[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 30535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14445]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-010-1210-00; WYW-147234]
Notice of Availability of the Decision Record and Notice of Off-
Road Vehicle Designations for the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite, Big
Horn County, WY; and Notice of Amendment to the Washakie Resource
Management Plan
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Worland Field Office,
Wyoming, announces the availability of the decision record and off-road
vehicle designations for management of the Red Gulch Dinosaur
Tracksite.
The decision record amends the 1988 Washakie Resource Management
Plan (RMP). The amendment, contained in a general management plan for
the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite: (1) Designates an area of critical
environmental concern (ACEC) on 1,800 acres, (2) expands an existing
special recreation management area, (3) calls for the pursuit of a
mineral withdrawal to prohibit the staking and development of mining
claims, (4) prohibits most other surface-disturbing activities, and (5)
modifies off-road vehicle designations for the tracksite area.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Ross, field office planning
coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 101 South 23rd Street, P.O. Box
119, Worland, Wyoming 82401-0119, 307-347-5100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite is the
largest tracksite in Wyoming, and one of only a few worldwide from the
Middle Jurassic Period (160 million to 180 million years old). The
tracksite suggests that a large and diverse population of dinosaurs
once existed in the area. Scientists believe these rare Middle Jurassic
dinosaur tracks shed new light on the past because the formation in
which they were found (the Sundance Formation) was previously thought
to be at the bottom of a sea.
The management emphasis within the 1,800-acre tracksite ACEC will
be for protection of the fossil resources, as well as for scientific
research, public education, and recreation. The area has been included
in the West Slope of the Bighorn Mountains Special Recreation
Management Area. The BLM will also pursue a withdrawal of the public
lands from entry under the mining laws to prohibit the staking and
development of mining claims where dinosaur tracks are known or
anticipated to exist. Most other surface-disturbing activities will be
prohibited as well. The area is identified as ``limited to designated
roads and trails'' for motorized vehicle use, representing a change
from the former off-road vehicle designation of ``limited to existing
roads and trails'' for motorized vehicle use.
As required, further environmental analyses will be conducted on
any future site-specific activity or implementation planning to be done
in the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite ACEC. This would include
opportunities for public comment.
Any detailed activity planning that may be conducted in the ACEC
area will consider needs for site-specific mitigation of surface-
disturbing activities for things like locating trails, roads, exhibits,
and facilities to enhance public education and recreation.
Dated: June 2, 1999.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-14445 Filed 6-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
