97-17275. Notice of Prohibition of Operation of Off Road Vehicles on Public Lands Without Approved Spark Arrester; Idaho

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 35832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17275]



[[Page 35832]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[ID-913-07-1630-00]


Notice of Prohibition of Operation of Off Road Vehicles on Public 
Lands Without Approved Spark Arrester; Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that effective immediately, no off-road 
vehicle may be operated on Public Lands in Idaho unless equipped with a 
properly installed and maintained spark arrester, the purpose of which 
is to prevent spark-caused wildfires. The spark arrester must bear a 
stamp indicating it has met either the U.S. Department of Agriculture--
U.S. Forest Service standard 5100-1a or the 80-percent efficiency level 
standard when determined by the appropriate Society of Automotive 
engineers Recommended Practices J335 or J350. A spark arrester is not 
required when an off-road vehicle is being operated in an area which 
has three or more inches of snow on the ground.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
A Daniel Hughes, Special Agent-in-Charge, BLM Idaho State Office, 1387 
South Vinnell Way, Boise, Idaho 83709, 208 373-4023.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The installation of spark arresters on off-
road vehicles has been shown to be an effective preventive for exhaust 
spark-caused wild fires. Currently both the U.S. Forest Service and the 
Idaho Department of Public Lands require such devices. Failure to 
install a spark arrester as described above may result in a fine as 
authorized in 43 CFR 8340.0-7.
    Definitions: (43 CFR 8340.0-5) (A) ``Public Lands'' mean any lands 
or interest in lands owned by the United States and administered by the 
Bureau of Land Management. (B) ``Off-Road Vehicle'' means any motorized 
vehicle capable of, or designated for, travel on or immediately over 
land, water, or other natural terrain, excluding: (1) Any nonamphibious 
registered motorboat; (2) any military, fire, emergency, or law 
enforcement vehicle while being used for emergency purposes; (3) any 
vehicle whose use is expressly authorized by the authorized officer, or 
otherwise officially approved; (4) vehicles in official use; and (5) 
any combat or combat support vehicle when used in times of national 
defense emergencies.
Elena C. Daly
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 97-17275 Filed 7-1-97; 8:45 am]
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