From: Subject: FR Doc E7-508 Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 19:47:18 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-508.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 FR Doc E7-508 
[Federal Register: January 17, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 10)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 2008-2009]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17ja07-60]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-100-1110-PI]

=20
Notice of Seasonal Closure of Public Lands to Motorized Vehicle=20
Use

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of seasonal closure of certain public lands located in=20
Sublette County, Wyoming to all types of motor vehicle use and/or human=20
presence.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations subpart 8364, the=20
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) may issue an order to close the use of=20
BLM administered lands to the public to protect those lands and=20
resources. The Pinedale Resource Management Plan (RMP) Record of=20
Decision (ROD), December 12, 1988, states that big game winter ranges,=20
and elk feedgrounds may be closed to minimize stress to wintering=20
animals. The Pinedale Anticline Project (PAPA) ROD (2000) identifies=20
areas that may be subject to seasonal closures as conditions warrant.
    After consulting with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the BLM=20
Pinedale Field Manager has implemented a seasonal closure on certain=20
BLM-administered lands and travel ways including existing roads and=20
two-track trails, to all types of motorized vehicle travel (e.g.,=20
snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, any vehicle including trucks, sport=20
utility vehicles and cars, motorcycles etc.). Winter ranges, as=20
identified in the Pinedale RMP, and as described below in the=20
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, will be closed to all unauthorized=20
motorized travel from November 15 through April 30 each winter. Use of=20
winter range areas by non-motorized means is still allowed. Feedground=20
areas will be closed November 15 through April 30 each winter, to all=20
motorized vehicles and human presence. The Mesa winter range will=20
remain open to motorized travel on existing roads from November 15=20
through January 14 each winter, but roads will be closed to=20
unauthorized motorized travel January 15 through April 30 each winter.=20
After April 30 each year, motorized vehicle use will be limited to=20
existing roads and two-track trails.
    The winter range seasonal closures affect public lands located=20
within the Deer Hills, Oil Field, Mesa, Bench Corral, and Miller=20
Mountain winter ranges. Elk feedground closures affect public lands=20
around the Franz, Finnegan, Scab Creek, Fall Creek, and North Piney=20
feedgrounds. This action is necessary for the protection of crucial=20
winter range habitat for elk, moose, antelope, and mule deer. Except=20
for travel on highways or county roads, motorized vehicle travel within=20
these areas will be allowed only by written authorization from the=20
Pinedale Field Manager. Personnel of the BLM, Wyoming Game and Fish=20
Department, U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS & Forest Service, =
U.S.=20
Fish & Wildlife Service, and law enforcement personnel are exempt =
from=20
this closure when performing official duties. Operators of existing oil=20
and gas facilities may perform routine maintenance, or operation and=20
drilling as approved by the BLM, and livestock operators may perform=20
permitted activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Pinedale Field Office is responsible=20
for management of crucial winter range habitat located on public lands=20
within Sublette County. These crucial winter range habitat areas and=20
the management thereof are addressed in the Pinedale RMP ROD, which was=20
signed December 12, 1988 and Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA) ROD=20
signed on July 27, 2000. The RMP identifies areas of crucial winter=20
range and states that seasonal closures for motorized vehicles may be=20
used to protect big game winter range. Closures will vary depending on=20
conditions and will be implemented in coordination with the Wyoming=20
Game and Fish Department (Pinedale RMP, pages 33, 35, and 37). Road=20
closures from the PAPA ROD identify current and future use of roads in=20
the winter and outlines allowable access (Pages 12 and 19). Reasons for=20
the closure include the effects of persistent drought and/or severe=20
winter conditions which threaten the health of these wintering wildlife=20
species. Low forage production associated with persistent drought=20
conditions causes animals to go into winter in poor condition. Losses=20
of wintering habitat from development activity can reduce the area=20
available to the wintering animals. These impacts to wintering wildlife=20
are compounded by significant human activity, such as day and night=20
wildlife observation, still and video photography, snowmobiling, and=20
antler gathering. Because of the increased stress the presence of=20
motorized vehicles inflicts on wintering big game during difficult=20
winter periods, the number of animals that will die and the rate of=20
aborting or reabsorption of fetuses on the winter range can increase.=20
This decreases production of young during the following summer.=20
Therefore, closing crucial winter ranges and feedgrounds to motorized=20
vehicles and human presence (feedgrounds) reduces impacts to wintering=20
big game.
    By this order, the following BLM-administered lands are included in=20
this notice of closures:
     The Oil Field winter range complex located approximately=20
10 miles west of Big Piney containing approximately 116,981 acres.
     The Deer Hills winter range complex located approximately=20
10 miles west of Big Piney containing approximately 23,552 acres.
     The Mesa winter range complex located approximately 3=20
miles south of Pinedale containing approximately 83,101 acres.
     The Bench Corral winter range complex and elk winter=20
feedground (T31-32N, R112W) located approximately 18 miles southwest of=20
Pinedale containing approximately 42,230 acres.
     Miller Mountain winter range located approximately 5 miles=20
south and west of LaBarge containing approximately 118,543 acres.

[[Page 2009]]

     The Franz elk winter feedground (T36N, R112W) containing=20
680 acres.
     The Finnegan elk winter feedground (T30N, R114W)=20
containing approximately 1920 acres.
     The Fall Creek elk winter feedground (T33N, R108W)=20
containing approximately 160 acres.
     The Scab Creek elk winter feedground (T33N, R106-107W)=20
containing approximately 2,240 acres.
     The North Piney elk winter feedground (T31N, R114W)=20
containing approximately 1,080 acres.
     The Black Butte elk winter feedground (T36-37N, R114W)=20
containing approximately 320 acres.
    Signs will be posted at key locations that provide access into the=20
closure areas. Additional information will be available at the Pinedale=20
Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941.
    Authority for closure orders is provided in regulation 43 CFR,=20
subparts 8341.2 and 8364.1. Violations of this closure are punishable=20
by a fine not to exceed $1000, and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12=20
months.
    Dates: Every calendar year before the following dates, a press=20
release will be published in the local newspaper as to the areas that=20
will be closed for that year. The seasonal closure for big game winter=20
ranges will be effective from November 15 through April 30 each winter,=20
to all unauthorized motorized vehicle use. The Mesa winter range will=20
remain open to motorized travel on existing roads from November 15=20
through January 14 each winter, but roads will be closed to=20
unauthorized motorized travel January 15 through April 30 each winter.=20
Elk feedground areas will be closed November 15 through April 30 each=20
winter, to all unauthorized motorized vehicles and human presence. Use=20
of winter range areas by non-motorized means is still allowed. After=20
April 30 each year, motorized vehicle use will be limited to existing=20
roads and two-track trails.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pauline Schuette, Wildlife Biologist=20
or Martin Hudson, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Bureau of Land=20
Management, 432 East Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941, or contact=20
by telephone at 307-367-5300.

    Dated: October 3, 2006.
Dennis R. Stenger,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. E7-508 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am]

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