Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2001 / Notices 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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT–062–01–1220–AA]

Notice of Travel Restrictions

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), DOI.

ACTION: Notice of Travel Restrictions,

Moab Field Office, Utah.

SUMMARY: This notice places restrictions

on travel by off-road vehicles (ORV’s)

and mountain bikes on specific public

land administered by the BLM Moab

Field Office. These actions are necessary

to halt ongoing impacts and prevent

future degradation of resource values.

They are being implemented on an

interim basis to protect resource values

and public safety, pending revision of

the Resource Management Plan (RMP)

for the area administered by the BLM

Moab Field Office. This notice also

affirms and describes previous travel

restrictions that remain in effect.

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: In 1985,

the Grand Resource Area RMP left the

majority of the public land currently

administered by the Moab Field Office

as ‘‘Open to Off-road Vehicle Use.’’

Since publication of the plan, specific

public land areas administered by the

Moab Field Office have become

destinations for travel by off-road

vehicles users and mountain bikers.

Cross-country travel off established

roads and trails by motorized vehicles

and mountain bikes is causing damage

to scenic, cultural, soil, vegetation, and

wildlife habitat resources in the high

use areas identified below and, in some

cases, is causing or threatens to cause

considerable adverse effects to those

resource values. Short-cutting, making

parallel routes, detouring around

challenging segments, and widening

routes threaten the integrity of existing

routes, reduce their value for

commercial recreation and special

events, and make them less attractive for

recreation use. The proliferation of

multiple routes off long established

roads and trails also contributes to

confusion among users as to their

location on the ground and has led to

more frequent search and rescue

activity.

On several historic, interpretive, or

recreational single-track trails, certain

6660 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2001 / Notices

uses are incompatible with the

protection of significant resource values

or involve safety or management

concerns. Specific actions are necessary

to manage these routes.

New Travel Restrictions, Moab Travel

Management Area (MTMA)

Travel by ORV’s and mountain bikes,

on public land in five areas

administered by the Moab Field Office,

is now limited to existing roads and

trails, except where more restrictive

designations apply as described below

under Existing Designations. Crosscountry travel in these five areas,

collectively referred to as the Moab

Travel Management Area (MTMA), is

prohibited, except for travel by

mountain bike and two-wheel

motorcycle on established slickrock

riding areas (Bartlett Wash slickrock

area, Tusher Canyon slickrock area, and

slickrock areas along the Monitor and

Merrimac and Lower Monitor and

Merrimac trails), where such use does

not further disturb vegetation or soils.

To protect public safety and enhance

user experience, BLM will provide maps

of, and sign and mark recommended

routes.

Under this action, approximately

245,642 acres currently designated as

Open to ORV travel will be managed as

ORV and mountain bike Travel Limited

to Existing Roads and Trails. This

change involves 25 percent of the land

currently Open to ORV use and 13

percent of the total public land within

the Moab Field Office. The intent of

these year-round ORV designation

changes is to protect natural resource

and scenic values from the adverse

effects of cross-country travel, maintain

the integrity of established travel routes,

and provide for public safety until the

RMP is revised.

MTMA 1 (approximately 15,031 acres,

in 3 parcels) is northwest of Moab along

the boundary of Arches National Park.

It includes all public land south of

Township 22 S, west of Arches National

Park, east of U.S. Highway 191 and

north of the private land at the mouth

of Moab Canyon.

MTMA 2 (approximately 189,939

acres) is northwest of Moab. It includes

all public land west of U.S. Highway

191; south of the Canyonlands Field

Airport, the Mancos shale land already

limited to existing roads and trails, the

Levi Well Road, and the Tenmile Point

Road; east of the public land already

limited to existing roads and trails along

the east side of the Green River rims,

and north of the northern boundary of

Canyonlands National Park, the block of

State and Private land around Dead

Horse Point State Park and Potash, and

the land north of Utah Highway 279.

Land inside this boundary (in South

Sevenmile Canyon and the Colorado

Riverway), where ORV travel is already

limited to designated roads and trails

remains so designated.

MTMA 3 (approximately 28,266

acres) is west and south of Moab. It

includes all public land west of U.S.

Highway 191; north of the southern rim

of Kane Creek Canyon and the land on

Hatch Point already designated as

limited to existing roads; and east and

south of the Colorado River. Land in the

Behind the Rocks Wilderness Study

Area (WSA), which is closed to ORV use

(subject to valid existing rights), and

within the Colorado Riverway, where

ORV use is limited to designated roads

and trails, remains so designated.

MTMA 4 (approximately 6,558 acres)

is northeast of Moab along the Entrada

Bluffs Road. It includes an area bounded

on the south by a one-half mile wide

corridor along County Road 105

(Entrada Bluffs Road) and on the north

by land already limited to existing roads

and trails along the Dolores River.

MTMA 5 (approximately 5,848 acres)

is northeast of Moab along the Utah/

Colorado border. The area, which

includes May Flat, is approximately 8

miles long and 2 miles wide. It is

bordered by areas where ORV travel is

currently limited to existing roads and

trails on the north and west; private

land to the southwest; the Colorado

River on the south, and the ColoradoUtah state line near Rabbit Valley on the

east.

Interpretive Trails Closed to Motorized

and Mountain Bike Travel

The Sauropod Dinosaur Trackway

Interpretive Trail, and the Mill Canyon

Dinosaur Interpretive Trail are closed to

motorized travel and mountain bike use

to prevent resource damage to

paleontological resources, scenic values,

vegetation, and soils.

Single-Track Trails Closed to Motorized

Travel

The following single-track trails are

closed to motorized travel to prevent

further damage to scenic values, soils,

and vegetation along these narrow trails

and to provide for public safety: (1) The

entire Portal Trail from Jaycee Park to

the top of Poison Spider Mesa; (2) the

Hunter Canyon Rim Trail from the drill

hole at the end of the Hunter Canyon

Rim ORV route to the Kane Creek Road;

(3) the Hidden Valley Trail from its

trailhead in Spanish Valley to the

boundary of the Behind the Rocks WSA.

Implementation

Maps showing all current Moab Field

Office ORV designations are available

for public review at the Moab Field

Office. The designations 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 travel

restrictions using brochures, signs, and

bulletin boards with maps at major

entry areas. It will protect key areas

from further cross-country travel using

signs and simple barriers as appropriate.

Enforcement actions will be taken as

necessary. BLM will provide maps of,

and mark and sign recommended

routes.

Future Planning

These travel restrictions are an

interim measure to protect resource

values and route integrity by prohibiting

cross-country use and use on the

specific single-track trails identified

above until the RMP is revised. Revision

of the RMP will address long term travel

management across a range of

management options.

Existing Designations

Except for those formerly Open areas

where travel is now Limited to Existing

Roads and Trails, this notice does not

change the ORV designations made

through the RMP or previously

published Federal Register travel

notices covering the public land

administered by the Moab Field Office.

These designations are affirmed and

described below. The travel designation

map on the Moab Field Office website

shows all applicable travel designations.

Closed Areas

The Behind the Rocks Wilderness

Study Area, Negro Bill Canyon, and the

east side of Westwater Canyon are

closed to ORV use subject to valid

existing rights. The Windwhistle and

Hatch Point Campgrounds, the

Canyonlands, Needles, and Anticline

Overlooks, and the Onion Creek

sensitive plant site are closed to ORV

use off developed roads. The Black

Ridge Wilderness Area is also closed to

ORV and mechanized travel by act of

Congress through the Colorado Canyons

National Conservation Area and Black

Ridge Canyons Wilderness Act of 2000.

Limited to Designated Roads and Trails

Areas

ORV Travel in the Mill Creek and East

Mill Creek areas and the Colorado

Riverway is limited to designated

routes. ORV and mountain bike travel in

the Sand Flats Recreation Area, the

Kens Lake area, the Sevenmile Canyon

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 14 / Monday, January 22, 2001 / Notices 6661

area, and the NW 1⁄4 of Section 24 and

the SW 1⁄4 of Section 13, T. 25 S., R. 20

E. S.L.M. in the Little Canyon area is

limited to designated routes.

Limited to Existing Roads and Trails

Areas

The 1985 RMP designated the Mancos

shale areas in the Cisco and Green River

desert areas; the Colorado, Green, and

Dolores river corridors; portions of the

Canyon Rims Recreation Area, and the

area between Dead Horse Point State

Park and the Colorado River as limited

to existing roads and trails.

Exceptions

The travel restrictions in this notice

do not apply to wheelchairs, water craft,

military, fire, emergency, or law

enforcement vehicles used for

emergency purposes, vehicles expressly

permitted by the BLM, or BLM vehicles

required for official use, and are subject

to valid existing rights.

Authority: Pub. L. 94–579, E. O. 11644, E.

O. 11989, 43 CFR 8341.2, 43 CFR 8364.1

Dated: January 12, 2001.

Sally Wisely,

State Director.

[FR Doc. 01–1595 Filed 1–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR–110–6320–AA; HAG01–0071]

Prohibition of Certain Activities on the

Medford District in and Around the

Woodrat Mountain hang Gliding Site,

Jackson County, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Prohibition on Certain Activities

on Public Lands in Jackson County,

Oregon.

SUMMARY: Hang gliding is temporarily

prohibited on the Medford District,

Jackson County, Oregon, from January 4,

2001 to November 1, 2001, during

periods of helicopter logging, or upon

cancellation of this notice. This

prohibition is being made in the interest

of public safety while the Poor Bishop

timber sale is taking place in the

Woodrat Mountain area.

The following public lands are

affected: T. 38 S., R. 3 W, Sections 23,

25, 26; Williamette Meridian, Jackson

County, Oregon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steven Armitage, Forest Manager, at

(541) 618–2333.

Authority: 43 CFR 8364.

Penalty: Any person failing to comply

with this prohibition may be subject to

imprisonment for not more than 12

months, or a fine in accordance with the

applicable provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3571,

or both.

Dated: January 4, 2001.

Rich Drehobl,

Field Office manager, Ashland Field Office.

[FR Doc. 01–1729 Filed 1–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–33–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR–110–6320–NW; HAG01–0063]

Notice of Temporary Restriction on

Public Lands; Jackson, County,

Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Medford District, Ashland Field Office,

Oregon.

ACTION: A temporary restriction of the

use of paint ball equipment on public

lands administered by the Bureau of

Land Management (BLM), Ashland

Field Office, Medford District, Oregon.

SUMMARY: The BLM is temporarily

restricting the use of paint ball

equipment on certain public lands in

Jackson County.

DATES: This restriction will take effect

upon the published date of this notice.

The closure will continue until

rescinded by BLM, to allow time for

natural restoration to be completed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Field Office Manager, Ashland Field

Office, Medford District, 3040 Biddle

Road, Medford, Oregon 97504,

telephone (541) 618–2310.

Discussion of the Rules: The public

lands affected by this closure are all

lands administered by the BLM in

NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, section 23 of Township 37

South, Range 1 East, Willamette

Meridian, Jackson County, Oregon. This

area is located on the west side of

Antelope Creek, within the riparian

reserve zone. Antelope Creek is an

anadromous fish stream and is managed

in accordance with the Aquatic

Conservation Strategy of the Northwest

Forest Plan. This area has been used for

unregulated paint ball activity,

unauthorized cutting of vegetation,

trampling of riparian vegetation and

crossing of the stream by off-road

vehicles. This use is causing soil erosion

into streams, loss of vegetation and

disturbance to anadromous fish

populations. In addition, vehicles are

being used for transporting household

and commercial trash that is being

illegally dumped, causing further

degradation of the soil and water

conditions. In order to protect the

natural resources, and follow the

guidance of the Northwest Forest Plan,

paint ball and off-road activity must

stop.

Closure and restriction signs will be

posted at main entry points. Maps of the

closure area may be obtained from the

Medford District Office.

Prohibited Act: Under 43 CFR 8364.1,

the Bureau of Land Management will

enforce the following rule within the

Antelope Creek closure and restriction

area:

a. You must not use paint ball

equipment.

b. You must not engage in paint ball

activity.

c. You must not drive off established

roads.

Exemptions: Persons who are exempt

from these rules include any federal,

state or local officer or employee in the

scope of their duties, members of any

organized rescue or fire-fighting force in

performance of an official duty, and any

person authorized in writing by the

Bureau of Land Management.

Penalties: The authority for this

closure is found under section 303(a) of

the Federal Land Policy and

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

1733(a)) and 43 CFR 8360.0–7. Any

person who violates this closure may be

tried before a United States Magistrate

and fined no more than $1,000 or

imprisoned for no more than 12 months,

or both. Such violations may also be

subject to the enhanced fines provided

for by 18 U.S.C. 3571.

Dated: January 2, 2001.

Rich Drehobl,

Field Office Manager, Ashland Field Office.

[FR Doc. 01–1728 Filed 1–19–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–33–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT–092–1610–00]

Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management (BLM), Glasgow Field

Station, announces the availability of a

proposed Resource Management Plan

(RMP) Amendment and Environmental

Assessment (EA). The proposed plan

amendment/EA addresses two potential

ACECs in the Glasgow Field Station,