Notice of Temporary Closure on Public Lands in Elmore County, ID, 10550-10551 [2014-04052]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10550-10551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04052]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[14X LLIDB00200 LF2200000.JS0000 LFESHUJ60000]


Notice of Temporary Closure on Public Lands in Elmore County, ID

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Temporary Closure.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Pony and Elk fires temporary 
closures to motorized vehicles and winter uses are in effect on public 
lands administered by the Four Rivers Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM).

DATES: The temporary motorized vehicle closure will be in effect on 
February 25, 2014 and will remain in effect for up to 3 years, or until 
rescinded or modified by the authorized officer, whichever comes first. 
The all-entry closure will be in effect January 1 through April 30, 
2014, and January 1 through April 30, 2015. Depending on the rate of 
recovery of the area and condition of the wintering elk and mule deer 
populations, the all-entry closure may be unnecessary in 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Humphrey, Four Rivers Field 
Manager, at 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, ID 83705, via email at 
thumphrey@blm.gov, or phone 208-384-3430. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individuals during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 
hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the 
above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The temporary closures affect BLM-
administered lands burned August 8-31, 2013, by the Pony and Elk fires, 
located approximately 10 miles north of Mountain Home, Idaho. The 
parcels of public lands affected by these closures, depicted on the 
Pony and Elk Fires Temporary Closure Area Map, dated

[[Page 10551]]

September 26, 2013, located at the Boise District BLM Office in Boise, 
Idaho, are situated in portions of:

T. 1 N., R. 4 E., section 1;
T. 1 N., R. 5 E., sections 1, 4, 7, 12, 13 (inclusive), 14, 18, 22, 
23, 24 (inclusive), 25, 26, 27 and 28;
T. 1 N., R. 6 E., sections 6, 7, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31, 32 (inclusive), 
and 33 (inclusive);
T. 1 N., R. 8 E., section 30;
T. 1 N., R. 9 E., sections 1 (inclusive) and 12;
T. 2 N., R. 4 E., sections 24 and 25;
T. 2 N., R. 5 E., sections 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35;
T. 2 N., R. 10 E., sections 8, 18, and 19;
T. 1 S., R. 5 E., section 1;
T. 1 S., R. 6 E., sections 1 (inclusive), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 
(inclusive), 10, 11-12 (inclusive), 13, 14 (inclusive), 17, 20, 22, 
23 (inclusive), 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, and 35;
T. 1 S., R. 7 E., sections 4 (inclusive), 5, 6-9 (inclusive), 13, 
14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 (inclusive), 29, 
30, 31, 32, 33-34 (inclusive), and 35;
T. 1 S., R. 8 E., sections 6, 27, and 31;
T. 2 S., R. 6 E., sections 1, 2-3 (inclusive), 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 
13;
T. 2 S., R. 7 E., sections 1-4 (inclusive), 5, 6-9 (inclusive), 10, 
11 (inclusive), 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 
27;
T. 2 S., R. 8 E., sections 4, 5, 6 (inclusive), 7, 8 (inclusive), 9, 
15, 17-18 (inclusive), 19, 20, 21, and 30; Boise Meridian, Idaho.

    The temporary closure area described herein encompasses 
approximately 54,200 acres in Elmore County, Idaho. The closures are 
intended to protect critical winter habitat for elk and mule deer as 
well as important year-long sage-grouse habitat. The motorized vehicle 
closure will help to slow the spread of noxious weeds; allow planted 
shrub, forb, and grass species to become established; and allow 
existing plants to recover. The all-entry closure will reduce human 
disturbance to wintering elk and mule deer. The closures will help 
ensure the long-term viability of habitat for wildlife populations in 
the area. The BLM will post closure signs at gates, main access points, 
key perimeter locations and main entry points to the closed areas. The 
closure notice will also be posted in the Boise District BLM office. 
Maps of the affected area and other documents associated with this 
closure are available at the Boise District BLM Office, 3948 
Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705 and on the BLM Idaho Web site 
https://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/advisories-closures.html. Under the 
authority of Section 303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733(a)), 43 CFR 8360.0-7, and 43 CFR 8364.1, 
the BLM will enforce the following rules within the closure:
    Throughout the temporary closure period, motorized vehicles must 
not be used within the closed area.
    Motorized vehicles are allowed within the closed area on Idaho 
State Highway 20, the Long Tom Reservoir Road, and roads maintained by 
the Mountain Home and Glenns Ferry Highway Districts.
    Between January 1, 2014, and April 30, 2014, and January 1, 2015, 
and April 30, 2015, no unauthorized persons will be allowed in the 
closed area except on the aforementioned roads.
    Exemptions: The following persons are exempt from this order: 
Federal, State, and local officers and employees in the performance of 
their official duties; members of organized rescue or fire-fighting 
forces in the performance of their official duties; and persons with 
written authorization from the BLM.
    Penalties: Any person who violates the above rule may be tried 
before a United States Magistrate and fined, not to exceed $1,000, 
imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Violators may also be 
subject to the enhanced fines provided for in 18 U.S.C. 3571.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8360.0-7; 43 CFR 8364.1

Terry Humphrey,
Four Rivers Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2014-04052 Filed 2-24-14; 8:45 am]
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