108 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 1998 / Notices

and other human values with a

sustainable, healthy ecosystem.

During July, 1997, five public scoping

meetings were held to gather public

input as to their concerns and

suggestions for the Black Rock Desert.

Input gathered from these meetings will

be used to develop the objectives for the

plan and to formulate the alternatives

for the environmental assessment

leading to the amendment of the Land

Use Plan.

DATES: A public comment period on the

forthcoming Draft Plan Amendment will

be announced in the spring of 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be addressed to: Ron Wenker, District

Manager, Winnemucca District Office,

5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard,

Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mike Bilbo, Recreation Specialist,

Winnemucca District Office, 5100 East

Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca,

Nevada 89445, (702) 623–1500.

Dated: December 17, 1997.

Ron Wenker,

District Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–34185 Filed 12–31–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ–930–03–1220–00: 8365]

Establishment of Supplementary Rules

for Recreational Mineral Collection on

Lands Administered by Bureau of Land

Management, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In title 43 of the Code of

Federal Regulations, § 8365.1–5

establishes rules of conduct in regard to

property and resources managed by the

Bureau of Land Management. Section

8365.1–5(b) establishes that it is

permissible to collect from the public

lands ‘‘reasonable amounts’’ of certain

resources for personal use. This action

establishes the standards for

‘‘reasonable limits’’ for the recreational

collecting of rocks, mineral specimens,

common invertebrate fossils, semiprecious gemstones, and petrified wood,

as well as summarizes existing rules

found in above referenced citation.

Recreational Mineral Collecting is

commonly called ‘‘rockhounding.’’

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 2, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

Buff, Senior Minerals Specialist, or

Terry O’Sullivan, Senior Recreation

Specialist, Arizona State Office, 222 N.

Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona,

85004: Telephone (602) 417–9200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: To protect

valuable and fragile natural and cultural

resources and to provide for public

enjoyment, the following supplementary

rule is provided.

Rocks, minerals, semiprecious

gemstones and petrified wood may be

collected on public lands administered

by the Arizona Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) without charge or

permit as long as you collect reasonable

amounts of specimens.

1. Arizona BLM sets the ‘‘reasonable’’

limits for personal use as up to 25

pounds per day, plus one piece, with a

total limit of 250 pounds per year. These

limits are for rocks, mineral specimens,

common invertebrate fossils, semiprecious gemstones, and petrified wood.

2. A group of people does not pool

their yearly allotment to collect a piece

larger than 250 pounds of either

rockhounding specimens or petrified

wood. Authority to establish

supplementary rules is 43 CFR 8365.1–

6 and violation of these rules are

punishable by a fine not to exceed

$1,000 and/or imprisonment not to

exceed 12 months (43 CFR 8360.0–7).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: BLM Arizona

has developed a brochure which will be

available at local BLM offices,

containing these supplementary rules

and other regulations found in 43 CFR

8365.1–5 pertaining to Recreational

Mineral Collecting. Rocks, mineral

specimens, common invertebrate fossils,

semi-precious gemstones, and petrified

wood may be collected on public lands

administered by the Arizona Bureau of

Land Management (BLM) without

charge or permit as long as:

1. The specimens are for personal use

and are not being collected for

commercial purposes or bartered to

commercial dealers.

2. Collection does not occur in

developed recreation sites or areas,

unless designated as a rockhounding

area by the BLM.

3. Collection is not prohibited or

restricted and posted.

4. Collection, excavation or removal

are not aided with motorized or

mechanical devices, including heavy

equipment or explosives. Metal

detectors are acceptable, with the

exception of the San Pedro National

Conservation Area.

5. No undue or unnecessary

degradation of the public lands occurs

during the removal of rock, minerals, or

gemstones.

6. For pieces of petrified wood

heavier than 250 pounds or situations

not covered in the above rules or

regulations, please contact the local

BLM office.

7. In addition, if you are planning to

use a suction dredge:

(a) It is required that you receive

permission from the Army Corps of

Engineers prior to using any suction

dredge [Telephone: Phoenix: (602) 640–

5385; Tucson: (520) 670–5021];

(b) It is required that you contact the

local BLM office if the suction dredge

has an intake of 4 inches or larger;

(c) It is recommended that you contact

the local BLM office if the suction

dredge has an intake of less that 4

inches.

Dated: December 23, 1997.

Gary D. Bauer,

Associate State Director.

[FR Doc. 97–34152 Filed 12–31–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–32–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[(NM–930–1310–01); (NMNM 89139)]

New Mexico: Proposed Reinstatement

of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease

Under the provisions of Public Law

97–451, a petition for reinstatement of

oil and gas lease NMNM 89139 for lands

in Eddy County, New Mexico, was

timely filed and was accompanied by all

required rentals and royalties accruing

from September 1, 1997, the date of

termination.

No valid lease has been issued

affecting the lands. The lessee has

agreed to new lease terms for rentals

and royalties at rates of $10.00 per acre

or fraction thereof and 162⁄3 percent,

respectively. The lessee has paid the

required $500 administrative fee and

has reimbursed the Bureau of Land

Management for the cost of this Federal

Register notice.

The Lessee has met all the

requirements for reinstatement of the

lease as set out in Sections 31(d) and (e)

of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30

U.S.C. 188), and the Bureau of Land

Management is proposing to reinstate

the lease effective September 1, 1997,

subject to the original terms and

conditions of the lease and the

increased rental and royalty rates cited

above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gloria S. Baca, BLM, New Mexico State

Office (505) 438–7566.