35942 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 126 /Wednesday, July 1, 1998 / Notices

By virtue of the authority vested in

the Secretary of the Interior by Section

204 of the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C.

1714 (1994), it is ordered as follows:

1. The Executive Order dated July 2,

1910, which established Powersite

Reserve No. 73, is hereby revoked

insofar as it affects the following

described lands:

Willamette Meridian

Gifford Pinchot National Forest

T. 9 N., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 2, SW1⁄4;

Sec. 5, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 7, lots 1, 2, and 3, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4,

NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and N1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 8, N1⁄2 and N1⁄2SW1⁄4.

The areas described aggregate 1,147.26

acres in Cowlitz County.

2. The lands are included in the Mt.

St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

and will remain closed to surface entry,

mining, and mineral leasing.

Dated: June 18, 1998.

Bob Armstrong,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

[FR Doc. 98–17465 Filed 6–30–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–33–P

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA–018–1220–00]

Recreation Management Restrictions;

California, South Yuba River, Hoyt’s

Crossing; Supplementary Rules

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Final Supplementary Rules.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

management establishes supplementary

rules for the management of recreational

uses on public lands adjacent to the

South Yuba River at Hoyt’s Crossing.

This action is necessary to limit adverse

impacts to public lands while longterm

planning for the South Yuba River is

underway. The California State Parks

and the County of Nevada urges the

BLM to enact restrictions in the Hoyt’s

Crossing area to reduce ongoing

problems. These Supplementary Rules

will protect the resources and the

recreational experience until planning is

completed.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Questions on the Final Rules can be

directed to Deane Swickard, Field

Manager, Folsom Field Office, 63

Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630, 916–

985–4474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These

Supplementary Rules were published as

Proposed Supplementary Rules in the

Federal Register, April 20, 1998, 63 FR

19508–19509. No changes were made

from the Proposed Supplementary Rules

to the Final Supplementary Rules.

Written comments were received from

one organization and two individuals.

No new information was revealed and

the comments suggested ‘‘status quo’’ as

an alternative plan.

One comment suggested that the BLM

wait until a Management Plan is

completed before rules are established.

The Nevada County Department of

Health requested the area be closed to

camping due to health hazards

associated with the improper disposal of

human waste. A long range plan is

needed but an immediate action is

necessary to deal with existing health

hazards and other recourse issues.

Two comments states there are too

few camping areas along the South Yuba

River due to topography. BLM agrees

that the terrain limits the available

locations suitable for camping. Two

comments states that the ban on

camping on State Park property has

reinforced the need for camping

opportunities at Hoyt’s Crossing. the

California State Parks must manage their

land within mandates set forth by the

California legislature. The BLM must

manage public land within mandates set

forth by Congress in the Federal Land

Policy and Management Act plus other

Federal laws. While it is the BLM’s

policy to allow and encourage dispersed

camping in most locations, our

responsibilities require us to impose

restrictions in some areas. Hoyt’s

Crossing is one of these areas. BLM has

a signed cooperative agreement with

California State Parks and Recreation to

manage the Federal lands within the

South Yuba Recreation Area in harmony

with the goals of the State Park.

Two comments stated that there is too

much area dedicated to day use (State

Park and BLM). BLM feels that the vast

majority of recreational demand is for

day use activities.

Two comments said that regulations

degrade the recreational experience.

True, a regulation will degrade a

person’s experience if that person

wishes to participate in an activity

prohibited by regulation.

Two comments asked where people

would camp now. In the area of the

South Yuba River, there are the South

Yuba Campground, Malokoff Diggins

State Park, and other dispersed areas

around Illinois, Purdon, and Edwards

Crossing.

Two comments asked if BLM was

forcing campers off the river. See above

paragraph.

Two comments asked if there would

be additional restrictions along the

South Yuba River. It is impossible to

predict at this time.

Two comments objected to the

penalty amounts of violating the

Supplementary Rules. These penalties

are set by Congress and not by BLM.

One comment questioned if the BLM

was targeting nude sunbathing and gay

individuals. Nothings in these rules

directly affect these specific groups.

One comment stated that the South

Yuba River floods every year and cleans

this area. The BLM’s position is not to

allow trash, abandoned property, or

human feces to be swept away by the

water.

Two comments suggested that there is

no need for any protection at Hoyt’s

Crossing. BLM must provide some

degree of protection to all public lands.

The amount of protection would be

directly related to other factors, such as,

amount of use, plant life, animal life,

soils, water quality, and Federal

mandates.

One comment suggested that we leave

Hoyt’s Crossing ‘‘as is’’. Explained

previously.

One comment stated that BLM should

construct campsites, fire rings, and

toilets. BLM will not construct facilities

until the long range planning is

completed.

One comment asked what gave BLM

the right to decide these issues. BLM is

directed by Congress through the

Federal Land Policy and Management

Act of 1976 and other Federal laws to

make land management decisions.

One comment suggested that the

boundary between BLM, State Parks,

and private property is impossible to

locate. BLM plans to mark boundaries.

One comment said any signs would

destroy the recreational experience.

BLM will install the minimum signs

needed to inform the public.

One comment said the BLM is making

criminals out of citizens because of

bureaucratic rules. Congress has

decided that there will be sanctions for

willfully violating laws and regulations.

One comment suggested there were

too many rules already. BLM is

mandated to enforce existing laws and

regulations and enact new regulations to

provide for proper land management.

One comment said these rules were

restricting access to public lands.

Access to Public Land remains intact.

Supplementary Rules

BLM adopts the following

supplementary rules which will be
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 126 /Wednesday, July 1, 1998 / Notices 35943

applicable on public land within

sections 28 and 34, Township 17 North,

Range 8 East of the Mt. Diablo meridian.

BLM’s authority to for issuing

supplementary rules is contained in 43

CFR 8365.1–6.

(a) No person shall camp. The term

camp is defined as the use,

construction, or taking possession of

public lands using tents, shacks, leantos, tarps, vehicles, huts, blankets, or

sleeping bags.

(b) No person shall build, attend,

maintain, or use a campfire. The term

campfire is defined as a controlled fire

occurring out of doors used for cooking,

branding, personal warmth, lighting,

ceremonial, or esthetic purposes.

(c) No person shall possess or

consume alcoholic beverages. The term

alcoholic beverages is defined as beer,

wine, distilled spirits, or any other

beverage defined as such by California

law.

(d) No person shall possess any bottle

or container made of glass.

(e) Any person who fails to comply

with these Supplementary Rules will be

subject to a fine of up to 100,000 dollars

and/or imprisoned not to exceed 12

months. These penalties are specified by

43 U.S.C. 303 and 18 U.S.C. 3623.

Federal, state, and local law

enforcement personnel and emergency

service personnel, while performing

official duties, are exempt from these

Supplementary Rules.

D.K. Swickard,

Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 98–16993 Filed 6–30–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mineral Management Service

Outer Continental Shelf, Beaufort Sea,

Oil and Gas Lease Sale 170

AGENCY: Mineral Management Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Final Notice of Sale.

1. Authority. The Mineral

Management Service (MMS) is issuing

this Notice of Sale under the Outer

Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (43

U.S.C. 1331–1356, as amended) and the

regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR

Part 256).

A ‘‘Sale Notice Package,’’ containing

this Notice and several supporting and

essential documents referenced in the

Notice, is available from the MMS

Alaska OCS Regional Office Public

Information Unit (see paragraph 15 of

this Notice).

2. Filing of Bids. Bidders must comply

with the following requirements. Times

specified hereafter are local Anchorage,

Alaska, times unless otherwise

indicated.

(a) Filing of Bids. Sealed bids must be

received by the Regional Director (RD),

Alaska OCS Region, MMS, 949 East 36th

Avenue, Third Floor, Anchorage, Alaska

99508–4302, during normal business

hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) until the Bid

Submission Deadline at 10 a.m.,

Tuesday, August 4, 1998. If the RD

receives bids later than the time and

date specified above, he will return the

bids unopened to bidders. Bidders may

not modify or withdraw their bids

unless the RD receives a written

modification or written withdrawal

request prior to 10 a.m. Tuesday, August

4, 1998.

(b) Bid Opening Time. Bid Opening

Time will be 9 a.m., Wednesday, August

5, 1998, at the Wilda Marston Theatre,

Z. J. Loussac Public Library, 3600 Denali

Street, Anchorage, Alaska. The MMS

published a list of restricted joint

bidders, which applies to this sale, in

the Federal Register at 63 FR 14473 on

March 25, 1998.

(c) Natural Disasters. In the event of

an earthquake or other natural disaster,

the MMS Alaska OCS Regional Office

may extend the bid submission

deadline. Bidders may call (907) 271–

6010 for information about the possible

extension of the bid submission

deadline due to such an event.

3. Method of Bidding. The MMS has

adopted the optional use of EFT for

payment of the 1⁄5th bonus bid. Sale 170

will be the first Alaska OCS Region sale

to use these procedures; however, the

process has been successfully

implemented for recent Gulf of Mexico

Region sales.

(a) Submission of Bids. For each tract

bid upon, a bidder must submit a

separate signed bid in a sealed envelope

labeled ‘‘Sealed Bid for Oil and Gas

Lease Sale 170, not to be opened until

9 a.m., Wednesday, August 5, 1998.’’

The total amount bid must be a whole

dollar amount; any cent amount above

the whole dollar will be ignored by the

MMS. Details of the information

required on the bid(s) and the bid

envelope(s) are specified in the

document ‘‘Bid Form and Envelope’’

contained in the Sale Notice Package

(see paragraph 15 of this Notice).

Bidders must execute all documents

in conformance with signatory

authorizations on file in the MMS

Alaska OCS Region Office. Partnerships

also must submit or have on file a list

of signatories authorized to bind the

partnership. Bidders submitting joint

bids must state on the bid form the

proportionate interest of each

participating bidder, in percent to a

maximum of give decimal places, e.g.,

33.33333 percent. The MMS may

require bidders to submit other

documents in accordance with 30 CFR

256.46. The MMS warns bidders against

violation of 18 U.S.C. 1860 prohibiting

unlawful combination or intimidation of

bidders.

(b) Submission of the 1⁄5th Bonus

Payment. Bidders will have the option

of submitting the 1⁄5th cash bonus in

cash or by cashier’s check, bank draft,

or certified check with the bid; or by

using electronic funds transfer (EFT)

procedures. Detailed instructions for

submitting the 1⁄5th bonus payment by

EFT are contained in the document

‘‘Instructions for Making EFT 1⁄5th

Bonus Payments’’ included in the Sale

Notice Package.

Bidders are advised that the MMS

considers the signed bid to be a legally

binding obligation on the part of the

bidder(s) to comply with all applicable

regulations, including paying the 1⁄5th

bonus on all high bids. A statement to

this effect will be included on each bid

(see the document ‘‘Bid Form and

Envelope’’ contained in the Sale Notice

Package).

4. Minimum Bid, Yearly Rental, and

Royalty System. The following

minimum bid, yearly rental, and royalty

system apply to this sale:

(a) Minimum Bid. Bidders must

submit a cash bonus in the amount of

$62.00 or more per hectare or fraction

thereof with all bids submitted at this

sale.

(b) Yearly Rental. All leases awarded

will provide for a yearly rental payment

of $13.00 per hectare or fraction thereof

until initial production is obtained.

(c) Royalty System. After initial

production is obtained, leases will

require a minimum royalty of $13.00 per

hectare or fraction thereof. Leases issued

as a result of Sale 170 will have a fixed

royalty rate of 121⁄2 percent.

5. Equal Opportunity. The

certification required by 41 CFR 60–

1.7(b) and Executive Order No. 11246 of

September 24, 1965, as amended by

Executive Order No. 11375 of October

13, 1967, on the Compliance Report

Certification Form, Form MMS–2033

(June 1985), and the Affirmative Action

Representation Form, Form MMS–2032

(June 1985) must be on file in the MMS

Alaska OCS Regional Office, prior to

lease award, (see paragraph (u) of the

document ‘‘Information to Lessees for

Sale 170’’ contained in the Sale Notice

Package).

6. Bid Opening. Bid opening will

begin at the bid opening time stated in

paragraph 2(b). The opening of the bids

is for the sole purpose of publicly