Notice of Temporary Closure and Temporary Restrictions of Selected Public Lands in Mohave County, AZ, 55473-55474 [2023-17436]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 15, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55473-55474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17436]



[[Page 55473]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_AZ_FRN_MO4500170881 AZ-SRP-030-23-13]


Notice of Temporary Closure and Temporary Restrictions of 
Selected Public Lands in Mohave County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of temporary closure and restrictions.

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SUMMARY: As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, as amended, notice is hereby given that a 
temporary closure and temporary restrictions of activities will be in 
effect on public lands administered by the Lake Havasu Field Office, 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to minimize the risk of potential 
collisions with spectators and racers during the annual Ultra4 USA 
Legends of the Fall off-highway vehicle (OHV) race events authorized 
under a special recreation permit (SRP).

DATES: The temporary restrictions for the Ultra4 USA Legends of the 
Fall take effect at 11:59 p.m., October 24, through midnight October 
29, 2023. The temporary closure takes effect at 11:59 p.m., October 25, 
2023, through midnight October 29, 2023. All times are listed in local 
time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sabrina Bice, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, BLM Lake Havasu Field Office, 1785 Kiowa Avenue, Lake Havasu 
City, Arizona 86403, (928) 302-4255. Also see the Lake Havasu Field 
Office website: https://www.blm.gov/office/lake-havasu-field-office. 
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The temporary closure and restrictions 
affect public lands in and around the Standard Wash Open OHV area near 
the communities of Lake Havasu City in Mohave County, Arizona. The 
temporary closure applies to all public use, including pedestrian and 
vehicle, unless excepted. The temporary closure area follows the event 
racecourse. The temporary restriction area applies to the remaining 
public lands in the Standard Wash Open OHV area as designated in the 
2007 Lake Havasu Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan and 
Record of Decision. Within the temporary restriction area, the 
temporary restrictions apply in addition to all existing regulations.
    On September 4, 2020, the decision record authorizing off-road 
high-speed events within the Standard Wash Open OHV area was signed. 
The environmental assessment analyzing these routes (EA #DOI-BLM-AZ-
C030-2020-0043) concluded that allowing permitted motorized racers 
exclusive use of the designated open OHV area would mitigate safety 
concerns.
    The temporary closure and restrictions are necessary because of the 
high-speed nature of the race event and the added safety concerns due 
to limited visibility during nighttime. Roads leading into the public 
lands under the temporary closure and restrictions will be posted with 
copies of the temporary closure, temporary restrictions, and associated 
maps to notify the public. The temporary closure and restriction orders 
will also be posted in the Lake Havasu Field Office and online at 
https://www.blm.gov/office/lake-havasu-field-office. Maps of the 
affected area and other documents associated with this temporary 
closure are available at the Lake Havasu Field Office, 1785 Kiowa 
Avenue, Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
    The closures and restrictions are issued under the authority of 43 
CFR 8364.1, which allows the BLM to establish closures and restrictions 
for the protection of persons, property, and public lands and 
resources. Violation of any of the terms, conditions, or restrictions 
contained within this closure and restrictions order may subject the 
violator to citation or arrest with a penalty of a fine or imprisonment 
or both as specified by law.

Temporary Closure

    a. The designated racecourse is closed to public entry during the 
temporary closure, with the following exceptions:
    i. The person is an employee or authorized volunteer with the BLM, 
a law enforcement officer, emergency medical service provider, fire 
protection provider, or another public agency employee working at and 
assigned to the event;
    ii. The person is working at or attending the event directly on 
behalf of the permit holder.
    b. Motor vehicles may be operated within the temporary closure area 
under the circumstances listed below:
    i. Race participants and support vehicles on designated routes;
    ii. BLM, medical, law enforcement, and firefighting vehicles are 
authorized at all times;
    iii. Vehicles operated by the permit holder's staff or contractors 
and volunteers are authorized at all times. These vehicles must display 
evidence of event registration at all times in such manner that it is 
visible on the front of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

Temporary Restrictions

1. Environmental Resource Management and Protection

    a. Cutting or collecting firewood of any kind, including dead and 
downed wood or other vegetative material, is prohibited.
    b. Grey Water Discharge: The discharge and dumping of grey water 
onto the ground surface is prohibited. Grey water is defined as water 
that has been used for cooking, washing, dishwashing, or bathing and/or 
contains soap, detergent, food scraps, or food residue, regardless of 
whether such products are biodegradable or have been filtered or 
disinfected.
    c. Human Waste: The depositing of human waste (liquid and/or solid) 
on the ground surface is prohibited.

2. Alcohol/Prohibited Substance

    a. Possession of alcohol by minors is prohibited. Selling or 
offering to sell any alcoholic beverage on public lands under this 
notice is prohibited.

2. Drug Paraphernalia

    a. The possession of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia is prohibited.

3. Disorderly Conduct

    a. Disorderly conduct is prohibited. No person shall cause a public 
disturbance or create a risk to other persons on public lands by 
engaging in activities which include, but are not limited to, the 
following:
    i. Making unreasonable noise;
    ii. Creating a hazard or nuisance;
    iii. Refusing to disperse when directed to do so by an authorized 
officer;
    iv. Resisting arrest or issuance of citation by an authorized 
officer engaged in performance of official duties; interfering with any 
Bureau of Land Management employee or volunteer engaged in performance 
of official duties;
    v. Assaulting, committing a battery upon, or
    vi. Knowingly giving any false or fraudulent report of an emergency 
situation or crime to any Bureau of Land Management employee or 
volunteer

[[Page 55474]]

engaged in the performance of official duties.

4. Eviction of Persons

    a. The temporary restriction area is closed to any person who:
    i. Has been evicted from the event by the permit holder, whether or 
not the eviction was requested by an employee or other authorized 
representative of the BLM;
    ii. Has been evicted from the event by an employee or other 
authorized representative of the BLM; or
    iii. Has been ordered by a federal, state, local, or Tribal law 
enforcement officer to leave the area of the permitted event.
    b. Any person evicted from the event forfeits all privileges to be 
present within the temporary restriction area.

5. Motor Vehicles

    a. Motor vehicles must comply with the following requirements:
    i. Motor vehicle operators must possess evidence of valid vehicle 
insurance.
    ii. Motor vehicles and trailers must not block a street used for 
vehicular travel or a pedestrian pathway. Parking any off-highway 
vehicle in violation of posted restrictions; or in such a manner as to 
obstruct or impede normal or emergency traffic movement or the parking 
of other vehicles; creating a safety hazard; or endangering any person, 
property, or feature, is prohibited. Vehicles parked in violation are 
subject to citation, removal, and/or impoundment at the owner's 
expense.
    iii. Operating a vehicle through, around, or beyond a restrictive 
sign, barricade, fence, or traffic control barrier or device is 
prohibited.
    iv. Failure to obey any person authorized to direct traffic or 
control access to event area including federal, state, local, and 
Tribal law enforcement officers, BLM employees and their authorized 
representatives, and designated race officials is prohibited.

6. Public Camping

    a. The temporary restriction area is closed to public camping with 
the following exceptions:
    i. The permitted event's spectators, who are camped in designated 
spectator areas, as marked by protective fencing, barriers, and 
informational signage provided by the permit holder; and
    ii. The permit holder's authorized staff, contractors, and BLM-
authorized event managers.
    b. Spectator area site reservations, or denying other visitors or 
parties from utilizing unoccupied portions of the spectator area by 
marking with flags, tape, posts, cones, etc., are prohibited. Vehicles 
and trailers may not be left unattended for over 72 hours.
    c. Failure to observe restricted area quiet hours of midnight to 6 
a.m. is prohibited.

7. Weapons

    a. Discharging or use of firearms or other weapons is prohibited.
    b. The prohibition above shall not apply to federal, state, local, 
and Tribal law enforcement personnel who are working in their official 
capacity at the event.

8. Public Use

    a. Failure to obey any official sign posted by the BLM, federal, 
state, local, and Tribal law enforcement, La Paz County, or the permit 
holder is prohibited.

Existing Regulations

    The following list of existing regulations is not intended to be 
comprehensive. A complete list of laws and regulations applicable to 
public lands in Arizona may be viewed at: https://www.azd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/general-orders/19-14.pdf.

Environmental Resource Management and Protection

    a. No person may deface, disturb, remove, or destroy any natural 
object--43 CFR 8365.1-5(a)(1).
    b. Fireworks: The use, sale, or possession of personal fireworks is 
prohibited--43 CFR 9212.1 (h).
    c. Black Water Discharge: The discharge and dumping of black water 
onto the ground surface is prohibited. Black water is defined as 
wastewater containing feces, urine, and/or flush water--43 CFR 8365.1-
1(b)(3).
    d. Trash: The discharge of any and all trash/litter onto the ground 
surface is prohibited. All event participants must pack out or properly 
dispose of all trash at an appropriate disposal facility--43 CFR 
8365.1-1(b)(1).
    e. Hazardous Materials: The dumping or discharge of vehicle oil, 
petroleum products, or other hazardous household, commercial, or 
industrial refuse or waste onto the ground surface is prohibited. This 
applies to all recreational vehicles, trailers, motorhomes, port-a-
potties, generators, and other camp infrastructure--43 CFR 8365.1-
1(b)(3).

1. Alcohol/Prohibited Substance

    a. Possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage by the 
driver or operator of any motorized vehicle, whether or not the vehicle 
is in motion, is prohibited--43 CFR 8365.1-6.
    b. Possession of alcohol by minors. Consumption or possession of 
any alcoholic beverage by a person under 21 years of age on public 
lands is prohibited--43 CFR 8365.1-6, Supplementary Rule 63 FR 43716.
    c. Operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of 
alcohol, marijuana, narcotics, or dangerous drugs is prohibited--43 CFR 
8341.1(f)(3).

2. Disorderly Conduct

    a. Obstructing, resisting, or attempting to elude a law enforcement 
officer, or failing to follow their orders or directions is 
prohibited--43 CFR 8365.1-4(a)(4).

3. Motor Vehicles

    a. Motor vehicles must comply with the following requirements:
    i. The operator of a motor vehicle must possess a valid driver's 
license--43 CFR 8341.1(e).
    ii. Motor vehicles and trailers must possess evidence of valid 
registration--43 CFR 8341.1(d).
    iii. Motor vehicles must not exceed the posted speed limit--43 CFR 
8341.1(f)(2).

4. Pets or Other Animals

    a. Allowing any pet or other animal to be unrestrained is 
prohibited. All pets must be restrained by a leash of not more than six 
feet in length--43 CFR 8365.2-1(c).
    Enforcement: Any person who violates these closures or restrictions 
may be tried before a United States magistrate and fined in accordance 
with 18 U.S.C. 3571, imprisoned no more than 12 months under 43 U.S.C. 
1733(a) and 43 CFR 8360.0-7, or both. In accordance with 43 CFR 8365.1-
7, any person is also subject to penalty for violations of state law.
    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1.

William Mack,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2023-17436 Filed 8-14-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-12-P