96-14342. Closure of Public Land To Access in Navajo County, AZ

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29127-29128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14342]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[AZ-024-06-1430-01]


Closure of Public Land To Access in Navajo County, AZ

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of closure of public lands.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the following described lands are 
temporarily closed until further notice for the protection of natural 
resources under the provisions of 43 CFR 8364.1. Exceptions to this 
notice include all activities associated with public safety including 
but not limited to emergency personnel, law enforcement and fire

[[Page 29128]]

fighting personnel and employees of Citizens Utility Company who may be 
required to perform emergency maintenance repairs on a communications 
site on adjoining private lands.

Gila and Salt River Meridian, Arizona

T. 16 N., R. 22 E.,
    Sec. 8, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This order became effective on the lands described 
above on May 21, 1996--the date of signature of the Land Closure Order 
by the authorized officer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public lands involved (approximately 120 
acres) are adjacent to private lands commonly referred to as Woodruff 
Butte. These private lands are currently being mined for sand and 
gravel. The butte is regarded as an area of traditional religious 
significance by the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo tribes. Existing access 
(unauthorized) to these private lands involves the crossing of the 
above described public lands. The purpose of this closure order is to 
allow the Bureau of Land Management to consider granting access to 
these private lands. This process will include legally mandated 
consultations with the tribes and other interested parties, and the 
completion of the environmental analysis required under the National 
Environmental Policy Act.

ORDER: Notice is hereby given that the above described public lands, 
upon their respective dates, are closed until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail Achesdon, Area Manager, Phoenix 
Resource Area, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, AZ 85027, (602) 
780-8090.

    Dated: May 22, 1996.
G.L. Cheniae,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-14342 Filed 6-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M