From: Subject: FR Doc E7-18450 Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:27:18 -0700 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/E7-18450.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-18450 
[Federal Register: September 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 181)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 53597-53598]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19se07-109]                        =20

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-190-0777-XG]

=20
Notice of Emergency Closure of Selected Public Lands in Monterey=20
County, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI.

ACTION: Notice of Emergency Closure of Selected Public Lands to the=20
Establishment of Geocaches.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with 43 CFR 8364.1(a), notice is hereby given=20
that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Hollister Field Office will=20
immediately close selected public lands to the establishment of new=20
geocaches on Fort Ord Public Lands (FOPL) within Monterey County,=20
California. Existing geocaches will be evaluated and BLM will determine=20
whether or not they need to be removed. Specifically, this closure=20
pertains to public lands located within the 7,200-acre Fort Ord Public=20
Lands in T.14, 15, & 16 S., R. 2 E., in Monterey County, California. =

The public is currently prohibited from engaging in off-trail=20
recreation use as established in an Emergency Closure of Public Lands=20
notice dated December 5, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 235).
    This action is necessary to prevent geocachers from establishing=20
new geocaches on the Fort Ord Public Lands that may expose themselves,=20
and others, to munitions sites. The action is also intended to reduce=20
off-trail use that can have considerable adverse effects on soil,=20
vegetation, wildlife, endangered species, and authorized uses on the=20
public lands.

DATES: The emergency closure is effective immediately and will remain=20
in effect until formal geocaching policy governing the Fort Ord Public=20
Lands (FOPL) has been completed for this area in accordance with Title=20
43 Code of Federal Regulations 8364.1, or until the Authorized Officer=20
determines it is no longer needed.

ADDRESSES: Maps of the closure area may be obtained from the Hollister=20
Field Office, 20 Hamilton Ct, Hollister, CA 95023, Phone 831-630-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Cooper, Field Manager, Hollister=20
Field Office, 20 Hamilton Ct, Hollister, CA 95023. (831) 630-5000. E-
mail: Rick_Cooper@ca.blm.gov or =
Eric Morgan, Fort Ord Project Manager,=20
831-394-8314. E-mail: Eric_Morgan@ca.blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Hollister Field Office initiated an

[[Page 53598]]

Environmental Assessment (NEPA CA-190-07-54) on August 29,=20
2007. Notification of the proposed action and analysis has been=20
prominently posted in the Hollister Field Office public area and on the=20
Field Office web page during its undertaking.
    The 2007 Hollister Resource Management Plan designated non-
motorized use on FOPL as ``Limited'' to designated (i.e. signed and=20
shown on trail maps) routes and trails. This planning decision was=20
preceded by an Emergency Closure in 1996 regarding the same on December=20
5, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 235). Unauthorized off-trail use has been=20
increasing over the past years and has risen to a point that up to 60=20
existing geocaches are currently located away from trails on FOPL.=20
Hundreds of recreationists visit geocache sites every week. Geocaching=20
is not only extensively popular in the United States but occurs across=20
the world. Geocaching activities on FOPL have the potential to expose=20
visitors to dangerous munitions and are creating new trails that can=20
cause considerable adverse impacts to soils, vegetation, wildlife,=20
endangered species, and authorized uses on the public lands.
    During the closure, informational signs and maps of the emergency=20
closure will be clearly posted at main entry points to all locations=20
affected by this Notice. BLM will contact the northern California=20
Geocacher Approver and explain the problems and strategies and request=20
that they post the following message on all the existing geocaches web-
pages. Effective immediately the BLM is currently developing a=20
geocaching policy governing the Fort Ord Public Lands that is=20
protective of the environment and is attentive to public safety. As=20
such, the BLM has instituted an immediate prohibition on the=20
establishment of new geocaches on the FOPL and is evaluating existing=20
caches (such as this one) to determine if there are any immediate=20
issues concerning public safety and the protection of sensitive natural=20
and historic resources. The BLM reminds geocachers that our current=20
regulations prohibit off-trail recreation use at Fort Ord and that=20
public lands are open to non-motorized trail users only from dawn to=20
dusk. The current roads and trails network for non-motorized use can be=20
seen on the web at Google Earth: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dleavi=
ngFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.palmconsulting.net/beta/G=
E1D4.kmz.
 If a person wishing to visit the area does not have Google=20

Earth or internet access, maps of the closure area are available at the=20
Hollister Field Office. The geocaching policy that BLM is developing=20
will take into consideration that these lands were once a former=20
military base and that dangerous munitions and explosives still may=20
reside in public use areas. Visitors that remain on our designated=20
trail systems are not in harm's way from encountering such items. If=20
anything is encountered that appears to be a remnant of former military=20
use of the lands (especially anything metallic) and could be a=20
dangerous munition, please way mark the site location and call the=20
Presidio of Monterey Policy Department at 831-242-7851 or Army=20
munitions expert, Lyle Shurtleff at 831-242-7919. For additional=20
information, feel free to contact Eric Morgan, Fort Ord Manager at 831-
394-8314. Thanks for your attention to these matters.
    Penalties: Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of=20
this closure order may be subject to the penalties provided in 43 CFR=20
8364.1, which include a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment=20
not to exceed 12 months.

    Dated: August 30, 2007.
Rick Cooper,
Field Manager, Hollister Field Office.
[FR Doc. E7-18450 Filed 9-18-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-40-P