Notice of Seasonal Closure of Public Lands to Motorized Vehicle Use, 7296 [05-2638]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management
• Land Management Bureau

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 28 (Friday, February 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 7296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2638]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-090-1220-MA]


Notice of Seasonal Closure of Public Lands to Motorized Vehicle 
Use

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of seasonal closure of certain public lands located in 
Lincoln County, Wyoming, to all types of motor vehicle use.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) subpart 8364, 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intentions to close 
certain BLM-administered public lands to all types of motor vehicle use 
during the period of January 1 through April 30, annually. This 
seasonal closure is needed to protect public lands and resources and to 
minimize stress to wintering elk, moose, pronghorn antelope and mule 
deer.
    This seasonal closure affects public lands located within the 
Raymond Mountain Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Slate Creek, Rock Creek, 
and Bridger Creek winter ranges. Except for travel on highways or 
county roads, motorized vehicle travel within these areas will be 
allowed only by written authorization from the Kemmerer Field Manager. 
Personnel of the BLM, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture-APHIS & Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 
and law enforcement personnel are exempt from this closure only when 
performing official duties. Operators of existing oil and gas 
facilities may perform maintenance and pumping, as approved, and 
livestock operators may perform permitted activities.

DATES: This seasonal closure will be effective annually from January 1 
through April 30.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wally Mierzejewski, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, or Dale Wondercheck, Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Land 
Management, 312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101. Mr. 
Mierzejewski or Mr. Wondercheck may also be contacted by telephone at 
307-828-4500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Kemmerer Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision 
(ROD) states that big game winter ranges may be closed to minimize 
stress to wintering animals. Prior to effecting seasonal closures the 
BLM must consult annually with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. If 
conditions warrant, the BLM Kemmerer Field Manager may implement a 
seasonal closure on certain BLM-administered lands and travel ways 
including existing roads and two-track trails, to all types of 
motorized vehicle travel (i.e., snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, any 
vehicle including trucks, sport utility vehicles and cars, motorcycles 
etc.). Crucial big game winter range as identified in the Kemmerer RMP 
may be closed annually from January 1 through April 30. Use of these 
areas by non-motorized means is still allowed.
    The BLM Kemmerer Field Office is responsible for management of 
crucial winter range habitat located on public lands within Lincoln 
County. The Raymond Mountain WSA, Slate Creek, Rock Creek, and Bridger 
Creek areas are crucial wintering ranges for elk, moose, antelope, and 
mule deer. Reasons for the closure include the effects of persistent 
drought and/or severe winter conditions which threaten the health of 
these wintering wildlife species. Low forage production associated with 
persistent drought conditions causes animals to go into winter in poor 
condition. Losses of wintering habitat from development activity can 
reduce the area available to the wintering animals. These impacts to 
wintering wildlife are compounded by significant human activity, such 
as day and night wildlife observation, still and video photography, 
snowmobiling, and antler gathering. Because of the increased stress the 
presence of motorized vehicles inflicts on wintering big game during 
difficult winter periods, the number of animals that could die and the 
rate of aborting of fetuses on the winter range can increase. This 
decreases production of young during the following summer. Therefore, 
closing crucial winter range to motorized vehicles reduces impacts to 
wintering big game.
    The following BLM-administered lands are included in this closure:
     The Raymond Mountain WSA, located approximately 15 miles 
north of Cokeville and contains 32,956 acres.
     The Slate Creek area including all BLM-administered lands 
south of Fontenelle Creek, west and north of Route 189, and east of the 
crest of Slate Creek Ridge, and contains 111,100 acres.
     The Rock Creek area including all BLM-administered lands 
south of County Road 204 (Pine Creek Road), west of the crest of 
Dempsey Ridge, west of Fossil Butte National Monument, north and east 
of Highway 30, and contains 105,750 acres.
     The Bridger Creek area including all BLM-administered 
lands south of Highway 30, west of Fossil Ridge, west of Bear River 
Divide, north of the Uinta--Lincoln County line, east of the Utah--
Wyoming border, and southeast of Highway 89, and contains 98,400 acres.
    Maps of these areas will be posted with this notice at key 
locations that provide access into the closure areas, as well as at the 
Kemmerer Field Office, 312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101-
9710.
    Seasonal closure orders may be implemented as provided in 43 CFR, 
subparts 8341.2 and 8364.1. Violations of this closure are punishable 
by a fine not to exceed $1000, and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12 
months.

    Dated: December 21, 2004.
Robert A. Bennett,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 05-2638 Filed 2-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P