54126 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 200 / Friday, October 17, 1997 / Notices

proper management of Federal lands

and interests therein.

Upon publication of this notice in the

Federal Register, the land will be

segregated from all other forms of

appropriation under the public land

laws, including the general mining laws,

except for lease or conveyance under

the Recreation and Public Purposes Act

and leasing under the mineral leasing

laws. For a period of 45 days from the

date of publication of this notice in the

Federal Register, interested parties may

submit comments regarding the

proposed lease or classification of the

lands to the Field Manager, Yuma Field

Office, 2555 E. Gila Ridge Road, Yuma,

Arizona 85365.

Classification Comments

Interested parties may submit

comments involving the suitability of

the land for a park and museum.

Comments on the classification are

restricted to whether the land is

physically suited for the proposal,

whether the use will maximize the

future use or uses of the land, whether

the use is consistent with local planning

and zoning, or if the use is consistent

with State and Federal programs.

Application Comments

Interested parties may submit

comments regarding the specific use

proposed in the application and plan of

development, whether the Bureau of

Land Management followed proper

administrative procedures in reaching

the decision, or any other factor not

directly related to the suitability of the

land for a park and museum.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Any adverse comments

will be reviewed by the Arizona State

Director. In the absence of any adverse

comments, the classification will

become effective December 16, 1997.

The lands will not be offered for lease

until the classification becomes

effective.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Reality Specialist Lucas Lucero, Yuma

Field Office, 2555 East Gila Ridge Road,

Yuma AZ 85365, telephone (520) 317–

3215.

Dated: October 8, 1997.

Gail Acheson,

Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–27610 Filed 10–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–32–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA–016–1220–00]

Supplementary Rules for Public Lands

in the Carrizo Plain Natural Area,

California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Establishment of Supplementary

Rules relating to shooting, access,

vehicle use, camping, and resource

protection within the Carrizo Plain

Natural Area in San Luis Obispo and

Kern Counties, California.

SUMMARY: The Caliente Resource Area

hereby gives notice and establishes the

following closures and Special and

Supplementary Rules for the Carrizo

Plain Natural Area (CPNA) effective as

of the date of this publication, as

provided for under Title 43, Code of

Federal Regulations, Subparts 8341.2,

8364.1, and 8365.1–6:

A. Public lands within 1⁄4 mile of any

campground, Painted Rock,

administrative facility (including the

Washburn, Saucito, Goodwin, and MU

ranch headquarters), and all developed

overlooks, interpretive sites or pullouts,

are closed to the discharge of firearms.

Public lands within the Painted Rock

‘‘no shooting zone’’ are posted with

signs at the most prominent points of

public access. The boundaries of this

closure are described in the CPNA

Management Plan and are available

from the Bakersfield District BLM

Office. Those exempted from this

closure order include law enforcement

officers in the commission of their

official duties. These closures are for the

purpose of enhancing public safety and

will also decrease potential conflicts

with recreational users.

Recreational target shooting is

prohibited within the entire CPNA.

Hunting is allowed on public within the

CPNA where public safety is not at risk

or that have not been closed to shooting.

No person shall violate any federal, state

or local laws pertaining to use,

possession or discharge of firearms

while on any BLM administered public

lands. This closure governing the

discharge of firearms affects

approximately 5,200 acres of public

lands in San Luis Obispo County. The

recreational target shooting closure

affects approximately 200,000 acres of

public lands in San Luis Obispo and

Kern Counties.

B. Certain public lands in the CPNA

are subject to closure to all public use,

including but not limited to vehicle

operation, camping, shooting, hiking,

and sightseeing. All public lands within

1⁄4 mile of Sulfur Springs are closed to

public access, except under permit from

the BLM, in order to protect sensitive

resources. All public lands within 1⁄4

mile of Painted Rock are closed to

public access from March 1 through July

15 each year, except for tours authorized

by the Bureau of Land Management, in

order to protect sensitive resources. The

Washburn Administrative Site, the

Goodwin Education Center, the MU,

Goodwin, Saucito, and Painted Rock

Ranch headquarters, and Painted Rock

may be closed to public access as

needed to protect these resources and

facilities. This closure affects

approximately 250 acres in San Luis

Obispo County.

C. Operation of motor vehicles,

aircraft, and boats and flotation devices

of any kind, are prohibited on or within

Soda Lake and any adjacent stream,

channel, dry lake, and body of water.

This closure affects approximately 4,300

acres in San Luis Obispo County.

Exceptions may be allowed, but must be

approved in advance in writing by the

Authorized Officer. Law enforcement

and fire protection personnel operating

within the scope of their official duties

are exempt from the provisions of this

closure order.

D. Off-Highway vehicle use within the

CPNA is limited to designated routes.

Designated routes are defined as

existing well traveled roads which have

been identified and mapped. Maps of

these routes will be made available to

the public. The operation of any

motorized vehicle off of designated

routes of travel is prohibited within the

CPNA. Open routes are available for use

by all vehicle, bicycle, foot and

equestrian travel. All vehicle use on

routes posted or designated as closed is

prohibited. Except on county roads, or

unless otherwise posted, the speed limit

on such open roads is 25 miles per hour.

Vehicles parked adjacent to any open

road must be parked as close to the road

as possible without preventing passage

of other vehicles. Open roads may be

closed temporarily at the discretion of

the BLM if necessary for safety or

resource protection.

Roads or routes designated as being

for administrative use only are closed to

all motor vehicles except those used by

employees of the BLM, the California

Department of Fish and Game, or The

Nature Conservancy when conducting

official business. Other uses require the

prior approval of the BLM. Roads

designated as being for administrative

use only are open to bicycles and other

nonmotorized vehicles, pedestrians, and

casual horse use unless otherwise

posted.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 200 / Friday, October 17, 1997 / Notices 54127

This limited use designation does not

apply to emergency vehicles, fire

suppression and rescue vehicles, law

enforcement vehicles, and other

motorized vehicles specifically

approved by an authorized officer of the

Bureau of Land Management. The

closure affects approximately 200,000

acres. A map of the open route network

is available from the Bureau of Land

Management, 3801 Pegasus Dr.,

Bakersfield, CA 93308, (805) 391–6000.

E. Overnight camping is allowed

within designated campgrounds and

designated camping areas in the CPNA.

All other public lands within the CPNA

are closed to overnight parking or

camping. Camping or overnight parking

within all portions of the CPNA is

prohibited within 200 yards of any

natural or artificial water source.

Overnight camping is limited to 14 days

within any 30 day period, for a total of

no more than 28 days within any one

year period, except as specified in

writing by the authorized officer.

The primary purpose of all corrals,

loading chutes, and other appurtenant

livestock facilities during the authorized

grazing season will be for livestock

management. Camping or parked

vehicles may not interfere with their

use. All litter, waste, and refuse at

campsites must be kept within a

container or receptacle while camping,

and removed when leaving the CPNA.

F. Other supplemental rules

prescribed by the CPNA Management

Plan include:

—Property left unattended for more

than three days without the prior

approval of the Authorized Officer

will be treated as abandoned and may

be removed and stored by law

enforcement personnel at the owner’s

expense.

—Pets and pack animals must be

controlled by the owner at all times.

Pack animals shall be within corrals,

or adequately restrained. Pets must be

prevented from chasing, harassing, or

taking wildlife.

—Organized groups with 20 or more

persons or 5 or more vehicles must

secure a permit for any activities off

county roads.

—The use of metal detectors is

prohibited, except for approved

administrative purposes.

—All research and study activities

require a permit or written

authorization from the BLM.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These rules are effective

October 17, 1997 and will remain in

effect until revised, revoked or amended

by the Authorized Officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The above

supplementary rules are being

implemented for the following

purposes:

The BLM administers approximately

200,000 acres in the Carrizo Plain

Natural Area (CPNA). The CPNA is

managed jointly with the California

Department of Fish and Game and The

Nature Conservancy for the benefit of

indigenous species within a fully

functional ecosystem. The natural area

is important to fifteen species of plants

and animals that are currently listed,

proposed to be listed, or fully protected

by either the federal or California

Endangered Species Acts. In addition,

the natural area encompasses worldclass archaeological sites, and continues

to be of great importance to native

peoples. These values have contributed

toward making the CPNA an

increasingly popular destination for

sightseeing and outdoor recreation. Use

is concentrated at certain sites and along

trails, but many activities are highly

dispersed. The purpose of these actions

is to protect and efficiently manage

these special resources, and enhance

visitors safety on public lands.

This order is in no way intended to

affect the rights of private land owners,

or their interests within the closure area,

with respect to private lands. Further,

this order does not infer any Bureau of

Land Management jurisdiction over

private or state lands within closure

areas.

A copy of this Federal Register notice

and maps showing the affected areas are

available for review in the Bakersfield

District Office of the Bureau of Land

Management.

PENALTIES: The authorities for these

closures and supplementary rules are 43

CFR 8341.2, 8364.1, and 8365.1–6.

Violations of these rules are punishable

by fines of up to $1,000 and/or

imprisonment not to exceed 12 months

as well as the penalties provided under

State law.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ronald D. Fellows, Bureau of Land

Management, Bakersfield District

Manager, 3809 Pegasus Dr., Bakersfield

CA 93308, Phone (805) 391–6000.

Dated: October 7, 1997.

John Skibinski,

Acting District Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–27615 Filed 10–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Public Notice

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Public notice.

SUMMARY: Public notice is hereby given

that the National Park Service proposes

to award 17 concession permits

authorizing the operation of sport

hunting guide-outfitter services for the

public at Wrangell St. Elias National

Preserve, Alaska for a period of five

years from January 1, 1998 through

December 31, 2002. Currently there are

sixteen concessioners providing the

services described in this prospectus.

One permit is for a hunt area for which

there is no current operator.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties should

contact the Superintendent, WrangellSt. Elias National Park & Preserve, P.O.

Box 439, Copper Center, Alaska 99573

or by calling (907) 822–5234 for a copy

of the prospectus.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These

permits have been determined to be

categorically excluded for the

procedural provisions of the National

Environmental Policy Act and no

environmental document will be

prepared.

The 16 existing concessioners have

performed their obligations to the

satisfication of Secretary under existing

permits which expire by limitation of

time on December 31, 1997, and

therefore pursuant to the provisions of

Section 5 of the Act of October 9, 1965

(16 U.S.C. 20), are entitled to be given

preference in the renewal of the permit,

providing that the existing

concessioners submit a responsive offer

(a timely offer which meets the terms

and conditions of the Prospectus). This

means that the permit will be awarded

to the party submitting the best offer,

provided that if the best offer was not

submitted by an existing concessioner,

then the existing concessioner will be

afforded the opportunity to match the

best offer. If the existing concession

agrees to match the best offer, then the

permit will be awarded to the existing

concessioner. If the existing

concessioner does not submit a

responsive offer, the right of preference

in renewal shall be considered to have

been waived, and the permit will then

be awarded to the party that has

submitted the best responsive offer. The

Secretary will consider and evaluate all

offers received as a result of this notice.

There is no incumbent concessioner

for the 17th permit, and accordingly, no

preference will be awarded to an

applicant for this guide area.

Any offer, including that of the

existing concessioner, must be received

by the Superintendent, Wrangell-St.

Elias National Park and Preserve, P.O.