[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 224 (Monday, November 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63829-63830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29356]
[[Page 63829]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[OR-030-1220-00 PD; HAG99-0309]
Proposed Prohibited Acts on Public Land in Oregon
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Vale District, Baker Field Office,
Oregon/Washington.
ACTION: Proposed supplementary rules for public land within the Wallowa
and Grande Ronde River corridors, Baker Resource Area, Vale District,
Oregon and Washington.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Baker Field Office is
proposing supplementary rules. These supplementary rules will apply in
parts of the canyons of the Wallowa River and the Grande Ronde River in
Oregon and Washington. The supplementary rules will govern conduct on
all public lands managed by BLM within the river corridors described in
the notice. The supplementary rules are needed in order to protect the
rivers' natural resources and the public health and safety.
DATES: You should submit your comments by December 22, 1999.
ADDRESSES: You may mail or hand-deliver comments on the proposed
supplementary rule to Bureau of Land Management, Baker Field Office.
3165 10th St., Baker City, OR 97814. You may also comment via the
Internet to: vale__mail@blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Penelope Dunn-Woods, Baker Field
Office Manager, 3165 10th St., Baker City, OR 97814, telephone (541)
523-1256.
PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES: Please submit your comments on issues
related to the proposed supplementary rules, in writing, according to
the ADDRESSES section above. Comments on the proposed supplementary
rule should be specific, should be confined to issues pertinent to the
proposed supplementary rules, and should explain the reason for any
recommended change. Where possible, your comments should reference the
specific section or paragraph of the proposal that you are addressing.
BLM may not necessarily consider or include in the Administrative
Record for the final supplementary rule comments that BLM receives
after the close of the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered
to an address other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES).
BLM will make your comments, including your name and address,
available for public review at the Baker Resource Area address listed
in ADDRESSES above during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays).
Under certain conditions, BLM can keep your personal information
confidential. You must prominently state your request for
confidentiality at the beginning of your comment. BLM will consider
withholding your name, street address, and other identifying
information on a case-by-case basis to the extent allowed by law. BLM
will make available to the public all submissions from organizations
and businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses.
DISCUSSION OF THE RULES: These supplementary rules will apply to
portions of both the Wallowa and Grande Ronde river corridors managed
by the Bureau of Land Management. In the canyon of the Wallowa River
this includes public lands within \1/4\ mile of the mean high water
mark of that portion of the river from mile 10 to the river's
confluence with the Grande Ronde River. In the canyon of the Grande
Ronde River includes public lands \1/4\ mile above the mean high water
mark in the Washington State portion, and the public land in Oregon
from approximately river mile 86.5 to the Oregon-Washington State line.
BLM has determined these supplementary rules are necessary to protect
the rivers' nature resources and to provide for safe public recreation,
public health, and data collection. Our objective is to provide a
quality recreational experience to the general public, with minimal
amounts of user conflicts, and minimum damage to the public lands and
resources.
In addition, these supplementary rules are in accordance with the
Wallowa & Grande Ronde Rivers Final Management Plan and Environmental
Assessment, December 1993, and conform to U.S. Forest Service
regulations for management of adjacent segments of both rivers. You may
read legal descriptions of the areas to which this order applies at the
Baker Field Office, or find them in the Wallowa/Grande Final Management
Plan, and in the 1995 & 1999 Vale District Project & Planning Update
for the Baker Field Office.
Supplementary Rules for Wallowa and Grande Ronde River Canyons
Under 43 CFR 8365.1-6 and 43 CFR 8351.2-1, the Bureau of Land
Management will enforce the following supplementary rules on portions
of both the Wallowa and Grand Ronde river corridors managed by BLM. In
the canyon of the Wallowa River this includes public lands within \1/4\
mile of the mean high water mark of that portion of the river from mile
10 to the river's confluence with the Grande Ronde River. In the canyon
of the Grande Ronde River this includes public lands within \1/4\ mile
above the mean high water mark in the Washington state portion, and the
public land in Oregon from approximately river mile 86.5 to the Oregon-
Washington state line. In all of these areas you must follow these
supplementary rules:
1. Fires
(A) You must not build, maintain, or use a fire or campfire unless
it is fully contained in a fireproof container with sides of a height
sufficient to contain all ash and debris.
(B) You must not leave any campfire debris in the river corridor.
This includes all ash, wood, or charcoal residue, or partially consumed
briquets. All campfire ash and debris must be packed out of the river
corridors.
2. Firewood and Vegetation
(A) You must not cut any live tree or vegetation,
(B) You must not cut or use other than dead and down material.
3. Sanitation
(A) You must carry and use a portable, containerized toilet during
float trips.
(B) You must not dispose of solid human body waste except at
designated locations or fixtures provided for that purpose.
4. Firearms
(A) You must not discharge a firearm within 150 yards of any
occupied site, across any road or river, or in violation of State law.
5. Boating
(A) You must not operate motorized watercraft anywhere on the
Grande Ronde River from the Umatilla National Forest Boundary marker
(1.5 miles below the confluence with the Wallowa River at approximately
river mile 80) downstream to the Oregon/Washington State line
(approximately river mile 38.5).
(B) You must not violate any State Marine Board regulation.
6. Camping
(A) You must not camp in any area posted as ``Closed'' to that use.
[[Page 63830]]
7. Vehicles
(A) You must not enter the river corridor by motor vehicle in any
area closed to that use.
(B) You must not operate a vehicle on other than established roads
and trails.
8. Motorized Equipment
(A) You must not possess or use any motorized equipment or
machinery activated by a non-living power source within the designated
wild section of the Grande Ronde River from the USFS boundary near
Grossman Creek (approximately river mile 62) downstream to Wildcat
Creek (approximately river mile 53).
(B) You may use small, battery-powered, hand carried devices.
9. Other Acts
(A) No party or group larger than 25 people may launch, be on the
river, stop, or camp within the boundary stated in these supplementary
rules.
(B) You must obtain a permit for any boat trip prior to launching.
(C) You must follow the requirements of your permit and its permit
stipulations.
(D) You must follow the regulations posted at launch sites.
10. Exemptions
Persons who are exempt from these supplementary rules include any
Federal, State, or local officer, and members of any organized rescue
or fire-fighting force in performance of an official duty, and any
person authorized in writing by the Bureau of Land Management.
Penalties
(A) Under 18 U.S.C. 3571 and 43 CFR 8351.2-1, any person who
violates any of these supplementary rules within the wild and Scenic
portions of the river corridors may be tried before a United States
Magistrate and fined no more than $500 or imprisoned for no more than 6
months, or both. Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced
fines provided for by Title 18 U.S.C. 3571.
(B) On public lands outside of the designated Wild and Scenic river
corridors, under section 303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733(a)) and 43 CFR 8365.1-6 any
person who violates any of these supplementary rules within the
boundaries established in the supplementary rules may be tried before a
United States Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000 or imprisoned
for no more than 12 months, or both. Such violations may also be
subject to the enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571.
Charles Wassinger,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-29356 Filed 11-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M
