97-4747. Prineville District; Closure of Public Lands; Oregon

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 8770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4747]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[OR-050-1150-04: GP7-0104]


Prineville District; Closure of Public Lands; Oregon

February 12, 1997.
agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

action: Notice is hereby given that, effective immediately, the area 
legally described below is closed to use of all motorized vehicles 
(including but not limited to off-road vehicles and snowmobiles) 
yearlong. Also, the area legally described below is closed to use of 
all motorized equipment (including but not limited to chainsaws) from 
March 1 to August 31 annually.

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Legal Description

    This closure applies to the area located in Township 21 South, 
Range 10 East, Section 6, South half of the Southwest quarter; Section 
6, Southeast quarter; Section 6, Southwest quarter of the Northeast 
quarter; and Section 7, North half of the Northwest quarter.
    The area described above is closed to all motorized vehicle use 
yearlong. The area described above is closed seasonally to use of all 
motorized equipment from March 1 to August 31. The purpose of this 
closure is to protect wildlife resources. More specifically, this 
closure is ordered to reduce disturbance and habitat destruction to 
nesting pairs of great gray owl and northern goshawk within the nest 
stand. Great gray owl and northern goshawk (Bureau sensitive species) 
are extremely sensitive to disturbance within the nest stand during the 
time period described above. Suitable nesting habitat for these species 
is currently very limited within the La Pine management area. Current 
uses at the site jeopardize the persistence and nesting success of 
these species in this area. Exemptions to this closure order may be 
made on a case-by-case basis as approved by the authorized officer. 
This emergency order will be evaluated in the Urban Interface Plan 
Amendment to the 1989 Brothers/La Pine Resource Management Plan. The 
authority for this closure is 43 CFR 8364.1: Closure and restriction 
orders.

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: February 12, 1997.
James G. Kenna,
Deschutes Resource Area Manager, Prineville District Office.
[FR Doc. 97-4747 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M