[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 50 (Thursday, March 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12187-12188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4690]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-310-1220-PA-241A]


Notice of Order Closing Public Lands to Human Entry, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: To protect fragile, wintering mule deer, the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) is closing to human entry seasonally, during each of 
three consecutive years starting in 2007, certain public lands near the 
South Fork of the Snake River, east of Heise, Idaho. Also, BLM will be 
considering a permanent, seasonal closure to protect wintering mule 
deer herds.

DATES: The closure for the winter of 2007-2008 will take effect on 
December 1, 2007. Closures in 2008 and 2009 will take effect on 
December 1 of each year, respectively. Closures will end on April 30 of 
the following year, unless sooner terminated by the BLM authorized 
officer.

ADDRESSES: The address of the BLM Authorized Officer is: Field Manager, 
Upper Snake Field Office (USFO), 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, 
Idaho 83401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica Zimmerman, BLM Outdoor 
Recreation Planner, (208) 524-7543; or Theresa Mathis, BLM Wildlife 
Biologist, (208) 524-7547.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: While monitoring the progress of wintering 
wildlife in February of 2006, field personnel of the Idaho Department 
of Fish and Game (IDFG), Region 6 office in Idaho Falls, became aware 
of an increase in mule deer fawn and adult mortality rates due to 
recent cold temperatures and increasing human disturbances. The IDFG, 
therefore, requested that BLM order the closure to human entry 
seasonally, during 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009, of public lands 
in the Stinking Springs and Wolf Flat areas near the South Fork of the 
Snake River, east of Heise, Idaho. Closure dates are as stated above. 
The purpose of the closures is to prevent undue and unnecessary 
disturbance and harm to mule deer herds and other big game populations 
migrating to crucial winter range habitat. This initiative is being 
implemented in partnership with the IDFG Region 6 office. The pertinent 
BLM case file is available for public review in the USFO office at the 
address stated above. The authority for the requested closures is 43 
CFR 8364.1(a), which 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.'' This notice identifies by 
legal land description the precise areas that are closed to human 
entry.
    Subject to valid existing rights, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Stinking Springs

    Effective immediately, BLM-administered public lands located in the 
Stinking Springs area north of the South Fork of the Snake River near 
Heise, Idaho, described below, are closed to human entry within the 
dates specified above in this notice. Excepted from this closure order 
are entries for administrative use by BLM and use by BLM permittees, 
IDFG Conservation

[[Page 12188]]

Officers, and local law enforcement, as required. The Stinking Springs 
Trail will remain open from May 1 to November 30 of each year. The 
Stinking Springs area is a crucial wildlife area lying northeast of 
Idaho Falls, Idaho. The area is bounded generally by the South Fork of 
the Snake River on the south and west, and the Kelly Canyon Road and 
Targhee National Forest on the north and east. The legal description of 
the subject lands is as follows:

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 4 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 32, SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, and lands east of the Kelly 
Canyon Road in the NE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, 
NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, All.
T. 3 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 2, SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 3, All;
    Sec. 4, SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\ SW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 5, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, Lots 6 and 8;
    Sec. 9, Lots 2 and 3, NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/
4\;
    Sec. 10, NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, 
SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 11, Lot 2, N\1/2\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 15, Lots 7 and 8, NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 16, Lots 5 and 6.

South Fork of the Snake River (Wolf Flat)

    Effective immediately, BLM-administered public lands located in the 
Stinking Springs area north of the South Fork of the Snake River near 
Heise, Idaho, described below, are closed to human entry within the 
dates specified above in this notice. Excepted from this closure order 
are entries for administrative use by BLM and use by BLM permittees, 
IDFG Conservation Officers, and local law enforcement, as required. The 
legal description of the subject lands is as follows:
    Wolf Flat: Those portions of the following described lands lying 
north of Heise Road, adjacent to the South Fork Snake River, in the 
following areas:

Boise Meridian, Idaho

T. 3 N., R. 41 E.,
    Sec. 10, Lots 1 and 2;
    Sec. 11, Lots 3 and 4;
    Sec. 15, Lot 6.

Authority

    This emergency closure notice is issued under the authority of 43 
CFR 8364.1(c), 8341.2 and 9268.3. Violations of this closure are 
punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 
12 months. Persons who are administratively exempt from the closure 
include any Federal, State, or local officer or employee acting within 
the scope of their duties, members of any organized rescue or fire-
fighting force in the performance of an official duty, or any person 
holding written permission from the BLM.
    Please be further advised that BLM will be considering a permanent, 
annual, seasonal closure to protect wintering mule deer herds on a 
long-term basis. This proposal and its potential environmental effects 
will be studied through a public process and environmental analysis 
conducted in accordance with NEPA.

Wendy Reynolds,
Upper Snake Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E7-4690 Filed 3-14-07; 8:45 am]
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