[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18358-18359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9625]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WY-030-1020-04-WEED]


Proposed Supplementary Rules for Use of Certified Noxious Weed-
Free Forage, Straw, and Mulch in the Rawlins District, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior

ACTION: Notice of proposed supplementary rules to require the use of 
certified noxious weed-free forage, straw, and mulch on Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) administered lands in the Rawlins District, Wyoming.

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SUMMARY: The District Manager of the Rawlins District BLM in Wyoming is 
proposing a requirement that all BLM visitors and permittees in the 
Rawlins District use certified noxious weed-free hay, straw, or mulch 
when visiting BLM administered lands in the District. This requirement 
will affect visitors who use hay or straw on the BLM administered lands 
in the Rawlins District such as: recreationists using pack and saddle 
stock, ranchers with grazing permits, outfitters, and contractors who 
use straw or other mulch for reseeding purposes. These individuals or 
groups would be required to purchase certified noxious weed-free forage 
products, or use other approved products such as processed grains and 
pellets while on BLM administered lands in the District.

DATES: Comments concerning the proposal should be received on or before 
May 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning the Wyoming requirement to: 
District Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 1300 North Third Street, 
Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins 
District Office, Attn: Susan Foley, 1300 North Third Street, Rawlins, 
WY 82301, or telephone 307-328-4200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Noxious weeds are a serious problem in the 
western United States. Estimates of the rapid spread of weeds in the 
west include 2,300 acres per day on BLM administered lands and 4,600 
acres per day on all western public lands. Species like Leafy Spurge, 
Spotted Knapweed, Russian Knapweed, Musk Thistle, Dalmatian Toadflax, 
Purple Loosestrife, and many others are alien to the United States and 
have no natural enemies to keep their populations in balance. 
Consequently, these undesirable weeds invade healthy ecosystems, 
displace native vegetation, reduce species diversity, and destroy 
wildlife habitat. Widespread infestations lead to soil erosion and 
stream sedimentation. Furthermore, noxious weed invasions weaken 
reforestation efforts, reduce domestic and wild ungulates' grazing 
capacity, occasionally irritate public land users by aggravating 
allergies and other ailments, and threaten Federally protected plants 
and animals.
    To curb the spread of noxious weeds, a growing number of Western 
States have jointly developed noxious weed-free forage certification 
standards, and, in cooperation with various Federal, State, and County 
agencies, passed weed management laws. Because hay and other forage 
products containing noxious weed seed are part of the infestation 
problem, Wyoming has developed a State hay inspection-certification-
identification process, participates in a regional inspection-
certification-identification process, and encourages forage producers 
in Wyoming to grow noxious weed-free products. The Weed and Pest 
Districts of Albany, Carbon, Fremont, and Laramie Counties have 
documented that, in 1996, 74 growers in these counties produced 
approximately 15,000 acres of certified forage for sale including grass 
hay, alfalfa hay, a mixture of grass and alfalfa hay, as well as straw.
    Region Two of the United States Forest Service, Department of 
Agriculture, implemented a similar policy for National Forest lands in 
Wyoming and surrounding States in 1994. The BLM in Wyoming implemented 
a standard stipulation on all Special Recreation Permits in 1992 
requiring holders of those permits to use certified weed-free products. 
This proposal will provide a standard regulation for all users of BLM 
lands in Wyoming and will provide for coordinated management with 
National Forest lands across jurisdictional lines.
    In cooperation with the State of Wyoming and the U.S. Forest 
Service, the BLM is proposing, for all BLM administered lands within 
the Rawlins District, a ban on hay, straw, or mulch that has not been 
certified. This proposal includes a public information plan to ensure 
that:
    1. This ban is well publicized and understood; and

[[Page 18359]]

    2. BLM visitors and land users will know where they can purchase 
State-certified hay or other products.
    These supplementary rules will not appear in the Code of Federal 
regulations. The principal author of these proposed supplementary rules 
is Susan Foley, Soil Scientist, Rawlins District, Wyoming BLM.
    For the reasons stated above, under the authority of 43 CFR 8365.1-
6, the Rawlins District Office, BLM, proposes supplementary rules to 
read as follows:
    Supplementary Rules to Require the Use of Certified Noxious Weed-
Free Forage on Bureau of Land Management-Administered Lands in the 
Rawlins District are--
    1. To prevent the spread of weeds on BLM-administered lands in the 
District, effective August 1, 1997, all BLM lands within the Rawlins 
District, at all times of the year, shall be closed to possessing or 
storing hay, straw, or mulch that has not been certified as free of 
prohibited noxious weed seed.
    2. Certification will comply with ``Regional Standards'' jointly 
developed by the states of Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and 
Nebraska for noxious weed seed free and noxious weed free forage.
    3. The following persons are exempt from this order: anyone with a 
permit signed by BLM's authorized officer at the Resource Area Office 
specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission within that 
Resource Area.
    4. Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions 
of these supplemental rules regarding the use of noncertified noxious 
weed-free hay, straw, or mulch when visiting Bureau of Land Management 
administered lands in the Rawlins District, without authorization 
required, may be commanded to appear before a designated United States 
Magistrate and may be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or 
imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both, as defined in 43 
U.S.C. 1733(a).

    Dated: April 9, 1997.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 97-9625 Filed 4-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-10-P