95-1945. Termination of Emergency Closure of Public Lands; California

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 5205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1945]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-068-95-1990-02]


Termination of Emergency Closure of Public Lands; California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Termination of the April 18, 1994 emergency closure of certain 
public lands to placer dry wash and sluice mining without prior 
approval of the Bureau of Land Management [59 FR 78; pp. 19202-19203].

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SUMMARY: The April 18, 1994 emergency closure, issued under Title 43, 
Code of Federal Regulations, Sec. 8364.1, was necessary to stop a rapid 
increase in unauthorized placer mining within a 29,100 acre area of 
public lands located approximately 15 miles north of Barstow, 
California. This unauthorized mining was severely impacting designated 
critical habitat of the desert tortoise, a federally listed threatened 
species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended), and was 
causing undue impairment to scenic, scientific and environmental values 
in this portion of the California Desert Conservation Area.
    Since issuance of this closure, the BLM has achieved compliance 
with the applicable laws pertaining to mining in this area. This 
closure, therefore, is determined to be unnecessary. However, the BLM 
will vigorously pursue administrative, civil and/or criminal actions 
against any renewal of these unauthorized placer drywash and sluice 
mining activities.

DATES: This termination action becomes effective January 20, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Kalish of the Barstow Resource 
Area (Tel. [phone]).

    Dated: January 20, 1995.
Tim Read,
Acting Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-1945 Filed 1-25-95; 8:45 am]
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