[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 50 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 12187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4687]



[[Page 12187]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-030-1232-PM-NV14; Closure Notice No. NV-030-07-001]


Sand Mountain Recreation Area, NV, Motorized Travel Restrictions

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Emergency Restriction on Motorized Use on Federal Lands, 
Churchill County, NV.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that motorized travel is restricted on 
3,985 acres on certain public lands located in and adjacent to Sand 
Mountain Recreation Area, Churchill County, Nevada. These restrictions 
are necessary because motorized travel is adversely affecting wildlife 
and BLM finds that in order to prevent further adverse effects to the 
habitat of the Sand Mountain blue butterfly (Euphilotes pallescens 
arenamontana) restricting motorized travel is required. These 
restrictions will remain in effect until such time as the Resource 
Management Plan has been updated to address the long-term management of 
the wildlife, cultural, vegetation and recreation resources in the area 
or until the Field Office Manager determines it is no longer needed. 
Resource damage has already taken place and the potential for 
additional adverse effects occurring as a result of unrestricted off-
highway vehicle (OHV) use within this area is substantial and 
significant.

DATES: Effective Date: This restriction goes into effect immediately 
and will be verified upon publication in the Federal Register. It will 
remain in effect until the Manager, Carson City Field Office, 
determines it is no longer needed.

    Authority: The authority for these restrictions is 43 CFR 
8341.2, 8364.1, and 9268.3.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Donald T. Hicks, Field Office 
Manager, Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, 
Nevada 89701. Telephone (775) 885-6000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Sand Mountain blue butterfly is known to 
occupy habitat only at Sand Mountain, Churchill County, Nevada, where 
it is completely dependent on its host plant, Kearney buckwheat 
(Eriogonum nummulare). Approximately 1,000 ac (405 ha) of dune shrub 
habitat remained in 2003, an estimated reduction of about 50 percent 
over the past 25 years. Moreover, much of this remaining habitat has 
been highly fragmented by over 200 miles (320 km) of OHV routes. The 
public lands affected by this order are located east of Fallon, Nevada 
and North of U.S. Highway 50, in Churchill County, Nevada and include 
certain public lands within:

Mt. Diablo Meridian

T. 17 N., R. 32 E.
    Sec. 13, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, S\1/2\S\1/2\;
    Sec. 16, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, All;
    Sec. 22, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 23, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, W\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, All;

    And lands within Secs. 28, 32, and 33 of the Sand Mountain 
Recreation Area.

    These lands are depicted on maps located in the Carson City Field 
Office and at maps posted at the Sand Mountain Recreation Area fee 
station and entrance area. Copies of these maps may be obtained from 
the Carson City Field Office. This restriction order applies to all 
forms of motorized vehicle use excluding (1) any emergency, law 
enforcement or other BLM vehicle while being used for emergency or 
administrative purposes, and (2) any vehicle whose use is expressly 
authorized in writing by the Manager, Carson City Field Office.
    Penalty: Any person who fails to comply with the restriction order 
may be subject to imprisonment for not more than 12 months or a fine in 
accordance with the applicable provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3571, or both.

    Dated: December 12, 2006.
Donald T. Hicks,
Manager, Carson City Field Office.
[FR Doc. E7-4687 Filed 3-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P