95-26604. Prineville District; Closure of Public Lands; Oregon

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 207 (Thursday, October 26, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 54881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26604]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-050-1210-00:G6-006]


Prineville District; Closure of Public Lands; Oregon

October 19, 1995.
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice is hereby given that Pictograph Cave, Deschutes County, 
Oregon, is seasonally closed to all visitor use.
    Pictograph Cave in Deschutes County, Oregon, and the sinkhole areas 
adjacent to both entrances, are closed to all visitor use from October 
15 to May 1. These dates are subject to change as a result of annual 
weather conditions or as more specific data pertaining to use of the 
site by sensitive bat species is acquired. Closure dates will be posted 
at the cave site and at the Prineville District Office. The purpose of 
this closure is to protect the Townsend's big-eared bat (Plecotus 
townsendii) from human disturbance during hibernation. This species is 
extremely sensitive to human disturbance in the winter months; any 
disturbance that awakens the bats during this period may result in 
their death. Pictograph Cave is a known hibernacula site for the 
Townsend's big-eared bat. Exemptions to this closure will apply to 
administrative personnel (Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, 
and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife) for monitoring purposes; 
other exemptions to this restriction may be made on a case-by-case 
basis by the authorized officer. Exemptions could include approved 
research, essential search and rescue, other emergency actions or 
administrative operations for cave resources protection. The authority 
for this closure is 43 CFR 8364.1: Closure and restriction orders.
    A more specific location of public lands under this closure order 
is not provided in order to protect sensitive cave resources. Cave 
locations are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act under the 
Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sarah Nichols, Wildlife Biologist, BLM Prineville District, P.O. Box 
550, Prineville Oregon 97754, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Violation of this closure order is 
punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to 
exceed 12 months as provided in 43 CFR 8360.0-7.

    Dated: October 19, 1995.
James L. Hancock,
District Manager, Prineville District Office.
[FR Doc. 95-26604 Filed 10-25-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M