Notice of Temporary Closures on Public Lands in Owyhee County, Idaho, 32979 [2014-13405]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 32979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13405]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[14XL LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 LXSS020D0000 241A 4500061567]


Notice of Temporary Closures on Public Lands in Owyhee County, 
Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Temporary Route Closures.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that temporary closures are in effect 
for the routes within the Hot Well Wildlife Tract on public lands 
administered by the Bruneau Field Office, Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM). The routes within the tract will be closed to motorized vehicle 
traffic to protect sensitive botanical resources.

DATES: The temporary closure will be in effect beginning July 9, 2014 
and will remain in effect until August 8, 2016, or until rescinded or 
modified by the authorized officer or designated Federal officer. 
Future route management will be evaluated during travel management 
planning that will take place over the next two years.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact Tanya 
Thrift, Bruneau Field Manager, at 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, 
Idaho, 83705, by email at tthrift@blm.gov, or by phone at 208-384-3300. 
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 individual 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 individual. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Routes Closed to Motorized Vehicle Use

    The Hot Well Wildlife Tract temporary closures affect routes 
crossing public lands located in Owyhee County, Idaho. The affected 
routes are found in:

T. 7 S., R. 5 E., Section 6, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, Boise Meridian, Idaho

    One route enters the wildlife tract from Cattle Drive Road then 
splits into two routes that join back together at the geothermal well. 
These routes are shown on the map named ``Hot Well Wildlife Tract 
Temporary Route Closures,'' and all portions (a total length of 
approximately 1 mile) will be closed under this temporary closure.
    As documented in Categorical Exclusion Documentation (CX) No. DOI-
BLM-ID-B20-2013-0004-CX, this action is in conformance with the 1983 
Bruneau Management Framework Plan and is categorically excluded from 
further documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) in accordance with 516 DM 11.9 G(3), Temporary closure of roads 
and trails, as none of the extraordinary circumstances described in 516 
DM 2 apply. The CX and Decision Record for this action were signed on 
March 12, 2014. The Hot Well Wildlife Tract is the only known location 
in Idaho for a BLM Sensitive plant, alkali cleomella (Cleomella 
plocasperma). Use of this wildlife tract for unauthorized social 
gatherings by some local residents is in conflict with Bruneau 
Management Framework Plan direction to manage the site for wildlife 
values (Decision W/L-4.2) and to protect and conserve special status 
plants (Objective RM-5). The documented high level of recreational use 
associated with the adjacent privately owned geothermal well and the 
associated large quantities of trash have resulted in the need for 
temporary route closures to protect threatened natural resources. These 
activities are damaging habitat for the sensitive plant and increasing 
the risk for population decline. Future route management will be 
evaluated in the forthcoming travel management plan. Estimated time for 
completion of this plan is the summer of 2016. The BLM will post a 
closure sign and place a locked metal gate at the north entry point on 
Cattle Drive Road. Pedestrian access to the Hot Well Wildlife Tract 
will still be allowed. These closures will also be posted in the BLM 
Boise District Office. Maps of the affected area and other documents 
associated with these closures are available at the BLM Boise District 
Office at 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho, 83705. 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 rule within the Hot Well Wildlife 
Tract:
    Motorized vehicles must not be used on closed routes.
    Exemptions: Exempt from this closure are contractors hired by the 
BLM to work in the area; search and rescue personnel; Federal, State or 
local law enforcement officials; other BLM employees 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 no more than $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 8364.1.

Tanya M. Thrift,
Bruneau Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2014-13405 Filed 6-6-14; 8:45 am]
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