[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36396-36397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16988]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CA-330-7123-00-6067]
Samoa Dunes Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area,
California
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Establishment of supplementary rules.
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SUMMARY: The primary purpose of these supplementary rules is the
enhancement of public safety and the protection of natural resources
within and around the public lands commonly known as the Samoa Dunes
Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area. Both areas have been
designated for the primary use of off-highway vehicles. Potential
safety hazards to pedestrians and off-highway vehicles were identified,
mainly due to the poor visibility of off-highway vehicles utilizing the
dunes, trails and roads of these areas. The use of whip masts and
flags, to enhance off-highway vehicle visibility, would greatly reduce
the potential for accidents involving off-highway vehicles. The
supplementary rule requiring whip masts and flags has been worded to
complement and be consistent with a similar Bureau of Land Management
regulation being used at the Imperial Dunes Recreation Area, El Centro,
California (Federal Register/Vol. 53, No. 192, page 38953, Tuesday,
October 4, 1988) and a similar State regulation affecting the Pismo
Dunes Recreation (14 CFR 4609.1(c)).
Also, off-highway vehicles have been willfully disregarding signs,
fences and other similar interpretive/physical barriers erected to
prevent off-highway vehicles from entering sensitive biological areas
and adjacent areas of private property. The prohibition against vehicle
barrier violations will serve to protect and preserve public and
private property concerns.
In addition to the regulations contained in 43 CFR Part 8340, 8341,
8343, 8365 and 9268, the California Vehicle Code and additional
supplementary rules established by the Arcata Field Office, the
following supplementary rules shall apply to the Samoa Dunes Recreation
Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area:
1. Safety flags, whips and masts: All off-highway motor vehicles
registered under California Vehicle Code Section 38010 or other off-
road vehicles, as defined in 43 CFR 8340.0-5(a) shall be equipped with
a whip, which is any pole, rod, mast or antenna, that is securely
mounted on the vehicle and which extends at least eight (8) feet from
the surface of the ground when the vehicle is stopped. When the vehicle
is stopped, the whip shall be capable of standing upright when
supporting the weight of any attached flags. At least one whip attached
to each vehicle shall have a solid red or orange colored safety flag
with a minimum size of six (6) inches by twelve (12) inches and be
attached within ten (10) inches to the top of the whip. Flags may be of
pennant, triangle, square or rectangular shape. Club or other flags may
be mounted below the safety flag or on a separate whip.
2. Vehicle Barriers: Taking any vehicle through, around, or beyond
any structure, restrictive sign, recognizable barricade, fence, gate or
traffic control barrier is prohibited. These actions affect
approximately 412 acres of public land located in the Samoa Dunes
Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes
[[Page 36397]]
Riding Area (T.5N., R.1W., Section 31 and T.5N., R.1W., Section 30/31,
Humboldt Meridian).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Cann, Outdoor Recreation
Planner, or Michael Dodson, Law Enforcement Ranger, Bureau of Land
Management, Arcata Field Office, 1695 Heindon Road, Arcata, California
95521, (707) 825-2300.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority for establishing supplementary
rules is contained in 43 CFR 8365.1-6. Copies of these rules will be
available in the Arcata Field Office. These rules will also be posted
near and/or within the lands, sites or facilities affected in the Samoa
Dunes Recreation Area and Eureka Dunes Riding Area. Violations of
supplementary rules established under authority of 43 CFR 8365.1-6 are
punishable by a fine not to exceed $10,000 and/or imprisonment not to
exceed 12 months, under authority of 43 CFR 8360.7.
Daniel Averill,
Acting Arcata Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-16988 Filed 7-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
