97-2583. Notice To Amend Pony Express Resource Management Plan

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5034-5035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2583]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[UT-020-07-1220-00]


Notice To Amend Pony Express Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to designate a Special Recreation Management 
Area which would amend a resource management plan.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing an amendment 
to the Pony Express Resource Management Plan (RMP). The proposed 
amendment would designate certain public lands in Utah and Tooele 
Counties as a Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). A Recreation 
Area Management Plan (RAMP) and environmental assessment

[[Page 5035]]

(EA) would be prepared which would address future cooperative 
management between BLM and the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation 
for the area known as Fivemile Pass. Public comment will be actively 
solicited throughout the RAMP/EA and amendment development process.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed plan amendment will commence 
with the date of publication of this notice. Comments must be submitted 
on or before March 5, 1997.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Bureau Planning System, Special 
Recreation Management Areas (SRMA) are designated where significant 
public recreation issues or management concerns occur. Special or more 
intensive types of management are typically needed. Detailed recreation 
planning is required in these areas and greater managerial investment 
(e.g. facilities, supervision, etc.) is likely. Fivemile Pass was not 
listed as an SRMA in the 1988 Pony Express RMP. This amendment and 
planning process is needed to address current recreation use and 
management needs.
    Fivemile Pass is an area encompassing the southern foothills of the 
Oquirrh Mountains on the Tooele/Utah County line. For years, Fivemile 
Pass has been one of the most popular areas for off highway vehicle 
(OHV) recreation in Northern Utah. A 1992 amendment to the Pony Express 
RMP designated 10,880 acres of public land at Fivemile Pass as ``Open'' 
to OHV use. ``Open'' areas are approved for all types of OHV use, 
including cross-country travel. Since that time recreation use in the 
area has increased dramatically. The area is undeveloped with no 
recreation facilities. Fivemile Pass received over 36,900 visits in 
1996. The Utah ATV Association and other user groups have long 
advocated visitor developments at Fivemile Pass. In 1995, the Utah 
Division of Parks and Recreation and the Utah OHV Commission selected 
Fivemile Pass as a priority site for increased development and 
additional State OHV grants.
    The Fivemile Pass SRMA would be defined as T6S, R3W, sec 13-36; 
T6S, R4W, sec 13, 24, 25, and 36; T7S, R3W, Sec 1-18; and T7S, R4W, sec 
1, 12, and 13. The SRMA planning area would cover 31,360 acres which 
includes 19,020 acres of public lands, approximately 10,740 acres of 
private land, and 1,600 acres of State lands.
    Although Fivemile Pass is heavily used for recreation, the area 
also has a long history of mining, farming, and grazing. The entire 
planning area contains numerous mine shafts and abandoned pits. These 
mines and pits constitute a serious hazard for the public. Public roads 
accessing public lands cross private lands. There is occasional 
trespass and vandalism from the public crossing farmlands or riding 
OHVs through plowed fields. Recreation use has also resulted in 
vandalism to public lands and facilities around Fivemile Pass. Besides 
being a popular OHV riding area, Fivemile Pass is also used by campers, 
horseback riders, mountain bikers, organized groups (Scouts, RV clubs, 
church groups, etc.), hunters, and target shooters.
    Recreation development at Fivemile Pass would meet the following 
management objectives:
    1. Provide a quality recreation experience for OHV and other 
recreation users in a safe and appropriate setting.
    2. Mitigate safety hazards created by past mining operations.
    3. Maintain access to public lands.
    4. Protect natural and cultural resources on public lands and 
repair damaged resources.
    5. Mitigate trespass and impacts to private lands in and around the 
planning area.
    6. Maintain and enhance multiple use management for all resources 
in the planning area.
    7. Educate visitors about safety, public land stewardship, and low 
impact recreation.
    The RAMP will be prepared under 43 CFR part 1610 to meet the 
requirements of section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act, and section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act. This 
revision is necessary to update and expand the decisions presented in 
the 1988 Pony Express RMP that affect lands within the Fivemile Pass 
planning area.
    Public participation will be actively sought to ensure that the 
RAMP/EA addresses all issues, problems, and concerns from those 
interested in the management of the public lands within the proposed 
Fivemile Pass SRMA. The development of the RAMP/EA is a public process 
and the public is invited and encouraged to assist in the 
identification of issues and the scope of the RAMP/EA. Public meetings 
will be held to discuss planning issues. The date, time, and location 
of these scoping meetings will be announced in local newspapers and 
through other local media. Formal public participation will be 
requested for review of the preliminary RAMP/EA and final RAMP/EA in 
1997. Notice of availability of these documents will be published at 
the appropriate times.
    The RAMP/EA will be prepared by an interdisciplinary team which 
includes specialists in recreation, cultural resources, minerals, 
realty, wildlife, rangeland vegetation, and special status animal and 
plant species. Other disciplines may be represented as necessary.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Wyatt, Area Manager, Salt 
Lake Field Office, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah, 
telephone [phone], fax [phone]. Existing planning 
documents and information are available at the above address. Comments 
on the proposed plan amendment should be sent to the above address.
G. William Lamb,
State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 97-2583 Filed 1-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P