Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 1 / Friday, January 2, 1998 / Notices 107

Dated: December 23, 1997.

Nancy M. Kaufman,

Regional Director, Region 2, Fish and Wildlife

Service.

[FR Doc. 97–34154 Filed 12–31–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA–340–7123–00–6019]

Notice of Closure, Public Lands

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior, Clear Lake Field Office, Ukiah,

California.

ACTION: Closure of Public Lands.

SUMMARY: In accordance with Title 43,

Code of Federal Regulations, subpart

8364, notice is hereby given that the

below described public lands in the

Cow Mountain area of Lake County are

temporarily closed to public access and

use. The closure will be in effect upon

publication of this notice and will

remain in effect for one year. Lands

closed are described as follows:

All that real property situated in the

County of Lake, State of California,

described as follows:

The northwest quarter (NW1⁄4), the

southwest quarter of the northeast

quarter (SW1⁄4NE1⁄4) and the north half

of the southeast quarter (N1⁄2SE1⁄4) of

Section 9, the southwest quarter of the

southeast quarter (SW1⁄4SE1⁄4), the south

half of the southwest quarter (S1⁄2SW1⁄4),

and the northwest quarter of the

southwest quarter (NW1⁄4SW1⁄4) of

Section 10, Township 14 North, Range

11 West, Mount Diablo Meridian, Lake

County, California.

Excepting from the northwest quarter

(NW1⁄4) of said Section 9, all that

portion described as lying along the

north line of the northwest quarter of

the northwest quarter (NW1⁄4NW1⁄4) of

Section 9, Township 14 North, Range 11

West, MDM; beginning 650 feet east of

the northeast corner of 8-Mile Valley

Ranch; running east along the north line

1320 feet; thence south 100 feet; thence

west 1320 feet; thence north 100 feet to

the point of beginning. This closure is

necessary to protect persons, property,

and public lands and resources.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Bureau of Land Management’s Clear

Lake Field Office recently acquired the

above described lands. As part of the

agreement conveying the lands to the

public and to BLM management, the

former owners retained one year to

vacate the property and remove

personal belongings. The BLM Clear

Lake Field Office will be amending the

South Cow Mountain Management Plan

to include provisions for managing

these lands, before opening them for

public use. Additionally, several roads

and structures are in disrepair and

unsafe for public use. These roads must

be repaired before the area is opened for

public use.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Contact

Richard Burns, Field Manager, Bureau

of Land Management Clear Lake Field

Office, 2550 North State Street, Ukiah,

CA 95482.

Philip L. Damon,

Acting Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–34210 Filed 12–31–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID–050–1150–04]

Notice—Bat Hibernation Site

(Hibernacula) Closure

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management;

Interior.

ACTION: Notice—bat hibernation sites

(hibernacula) closure.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 CFR 8364.1,

eleven caves in the Upper Snake River

Districts are identified as bat

hibernation sites (hibernacula) are

seasonally closed to entry. With the

exception of approved research,

essential search and rescue, or other

emergency or administrative operations

for cave resources protection, eleven

caves containing hibernation sites are

closed during the hibernation season to

all visitation, from October 15 to May 1.

Affected caves are listed below:

Bobcat Cave

Kids Cave

Owl Cave

Chalk Cave

Giant Arch Cave

Gypsum Cave

Little Arch Cave

Pot O’ Gold Cave

Twin Cave

Will’s Cave

The One That Goes Cave

The purpose of the closure is to

protect bat species and their habitat

during the critical hibernation period.

Any person who fails to comply with

this closure and restriction order, under

43 CFR 8364.1, may be subject to the

penalties provided in regulations at 43

CFR 8360.0–7; a fine not to exceed

$1,000 and/or imprisonment not to

exceed 12 months.

DATES: This action is effective December

18, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The Federal Cave Resources

Protection Act of 1988 prohibits

disclosure of cave locations. Information

pertaining to the above closure is

available at the Shoshone Resource Area

in Shoshone, Idaho, and the Idaho Falls

District Office in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paula Call, BLM Shoshone Resource

Area, P.O. Box 2–B, Shoshone Idaho

83352, telephone (208) 886–7254, or Joe

Lowe, BLM Idaho Falls District Office,

1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho

83401, telephone (208) 524–7558.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Certain

caves in the Upper Snake River Districts

serve as critical winter habitat for bats

because they provide a narrow yet

optimum range of temperature and other

microclimatical variables required for

successful hibernation. Research has

indicated that all bat species are

extremely susceptible and sensitive to

human disturbance during hibernation,

and that recreational caving trips during

the hibernation season are detrimental

to the survival of bat species.

Dated: December 19, 1997.

Bill Baker,

Shoshone Resource Area Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–34209 Filed 12–31–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV–020–1430–10]

Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management, Winnemucca District,

intends to develop an Activity Plan/

Land Use Plan amendment for the Black

Rock Desert located in the northwest

portion of the district. The purpose of

the plan and amendment is to better

manage the resources and increasing

level of activities occurring on the

desert. Currently the Black Rock region

reflects very few man-made

developments and contains pristine

sections of the Applegate/Lassen

National Historic Trail. Competitive

events and commercial uses of desert

have increased tremendously since the

original Management Framework Plan

was completed in 1982. Plan goals

include (1) Managing the varied

resources while providing for a wide

range of dispersed recreational activities

and opportunities in a prudent manner;

(2) Providing economic opportunities
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.