
final supplementary rule implementing the 2015 Tres Rios Field Office 
Resource Management Plan (RMP).

ADDRESSES: The temporary closure order, maps of the affected areas, and 
documents associated with the temporary closure order will be made 
available and posted at the Tres Rios Field Office, 29211 Highway 184, 
Dolores, CO 81323.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyler Fouss, Field Staff Ranger; 29211 
Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323; telephone: (970) 882-1131; email: 
[email protected].
    Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services to contact 
Tyler Fouss. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The need for these temporary seasonal 
closures is identified in the record of decision for the Tres Rios 
Field Office RMP and the supporting environmental impact statement 
(EIS). The BLM affirmed that its environmental analysis conducted in 
that EIS adequately informed, under the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), the decision regarding these temporary closures in La Plata 
County. That determination of NEPA adequacy is contained in the 
worksheet titled ``Seasonal Wildlife Area Closures on Public Lands in 
La Plata County, Colorado'' (DOI-BLM-CO-S010-2020-0006-DNA). BLM 
conducted additional site-specific analysis of the effects of the 
Cortez area closures in an environmental assessment for the Tres Rios 
Field Office entitled, ``Transportation and Access Plan, Travel Area 1: 
Archuleta, La Plata and Montezuma Counties'' (DOI-BLM-CO-S010-2018-
0013-EA).

I. Durango Area Closures

    In 1971, the BLM and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) identified 
the need to preserve critical winter range to minimize adverse impacts 
and prevent disturbance to wintering elk and mule deer. The BLM 
purchased land on Animas City Mountain from The Nature Conservancy and 
entered into a joint plan with CPW for managing Animas City Mountain 
and the Perins Peak Wildlife Management Area. Perins Peak was also 
identified as critical nesting habitat for peregrine falcons. In 1999, 
the BLM and CPW identified a similar need to manage for critical winter 
range within the Grandview Ridge Recreation Management Zone (RMZ) and 
developed a management plan for the Durango Special Recreation 
Management Area (SRMA).

II. Cortez Area Closures

    The BLM designated the Cortez SRMA during revision of the Tres Rios 
Field Office RMP. The RMP identifies the need for annual seasonal 
closures in the Chutes-n-Ladders, Summit, and Aqueduct areas of the 
Montezuma Triangle RMZ within the Cortez SRMA. These areas provide 
critical winter range for elk and mule deer and are identified in the 
Colorado action plan for implementation of Department of the Interior 
Secretary's Order 3362, ``Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game 
Winter Range and Migration Corridors'' (2018). When the BLM developed 
the SRMA, it implemented seasonal wildlife closures as a mitigation 
measure in response to the designation of elk and mule deer critical 
winter range in the Cortez SRMA.
    Description of Closed Areas: This temporary closure affects the 
following BLM-administered public lands within the Tres Rios Field 
Office in La Plata County, Colorado: Animas City Mountain and Grandview 
Ridge RMZs within the Durango SRMA and the Perins Peak Wildlife 
Management Area; and in Montezuma County, Colorado: Aqueduct, Chutes 
and Ladders, and Summit areas of the Montezuma Triangle RMZ within the 
Cortez SRMA.
    The legal description of affected public lands is as follows:

Grandview Ridge RMZ

New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado

T. 34 N., R. 9 W., North of the Ute Line
    Sec. 3, lots 5 thru 13, and SE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, lots 5 thru 12;
    Sec. 9, lots 1, 2, 4 and 5;
    Sec. 10, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T. 34.5 N., R. 9 W.,
    Sec. 34.
T. 35 N., R. 9 W.,
    Sec. 26, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 34, lots 8, 9, 13, 14 and 15;
    Sec. 35, W\1/2\NW\1/4\.

    The Carbon Junction Trail will remain open to its intersections 
with the South Rim and Sidewinder Trails. The Crites Connection Trail 
will remain open from its intersection with the Carbon Junction Trail 
to its intersection with the Telegraph Trail. The BLM will post signs 
at the Carbon Junction Trailhead indicating the extent of the closure 
area boundary and at each closed intersection indicating the points 
where the closure area begins.

Animas City Mountain RMZ

New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado

T. 35 N., R. 9 W.,
    Sec. 4, S\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 6, lot 18;

[[Page 39124]]

    Sec. 7, lots 10 and 14;
    Sec. 8, lots 1 and 2, parcel A, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, N\1/
2\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, lots 2 thru 6;
    Sec. 17, parcel A and N\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\.

    Users can access the 1.5-mile loop trail on the lower portion of 
Animas City Mountain via the trailheads at either Birkett Drive or West 
32nd Street/West 4th Avenue. The BLM will post signs at the bottom of 
the loop indicating the extent of the closure area boundary and at the 
top of the open loop indicating the points where the closure area 
begins.

Perins Peak Wildlife Management Area

New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado

T. 35 N., R. 9 W.,
    Sec. 7, lot 10 and 14;
    Sec. 18, lots 9, 10 and 11, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, lots 5, 6 and 7.
T. 35 N., R. 10 W.,
    Sec. 2, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 3, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\ and S\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 4, lot 4, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ and S\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, lot 1 and SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, N\1/
2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 13;
    Sec. 14, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, and E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, lots 3 and 12;
    Sec. 24, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.

Aqueduct

New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado

T. 36 N., R. 13 W.,
    Sec. 19, lot 4, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\ and N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\SW\1/
4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\NW\1/
4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/2\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\.

Chutes and Ladders

New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado

T. 36 N., R. 14 W.,
    Sec. 19, E\1/2\SW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, and SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, that 
portion lying northerly and easterly of the southerly right-of-way 
boundary of U.S. Highway 160, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, that portion lying 
northerly and easterly of the southerly right-of-way boundary of 
U.S. Highway 160, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\, that portion lying northerly 
and easterly of the southerly right-of-way boundary of U.S. Highway 
160;
    Sec. 30, lots 1 and 2, excluding the right-of-way grant 
described in Reception No. 244629, filed October 20, 1965, in the 
official records of Montezuma County, Colorado, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\NW\1/4\.
T.36 N., R. 15 W.,
    Sec. 25, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\.

Summit

New Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado

T.36 N., R. 14 W.,
    Sec. 2, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 3, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, S\1/2\NE\1/4\ and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, 
and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 10, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, 
and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, W\1/2\NW\1/4\ and SE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, and 
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 17, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and S\1/
2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 22, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/
2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, S\1/2\SW\1/4\ and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    The BLM will enforce the following temporary seasonal closures 
under 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:
    1. You must not enter identified closure areas in the Animas City 
Mountain and Grandview Ridge RMZs of the Durango SRMA from December 1 
through April 15 for the protection of critical winter wildlife 
habitat. This closure may be extended through April 30 if conditions 
and wildlife needs warrant.
    2. You must not enter identified closure areas in the Perins Peak 
Wildlife Management Area from December 1 through April 15 for the 
protection of critical winter wildlife habitat. This closure may be 
extended through April 30 if conditions and wildlife needs warrant.
    3. You must not enter identified closure areas in the Perins Peak 
Wildlife Management Area for peregrine habitat from March 15 through 
July 31 for the protection of critical raptor habitat.
    4. You must not enter the Chutes-n-Ladders, Summit, and Aqueduct 
areas of the Montezuma Triangle RMZ within the Cortez SRMA from 
December 1 through April 30 for the protection of critical winter 
wildlife habitat. Travel on county roads through these areas is 
allowed.
    Exceptions to Closure: 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 BLM.
    Enforcement: Any person who violates this temporary closure may be 
tried before a United States Magistrate and fined, imprisoned, or both, 
in accordance with 43 U.S.C. 1733(a), 18 U.S.C. 3571, and 43 CFR 
8360.0-7. In accordance with 43 CFR 8365.1-7, State or local officials 
may also impose penalties for violations of State or local law.
    Effect of Closure: All areas as described in this notice are 
temporarily closed to all public use, including pedestrian use and 
vehicles, during the time periods as denoted in this notice, unless 
specifically excepted as described earlier.

(Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1733(a), 43 CFR 8364.1, 43 CFR 8360.0-7)

Brian D. Achziger,
BLM Colorado Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2022-14051 Filed 6-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P