[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6658-6659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1594]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-062-01-1220-AA]


Notice of Camping and Wood Cutting and Gathering Restrictions, 
Moab Field Office

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), DOI.

ACTION: Notice of camping and wood cutting and gathering restrictions--
Moab Field Office, Utah.

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SUMMARY: This notice, applicable to specified public lands administered 
by the BLM Moab Field Office, limits camping to developed campgrounds 
and designated sites, allows BLM to limit the size of designated 
camping areas, and requires the use of portable toilets at these 
designated sites where toilets are not provided. The notice also 
prohibits wood cutting and gathering, including Christmas tree cutting, 
for these intensively used areas and the Sand Flats Recreation Area. 
These actions are implemented on an interim basis to protect natural 
resources pending revision of the Resource Management Plan (RMP) for 
the area administered by the Moab Field Office.

DATES: This notice is effective January 22, 2001, and shall remain in 
effect until modified or the RMP is amended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Russell von Koch, Resource Advisor, 
BLM Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood Avenue, Moab, Utah 84532 or 
telephone 435-259-2100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Frequent use of public lands near Moab, Utah 
for camping at undeveloped sites and associated wood cutting and 
gathering is damaging soils, vegetation, and scenic values at local 
destination areas and along popular trails and roads. The following 
actions are necessary to limit impacts to natural resource values and 
maintain the quality of recreation opportunities.

Camping Restrictions Along Highway and Road Corridors

    Camping with vehicles on BLM administered public land within one-

[[Page 6659]]

half mile of the following highways and roads is limited to developed 
campgrounds and designated sites on a year-round basis to protect 
scenic values, reduce damage to soils and vegetation, and provide for 
public safety:
    (1) Utah Highway 313;
    (2) The Island in the Sky entrance road between Utah Highway 313 
and Canyonlands National Park;
    (3) The Gemini Bridges route (primarily Grand Co. No. 118) and the 
spur route from it into ``The Bride Canyon;''
    (4) The Kane Creek Canyon Rim route from U.S. Highway 191 to where 
it crosses the eastern boundary of section 20, T. 27 S., R. 22 E. 
exclusive of the state and private land west of Blue Hill; and
    (5) Lands within Long Canyon north of the Colorado Riverway 
Recreation Area and south of the State land at the head of the canyon 
within one-half mile of the Long Canyon Road (Grand Co. No. 135).

Other Camping Restrictions

    Camping with vehicles on BLM administered public lands is also 
limited for the above reasons to developed campgrounds and designated 
sites on a year-round basis in the following areas:
    (1) The lands along both sides of U.S. 191 bounded by Arches 
National Park on the east, private lands in Moab Valley on the south, 
the Potash Rail Spur on the west, and private and State land near the 
lower Gemini Bridges Trailhead on the north;
    (2) Lands located between the road to Nefertiti Rapid (Grand Co. 
No. 154) and the shoreline of the Green River along the east side of 
the river from the public land boundary near Swaseys Take-out upstream 
to the upper end of the Nefertiti Rapid parking area;
    (3) Lands including the Pace Hill, Castle Rock, Ida Gulch, 
Professor Valley, Mary Jane Canyon, and the upper Onion Creek areas 
that are south of the Colorado Riverway Recreation Area as established 
in 1992, below the rims of Adobe and Fisher Mesas, and west of the 
private land in Fisher Valley;
    (4) Lands along the Potash Trail (Grand Co. No. 134, the road 
between the western end of Utah Highway 279 and Canyonlands National 
Park) that are east of Canyonlands National Park; south of Dead Horse 
Point State Park, and other state and private lands, north of the 
Colorado River, and west of the Colorado Riverway Recreation Area as 
established in 1992, excluding riverside campsites accessible by water 
craft from the Colorado River; and
    (5) Lands within the Mill Creek Canyon Planning Area.
    Backpack type camping within the Mill Creek Planning Area is 
allowed at sites one-quarter mile or farther from designated roads and 
greater than 100 feet from Mill Creek and from archaeological sites. 
All camping continues to be prohibited in the Powerdam and Flat Pass 
areas under a previously published notice.
    For all of the above locations, at developed campgrounds and 
designated sites where camping is authorized, camping and vehicle 
travel may be limited to posted site boundaries and parking areas.
    Possession and use of portable toilets for solid human body waste 
is required for overnight use at all designated campsites in the areas 
described above, except at sites where constructed toilets are 
provided. Disposal of portable toilet waste off public land is 
required.

Wood Cutting and Gathering Restrictions

    Wood cutting and gathering, including Christmas tree cutting, on 
BLM administered public land, within all of the areas described above 
under Camping Restrictions, is prohibited at all times to protect 
scenic values and vegetation. In addition, wood cutting and gathering, 
including Christmas tree cutting, is prohibited within the Sand Flats 
Recreation Area.

Exceptions

    Camping and wood cutting and gathering restrictions do not apply to 
activities permitted by the BLM (including traditional and historic 
uses by Native Americans); BLM official uses; or military, fire, 
emergency, or law enforcement actions.

Implementation

    Maps showing these and all current Moab Field Office camping and 
wood cutting and gathering restrictions are available for public review 
at the Moab Field Office. These restrictions are also shown on a map on 
the Moab Field Office's website at http://www.blm.gov/utah/moab. BLM 
will provide public land users with information about these camping and 
wood cutting and gathering restrictions using brochures, signs, and 
bulletin boards with maps at major entry areas. Enforcement actions 
will be taken as necessary.

    Authority: Pub. L. 94-579, 43 CFR 8364.1.

    Dated: January 12, 2001.
Sally Wisely,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 01-1594 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-U