[Federal Register: December 15, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 240)]
[Notices]               
[Page 75085-75086]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de04-96]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-130]

 
Emergency Closure

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Closure notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1 and 43 CFR 9268.3(d) 
notice is hereby given that an emergency closure to the discharge or 
use of a firearm or dangerous weapons for the purpose of target 
shooting is in effect, as of the publication date of this notice, on 
public lands administered by the Grand Junction Field Office of the 
Bureau of Land Management, as follows:
    This order is put into effect to protect persons, property and 
resources located in this area from person(s) engaged in target 
shooting with firearms or dangerous weapons. Dangerous weapons include, 
but are not limited to: rifles, pistols, air guns, paint ball guns, bow 
and arrow, slingshot or any mechanical device that propels a 
projectile. This emergency order does not prohibit the discharge of 
firearms or

[[Page 75086]]

dangerous weapons while persons are engaged in bonafide hunting 
activities during established hunting seasons and are properly licensed 
for these activities.

DATES: This closure is effective upon publication and expires upon the 
passage of one year. During the one year period BLM Grand Junction FO 
will consider alternatives for the relocation of target shooting to a 
nearby safe location. An Environmental analysis will be prepared 
describing the effects of actions designed to resolve the issues.
    After publication of this notice, two display signs will be erected 
at the closure sites to inform the public of the restrictions and 
direct them to appropriate safe locations to target shoot. In addition 
the perimeters of the closure areas will be signed. This information 
will also be available at the BLM Grand Junction Field Office and on 
line at our website.
    Under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1 and 43 CFR 9268.3(d), this 
closure is established to prohibit the discharge or use of dangerous 
weapons on the following public lands administered by the Grand 
Junction Field Office, Bureau of Land Management.
    SE1/4 sec. 19; SW1/4 SW1/4 sec. 20; SE1/4 NW1/4, SW1/4 NE1/4, NE1/
4SW1/4, NW1/4 SW1/4 sec. 30, T1S, R2E, Ute Meridian, Mesa County, 
Colorado.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT; Perry McCoy, BLM Ranger, Grand 
Junction Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 2815 H. Rd., Grand 
Junction, CO 81506, telephone (970) 244-3000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The affected area has been a popular 
location for target shooting in the Grand Valley for decades. BLM has 
received numerous complaints from neighboring land owners regarding 
indiscriminate use of fire arms in the area. In the past five years 
many new residences have been constructed along the urban interface 
zone bordering BLM managed lands in this area. Several near misses of 
neighbors have been reported. The Federal Aviation Administration 
maintains an aircraft communications facility in the affected zone. 
This installation handles aircraft communications for civilian, 
commercial and military air traffic in western Colorado. The facility 
has been vandalized and struck by bullets on a regular basis. Damage to 
this facility could interfere with air traffic and be a threat to 
national security. Violations of this closure are punishable by a fine 
of not more than $100,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than 12 
months as provided in 43 CFR 8360, 43 CFR 9268.3(d)(2), and 18 U.S.C. 
3571.

    Dated: October 4, 2004.
Raul Morales,
Associate Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-27386 Filed 12-14-04; 8:45 am]