[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27844-27845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10814]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-200-07-5320-PH-1000-241A]
Notice of Temporary Route Closure, Sonoran Desert National
Monument, AZ
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) intends to temporarily close 88 miles of un-maintained, dirt-
surfaced vehicle routes in the Sonoran Desert National Monument (SDNM),
and one mile on the adjacent public lands managed by the Lower Sonoran
Field Office to all travel by motor vehicles. A map of this closure
area, documentation of categorical exclusion of this action from
further review under provisions of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA), and the administrative decision can be viewed online at
http://www.blm.gov/az/sonoran/sondes_main.htm.
DATES: The closure will be in effect beginning thirty (30) calendar
days from publication of this notice and will remain in effect until
off-highway-vehicle (OHV) damage to the natural and cultural resources
of SDNM has been restored to the extent possible and when adequate
measures have been implemented to prevent recurrence of such damage. A
staged re-opening of the vehicle routes is expected to begin with in
two to three years from the time that the temporary route closure goes
into effect, depending on the availability of resources to complete the
restoration and management actions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Manager, Sonoran Desert National
Monument, Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix District, 21065 North 7th
Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85027; 623-580-5500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since its establishment, certain parts of
SDNM have experienced increased visitation from growing adjacent
communities, which in turn has increased the public awareness and
popularity of these areas for OHV use. Motorized vehicle use off-road
has led to visible and persistent damage to the soils and vegetation of
lands adjacent to primary access routes, to degradation of the natural
and cultural resource objects for which the monument was designated--
including a portion of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic
Trail--and to degradation of the scenic values of the monument. The
temporary route closure will prevent further damage to the natural
resources of SDNM by unauthorized and illegal OHV use. The BLM is
currently in the process of developing a management plan for restoring
damaged areas and managing future use of this area. Development of the
plan will include public involvement and will be completed in summer
2008. The restoration and management plan could identify specific
actions to include visitor entry/information points, site, road, and
information signing, camping and staging site delineation, and road
repair. During the period of closure, primary access routes will be
restored and adjacent areas of OHV damage--including vehicle tracks,
barren cores areas, and other areas of human disturbance--will be
reclaimed to the extent possible by hand raking, vertical mulching,
harrowing, and seeding (native plants only). Further, the temporary
closure of these routes will assure that the reclamation work will not
be damaged or outpaced by ongoing improper OHV use and will provide for
the health and safety of BLM staff and volunteers engaged in this work
by reducing exposure to the high volumes of dust generated by the
passage of vehicles. In evaluating when to re-open areas or routes
within the temporary closure area, we will consider the following
factors: (a) Physical rehabilitation of the damaged areas is
substantially completed (rehabilitation is the physical obliteration of
vehicle damage, and includes vertical mulching, such that vehicle
tracks are not visible to be driven on and the area is prepared for
natural re-vegetation. Physical rehabilitation does not include
vegetation restoration and recovery, which will occur over a much
longer time period); (b) The major components of the management plan
for that area or route have been implemented to effect a change in user
behavior and ensure the resource damage does not re-occur; (c) The
practicality of re-opening an area or route(s) while maintaining the
temporary closure where the rehabilitation and management actions are
not yet completed. Prior to and during the closure, primary vehicle
access points will be blocked to use by vehicles with wire fencing and
will be posted with signs and public information displays advising of
the purpose of the closure and of the reclamation project. All other
vehicle access points will be prominently posted with a closure order
and map.
The closure will restrict public access to portions of T. 3 S., R.
1 W., section 30; T. 3 S., R. 2 W., sections 9-11, 13-15, 24-26, 35,
and 36; T. 4 S., R. 1 W., sections 2, 3, 10-12, 13-15, 19-24, 26-28,
34, and 35; T. 4 S., R. 2 W., sections 2, 10, 11, 15, 16, 22-24, 25-29,
31-33, and 35; T. 4 S., R. 3 W., section 34; T. 5 S., R. 2 W., sections
2, 3, 6, 7, 11, and 12; and T. 5 S., R. 3 W., sections 1-4, 9-15, and
23 (Gila and Salt River Meridian). A map of this closure area,
documentation of categorical exclusion of this action from further
review under provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), and the administrative decision can be viewed online at http://www.blm.gov/az/sonoran/sondes_main.htm. These materials are also
available at the BLM Phoenix District Office. The following persons,
operating within the scope of their official duties, are exempt from
the provisions of this closure: employees of BLM, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, and local and Federal law enforcement and fire protection
personnel. Access by additional parties may be allowed, but must be
approved in advance in writing by the authorized manager.
This closure is in accordance with the provisions of Presidential
Proclamation 7397, 66 FR 7354 (Jan. 22, 2001); 43 CFR 8341.2(a); and 43
CFR 8364.1. On all public lands, under section 303(a) of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1733(a), 43
CFR 8360.0-7, any person who violates any closures or restrictions on
public lands as announced in this order may be tried before a United
States Magistrate and fined no more than $1000.00 or imprisoned for not
more than 12 months, or both. Such violations may also be subject to
enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571 (not to exceed
$100,000.00 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months).
[[Page 27845]]
Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1.
Karen Kelleher,
Lower Sonoran Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. E8-10814 Filed 5-13-08; 8:45 am]
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