[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62342-62343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30589]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-070-08-7122-00, AZ-070-98-01]


Arizona, Temporary Closure of Selected; Public Lands in La Paz 
County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Temporary closure of selected public lands in La Paz County, 
Arizona, during the operation of the 1997 Whiplash Parker 400 Desert 
Race.

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SUMMARY: The Lake Havasu Field Office Manager announces the temporary 
closure of selected public lands under its administration. This action 
is being taken to help ensure public safety and prevent unnecessary 
environmental degradation during the official permitted running of the 
1997 Whiplash Parker 400 Desert Race.

DATES: December 4, 1997 through December 6, 1997.

SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS: Specific restrictions and closure periods 
are as follows:

Designated Course

    1. The portion of the course comprised of BLM lands, roads and ways 
south of the Bill Williams River, East and north of AZ Highway 72 and 
west of Wenden Road is closed to public vehicle use from 9:00 a.m. 
Thursday, December 4, 1997, to 9:00 p.m. Saturday December 6, 1997 
(Mountain Standard Time).
    2. Vehicles are prohibited from the following four Wilderness Areas 
and one Wilderness Study area (WSA):
    a. AZ-070-12 (Gibraltar Mountain).
    b. AZ-070-15A (Swansea).
    c. AZ-070-71 (Buckskin Mountains).
    d. AZ-070-17 (East Cactus Plain).
    e. AZ-070-14A/B (Cactus Plain WSA).
    3. The entire area encompassed by the designated course and all 
areas within 1 mile outside the designated course are closed to all 
vehicles except authorized and emergency vehicles. Access routes 
leading to the course are closed to vehicles.
    4. Vehicle parking or stopping along Bouse Road, Shea Road, and 
Swansea Road is prohibited except for the designated spectator areas.
    5. Spectator viewing is limited to two designated spectator areas 
located at:
    a. South and North of Shea Road as signed, approximately 7 miles 
east of Parker, Arizona.
    b. Bouse Road, also known as Swansea Road as signed, approximately, 
2 miles and 5 miles north of Bouse, Arizona.
    6. A fee will be collected from the public entering the public land 
closure from Shea Road, east of Parker, Arizona. The primary purpose of 
the fee implementation is to offset management, and operation costs of 
spectator area services and facilities. The fee implementation is to 
improve public safely while helping provide natural resource protection 
through improved management of the permitted event.
    7. The following regulations will be in effect for the duration of 
the closure: Unless otherwise authorized, no person shall:
    a. Camp in any area outside of the designated spectator areas.
    b. Enter any portion of the race course or any wash located within 
the race course, including all portions of Osborne Wash.
    c. Spectate of otherwise be located outside of the designated 
spectator areas.
    d. Cut or collect firewood of any kind, including dead and down 
wood or other vegetative material.
    e. Be in possession of any alcoholic beverage unless that person 
has reached the age of 21 years.
    f. Possess, discharge, or use firearms, other weapons, or 
fireworks.
    g. Park, stop, or stand any vehicle outside of the designated 
spectator areas.
    h. Operate any vehicle, including an off-highway vehicle (OHV), 
which is not legally registered for street and highway operation, 
including operation of such a vehicle in spectator viewing areas, along 
the race course, and in designated pit areas.
    i. Park any vehicle 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, create a safety hazard or endanger 
any person, property

[[Page 62343]]

or feature. Vehicles so parked are subject to citation, removal and 
impoundment at the owner's expense.
    j. Take any vehicle through, around or beyond a restrictive sign, 
recognizable barricade, fence or traffic control barrier.
    k. Fail to keep their site free of trash and litter during the 
period of occupancy or fail to remove all personal equipment, trash, 
and litter upon departure.
    l. Violate quiet hours by causing an unreasonable noise as 
determined by the authorized officer between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 
a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
    m. Allow any pet or other animal in their care to be unrestrained 
at any time. Signs and maps directing the public to the designated 
spectator areas will be provided by the Bureau of Land Management and 
the event sponsor.
    The above restrictions do not apply to emergency vehicles and 
vehicles owned by the United States, the State of Arizona or to La Paz 
County. Vehicles under permit for operation by event participants must 
follow the race permit stipulations. Operators of permitted vehicles 
shall maintain a maximum speed limit of 35 mph on all La Paz County and 
BLM roads and ways.
    Authority for closure of public lands is found in 43 CFR 8340, 
subpart 8341; 43 CFR 8360, Subpart 8364.1, and 43 CFR 8372. Persons who 
violate this closure order are subject to arrest and, upon conviction, 
may be fined not more than $100,000 and/or imprisoned for not more than 
12 months.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Harris, BLM Ranger, or Myron McCoy, Outdoor Recreation Planner, 
Lake Havasu Field Office, 2610 Sweetwater Avenue, Lake Havasu City, 
Arizona 86406 at (520) 505-1200.

    Dated: November 12, 1997.
Robert M. Henderson,
Acting Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-30589 Filed 11-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M