Emergency Off-Road Vehicle Closures; New Mexico

Michael R. Ford
Department of the Interior
February 18, 1994

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3410]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 18, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-010-4333-04/G910-G40012]

 

Emergency Off-Road Vehicle Closures; New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: (1) Emergency off-road vehicle closure in the Sombrillo Area 
of Critical Environmental Concern and near the community of La Puebla, 
approximately five miles northeast of Espanola, New Mexico; (2) 
Emergency off-road vehicle closure near Dixon, New Mexico, amending the 
Federal Register notice dated May 20, 1993; (3) Emergency off-road 
vehicle designation of the Santa Cruz Lake Overlook access road, with a 
seasonal closure from mid-November through mid-March.

DATES: Effective February 18, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Terry Humphrey, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Taos Resource Area, 224 
Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571. Phone (505) 758-8851.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (1) A total of 9,485 acres of public lands 
within T. 20 N., R. 9 E., an area bounded by New Mexico Highway 76 to 
the north, New Mexico Highway 520 to the east, Nambe Indian Reservation 
to the south, and U.S. Highway 84 to the west will be closed to off-
road vehicles for a period of two years from the date of this notice, 
or until completion of transportation planning for the area. This 
closure amends the emergency closure of 520 acres of public lands as 
noted in the Federal Register (May 20, 1993) to: (a) Include the 
Sombrillo Area of Critical Environmental Concern and isolated public 
tracts near La Puebla, New Mexico; (b) allow for a designated 
motorcycle/all terrain vehicle trail parallel to Santa Fe County Road 
88 between the 160 acre area open to off-road vehicle use and extending 
for approximately 0.75 miles to the northeast to tie in with a 
residential area access road; if unauthorized off-road activity occurs 
as a consequence of opening this trail, the trail will be closed to 
off-road vehicles. Off-road vehicle use is causing serious conflicts 
with adjacent property owners through noise and dust generated by 
vehicle activity, as well as concerns for visual and natural resource 
degradation. A recent inventory of the area revealed a large number of 
new trails and multiple trailing, compromising soil, vegetation, 
watershed, cultural, paleontological, and scenic resources in the area. 
The emergency restrictions are necessary to prevent any further 
degradation to these resources. (2) An emergency off-road vehicle 
closure of approximately 3,950 acres of public lands near Dixon, New 
Mexico, amending the Federal Register notice dated May 20, 1993, lies 
within T. 23 E., R. 10 E., S\1/2\ Sec. 19, SE\1/4\ Sec. 22, SW\1/4\ 
Sec. 23, Sec. 27-30, Sec. 33-35, and is necessary to prevent further 
deterioration of natural and cultural resources. This closure will be 
in effect for a period of two years from the date of this notice, or 
until completion of transportation planning for the area. Recent 
monitoring has shown a large number of new trails and multiple 
trailing, compromising soil, vegetation, watershed, cultural, 
paleontological, and scenic resources in the area. (3) A seasonal road 
closure from mid-November through mid-March of the Santa Cruz Lake 
Overlook access road, within T. 20 N., R. 10 E., Sections 18 and 19, is 
necessary to prevent serious acts of vandalism during periods when the 
Recreation Area is unsupervised.
    The closures are necessary to mitigate resource conflicts while 
allowing BLM to work with local residents and other public land users 
to work out a long-term resolution of the conflicts created by off-road 
vehicle use in these areas. The affected areas will be signed at all 
key access points following publication of this notice. Once 
transportation planning is completed with public involvement, the 
emergency designations will be replaced.
    These actions comply with regulations contained in 43 CFR 8364.1 
(closure and restriction orders). Persons who violate the closures/
limitations may be subject to fines of not more than $1,000 or 
imprisonment for not longer than 12 months, or both. Right-of-way 
holders or permittees may use established routes as part of their 
normal business.
    Maps of the affected area are available for public inspection at 
the Bureau of Land Management's office in Santa Fe, 1474 Rodeo Road, 
and in Taos, 224 Cruz Alta Road.

    Dated: February 4, 1994.
Michael R. Ford,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-3410 Filed 2-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M