[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51891-51892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26308]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[MT-020-1060-00]


Temporary Closure of Public Lands in the Southeastern Portion of 
Carbon County, MT and the Northern Portion of Big Horn County, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montana, Miles City District, 
Billings Resource Area, Interior.

ACTION: Temporary, rotating closure of designated areas of the Pryor 
Mountain Wild Horse Range to public access.

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SUMMARY: Notice is served that designated areas of the Pryor Mountain 
Wild Horse Range will be closed to public access on a temporary and 
rotating basis during the wild horse gather operation scheduled to 
begin on or about October 20, 1997. It is

[[Page 51892]]

anticipated that the gather operation will take approximately two weeks 
depending on the weather. Upon initiation, gather efforts will focus 
first on Sykes Ridge, then the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area 
``Dryhead'' area, and finally Burnt Timber Ridge. As such, it will be 
necessary to individually close, including road access, either Burnt 
Timber Ridge or Sykes Ridge for a 3-4 day period during helicopter 
operation. Only one area will be affected at a time. Gather efforts 
within the ``Dryhead'' area will be coordinated through the National 
Park Service. This area will not be closed, but some traffic control 
may be in effect during actual days of helicopter operation. The public 
land affected by this rotating closure is located at:

SYKES RIDGE

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 8 S., R. 28 E.,
    Sec. 4: M&B
    Sec. 5: M&B
    Sec. 8: All
    Sec. 9: M&B
    Sec. 15: M&B
    Sec. 16: All
    Sec. 17: All
    Sec. 20: All
    Sec. 21: W2E2, W2
    Sec. 28: W2
    Sec. 29: All
    Sec. 32: All
    Sec. 33: W2, W2SE
T. 9 S., R. 28 E.,
    Sec. 4: NWNE, S2NE, W2, SE
    Sec. 5: All
    Sec. 8: All
    Sec. 9: All
    Sec. 10: W2SW
    Sec. 15: NWNW, S2NW, SW
    Sec. 16: All
    Sec. 17: All
    Sec. 20: All
    Sec. 21: All
    Sec. 22: W2
    Sec. 27: W2
    Sec. 28: All
    Sec. 29: All
    Sec. 32: All
    Sec. 33: All
    Sec. 34: All

6th Principal Meridian, Wyoming

T. 58 N., R. 95 W.,
    Sec. 17: M&B
    Sec. 18: All
    Sec. 19: All
    Sec. 26: M&B
    Sec. 27: M&B
    Sec. 28: M&B
    Sec. 33: M&B
    Sec. 34: M&B

BURNT TIMBER RIDGE

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 8 S., R. 27 E.,
    Sec. 12: M&B
    Sec. 13: M&B
    Sec. 24: M&B
    Sec. 25: M&B
    Sec. 26: M&B
    Sec. 35: M&B
    Sec. 36: M&B
T. 9 S., R. 27 E.,
    Sec. 1: All
    Sec. 2: M&B
    Sec. 11: M&B
    Sec. 12: All
    Sec. 13: All
    Sec. 14: M&B
    Sec. 23: M&B
    Sec. 24: All
    Sec. 25: M&B
    Sec. 36: M&B
T. 8 S., R. 28 E.,
    Sec. 6: E2E2
    Sec. 7: M&B
    Sec. 18: All
    Sec. 19: All
    Sec. 30: All
    Sec. 31: All
T. 9 S., R. 28 E.,
    Sec. 6: All
    Sec. 7: All
    Sec. 18: All
    Sec. 19: All
    Sec. 30: All
    Sec. 31: All

6th Principal Meridian, Wyoming

T. 58 N., R. 95 W.,
    Sec. 18: M&B
    Sec. 19: M&B
    Sec. 29: M&B

    This closure is necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of all 
participants and observers for this gather, and to protect the wild 
horses as a natural resource on public lands. Efforts will be made to 
avoid time periods, such as weekends, of heavier anticipated public use 
of the range. The helicopter contractor is available to work on 
weekends, however, and this may be necessary due to temporary weather 
shut-downs or other unforeseen circumstances.

DATES: Rotating closures will be in effect from on or about October 20, 
1997 through the conclusion of the gather operation, anticipated to 
conclude November 1, 1997 depending on weather conditions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Burton D. Williams, Area Manager, BLM, 
Billings Resource Area Office, 810 E. Main, Billings, Montana 59105 or 
call (406) 238-1540.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority for this action is outlined in 
Title 43 Code of Federal Regulations, Subparts 8364 (43 CFR 8364.1). 
Any person who fails to comply with this closure is subject to arrest 
and a fine up to $1000 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or 
both. This closure applies to all persons except persons authorized by 
the Bureau of Land Management and involved in the gather process.
    For the first time, helicopters will be used as the primary tool to 
gather horses into the Britton Springs Corral Facility at the south end 
of the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range. In order to use the helicopter 
in a safe and effective manner, it is necessary to close the affected 
area while the helicopter operation is underway. The wild horses are 
separated into social groups that occupy three fairly distinct 
geographic areas of the range including Sykes Ridge, Burnt Timber Ridge 
and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area ``Dryhead'' area. 
Gather efforts will be selective and will focus on one subpopulation of 
horses at a time. It is estimated that use of a helicopter will 
facilitate the timeliness, such that an average of 3-4 days will be 
necessary to gather horses from each geographic area.

    Dated: September 24, 1997.
Timothy M. Murphy,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-26308 Filed 10-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P