[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 192 (Thursday, October 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69225-69227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22211]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_AZ_FRN_MO4500173200 AZ-SRP-030-23-26]
Notice of Temporary Closure and Temporary Restrictions of
Selected Public Lands in La Paz County, AZ--Legacy Racing
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of temporary closure and restrictions.
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SUMMARY: As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy
and Management Act of 1976, as amended, notice is hereby given that
temporary closures and temporary restrictions of activities will be in
effect on public lands administered by the Lake Havasu Field Office,
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to minimize the risk of potential
collisions with spectators and racers during the Legacy Racing off-
highway vehicle (OHV) race event authorized under a Special Recreation
Permit.
DATES: The temporary restrictions for the Legacy Racing Event take
effect at 11:59 p.m., February 19, and last through midnight February
25, 2024. The temporary closure takes effect at 11:59 p.m., February
20, and lasts through midnight February 25, 2024. All times listed are
in local time.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sabrina Bice, Outdoor Recreation
Planner, BLM Lake Havasu Field Office, 1785 Kiowa Avenue, Lake Havasu
City, Arizona 86403, telephone (928) 302-4255, email [email protected].
Also see the Lake Havasu Field Office website: https://www.blm.gov/office/lake-havasu-field-office. 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. 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: On January 6, 2015, the decision record
authorizing off-road high-speed events on the Parker 400 racecourse was
signed. The environmental assessment analyzing these routes (EA #DOI-
BLM-AZ-C030-2014-0040) concluded that allowing permitted motorized
racers exclusive use of the Lake Havasu Field Office Record of
Decision/Approved Resource Management Plan (2007) designated Parker 400
course would mitigate safety concerns.
These temporary closures and restrictions affect public lands in
and around Parker and Bouse in La Paz County, Arizona. The temporary
closure applies to all public use, including pedestrian and vehicles,
unless excepted. The temporary closure area follows the Parker 400
racecourse as designated in the 2007 Lake Havasu Resource Management
Plan. The temporary restriction area begins on public lands east of the
eastern boundary of the Colorado River Indian Tribe (CRIT) Reservation,
along Shea Road, then east into Osborne Wash onto the Parker-Swansea
Road to the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Canal, then north on the west
side of the CAP Canal, crossing the canal on the county-maintained
road, running northeast into Mineral Wash Canyon, then southeast on the
county-maintained road, through the four-corners intersection to the
Midway (Pit) intersection, then east on Transmission Pass Road, through
State Trust Land located in Butler Valley, turning north into
Cunningham Wash to North Tank; continuing south to Transmission Pass
Road and east (reentering public land) within two miles of Alamo Dam
Road. The temporary restriction area boundary turns south and west onto
the wooden power line road, onto the State Trust Land in Butler Valley,
turning southwest into Cunningham Wash to the Graham Well, intersecting
Butler Valley Road, then north and west on the county-maintained road
to the ``Bouse Y'' intersection, two miles north of Bouse, Arizona. The
temporary restriction area boundary proceeds north, paralleling the
Bouse-Swansea Road to the Midway (Pit) intersection, then west along
the north boundary (power line) road of the East Cactus Plain
Wilderness Area to Parker-Swansea Road. The temporary restriction area
boundary turns west into Osborne Wash crossing the CAP Canal, along the
north boundary of the Cactus Plain Wilderness Study Area; it continues
west staying in Osborne Wash and crossing Shea Road along the southern
boundary of Gibraltar Wilderness, rejoining Osborne Wash at the CRIT
Reservation boundary.
The temporary closures and restrictions are necessary because of
the high-speed nature of the race event and the added safety concerns
due to the limited visibility when there is no daylight. Roads leading
into the public lands under the temporary closure and restrictions will
be posted with copies of the temporary closure, temporary restrictions,
and associated maps to notify the public. The temporary closure and
restriction orders will be posted in the Lake Havasu Field Office and
online at https://www.blm.gov/office/lake-havasu-field-office. Maps of
the affected area and other documents associated with this temporary
closure are available at the Lake Havasu Field Office, 1785 Kiowa
Avenue, Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
The closures and restrictions are issued under the authority of 43
CFR 8364.1, which allows the BLM to establish closures for the
protection of persons, property, and public lands and resources.
Violation of any of the terms, conditions, or restrictions contained
within this closure order may subject the violator to citation or
arrest with a fine or imprisonment, or both, as specified by law.
Temporary Closure
a. The designated racecourse is closed to public entry during the
temporary closure, with the following exceptions:
i. The person is an employee or authorized volunteer with the BLM,
a law enforcement officer, emergency medical service provider, fire
protection provider, or another public agency employee working at and
assigned to the event;
ii. The person is working at or attending the event directly on
behalf of the permit holder.
b. Motor vehicles may be operated within the temporary closure area
under the circumstances listed below:
i. Race participants and support vehicles on designated routes;
ii. BLM, medical, law enforcement, and firefighting vehicles are
authorized at all times;
iii. Vehicles operated by the permit holder's staff or contractors
and volunteers are authorized at all times. These vehicles must display
evidence of event registration at all times in such manner that it is
visible to the front of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.
[[Page 69226]]
Temporary Restrictions
1. Environmental Resource Management and Protection
a. Cutting or collecting firewood of any kind, including dead and
downed wood or other vegetative material, is prohibited.
b. Grey Water Discharge: The discharge and dumping of grey water
onto the ground surface is prohibited. Grey water is defined as water
that has been used for cooking, washing, dishwashing, or bathing and/or
contains soap, detergent, food scraps, or food residue, regardless of
whether such products are biodegradable or have been filtered or
disinfected.
c. Human Waste: The depositing of human waste (liquid and/or solid)
on the ground surface is prohibited.
2. Alcohol/Prohibited Substance
a. Possession of alcohol by minors is prohibited. Selling or
offering to sell any alcoholic beverage on public lands under this
notice is prohibited.
3. Drug Paraphernalia
a. The possession of drug paraphernalia is prohibited.
4. Disorderly Conduct
a. Disorderly conduct is prohibited. No person shall cause a public
disturbance or create a risk to other persons on public lands by
engaging in activities that include, but are not limited to, the
following:
i. Making unreasonable noise;
ii. Creating a hazard or nuisance;
iii. Refusing to disperse when directed to do so by an authorized
officer;
iv. Resisting arrest or issuance of citation by an authorized
officer engaged in performance of official duties; interfering with any
Bureau of Land Management employee or volunteer engaged in performance
of official duties; or
v. Assaulting, committing a battery upon any individual, or
vi. Knowingly giving any false or fraudulent report of an emergency
situation or crime to any Bureau of Land Management employee or
volunteer engaged in the performance of official duties.
5. Eviction of Persons
a. The temporary restriction area is closed to any person who:
i. Has been evicted from the event by the permit holder, whether or
not the eviction was requested by the BLM;
ii. Has been evicted from the event by the BLM; or
iii. Has been ordered by a law enforcement officer to leave the
area of the permitted event.
b. Any person evicted from the event forfeits all privileges to be
present within the temporary restriction area.
6. Motor Vehicles
a. Motor vehicles must comply with the following requirements:
i. Motor vehicle operators must possess evidence of valid
insurance.
ii. Motor vehicles and trailers must not block a street used for
vehicular travel or a pedestrian pathway. Parking any OHV in violation
of posted restrictions; or in such a manner as to obstruct or impede
normal or emergency traffic movement or the parking of other vehicles;
creating a safety hazard; or endangering any person, property, or
feature is prohibited. Vehicles parked in violation are subject to
citation, removal, and/or impoundment at the owner's expense.
iii. Operating a vehicle through, around, or beyond a restrictive
sign, barricade, fence, or traffic control barrier or device is
prohibited.
iv. Failure to obey any person authorized to direct traffic or
control access to event area including law enforcement officers, BLM
officials, and designated race officials is prohibited.
7. Public Camping
a. The temporary restriction area is closed to public camping with
the following exceptions:
i. The permitted event's spectators, who are camped in designated
spectator areas, as marked by protective fencing, barriers, and
informational signage provided by the permit holder;
ii. The permit holder's authorized staff, contractors, and BLM-
authorized event managers.
b. Spectator area site reservations, denying other visitors or
parties from utilizing unoccupied portions of the spectator area by
marking with flags, tape, posts, cones, etc. is prohibited. Vehicles
and trailers may not be left unattended for over 72 hours.
c. Failure to observe restricted area quiet hours of midnight to 6
a.m. is prohibited.
8. Weapons
a. Discharging or use of firearms or other weapons is prohibited.
b. The prohibition above shall not apply to county, State, Tribal,
and Federal law enforcement personnel who are working in their official
capacity at the event.
9. Public Use
a. Failure to obey any official sign posted by the BLM, law
enforcement, La Paz County, or the permit holder is prohibited.
Existing Regulations
The following list of existing regulations is not intended to be
comprehensive. A complete list of laws and regulations applicable to
public lands in Arizona may be viewed at: http://www.azd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/general-orders/19-14.pdf.
1. Environmental Resource Management and Protection
a. No person may deface, disturb, remove, or destroy any natural
object--43 CFR 8365.1-5(a)(1).
b. Fireworks: The use, sale, or possession of personal fireworks is
prohibited--43 CFR 9212.1(h).
c. Black Water Discharge: The discharge and dumping of black water
onto the ground surface is prohibited. Black water is defined as
wastewater containing feces, urine, and/or flush water--43 CFR 8365.1-
1(b)(3).
d. Trash: The discharge of any trash or litter onto the ground
surface is prohibited. All event participants must pack out or properly
dispose of all trash at an appropriate disposal facility--43 CFR
8365.1-1(b)(1).
e. Hazardous Materials: The dumping or discharge of vehicle oil,
petroleum products, or other hazardous household, commercial, or
industrial refuse or waste onto the ground surface is prohibited. This
applies to all recreational vehicles, trailers, motorhomes, port-a-
potties, generators, and other camp infrastructure--43 CFR 8365.1-
1(b)(3).
2. Alcohol/Prohibited Substance
a. Possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage by the
driver or operator of any motorized vehicle, whether or not the vehicle
is in motion, is prohibited--43 CFR 8365.1-6.
b. Possession of alcohol by minors. Consumption or possession of
any alcoholic beverage by a person under 21 years of age on public
lands is prohibited--43 CFR 8365.1-6 Supplementary Rule 63 FR 43716.
c. Operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of
alcohol, marijuana, narcotics, or dangerous drugs is prohibited--43 CFR
8341.1(f)(3).
3. Disorderly Conduct
a. Obstructing, resisting, or attempting to elude a law enforcement
officer, or fails to follow their orders or directions is prohibited--
43 CFR 8365.1-4(a)(4).
4. Motor Vehicles
a. Motor vehicles must comply with the following requirements:
[[Page 69227]]
i. The operator of a motor vehicle must possess a valid driver's
license 43 CFR 8341.1(copyright).
ii. Motor vehicles and trailers must possess evidence of valid
registration--43 CFR 8341.1(d).
iii. Motor vehicles must not exceed the posted speed limit--43 CFR
8341.1(f)(2).
5. Pets or Other Animals
a. Allowing any pet or other animal to be unrestrained is
prohibited. All pets must be restrained by a leash of not more than six
feet in length--43 CFR 8365.2-1(copyright).
Enforcement: Any person who violates these closures or restrictions
may be charged with a violation of Federal law. In accordance with 43
CFR 8365.1-7, a person may also be charged with violations of State
and/or local law.
Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1.
William Mack,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2023-22211 Filed 10-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-12-P