[Federal Register: January 5, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 2)]
[Notices]               
[Page 251]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja98-91]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[ID-035-1110-00]

 
Seasonal Closure of Public Lands, Medicine Lodge Resource Area

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of seasonal closure of public land in Fremont, 
Jefferson, Madison, and Clark Counties in Idaho.

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SUMMARY: This closure is made pursuant to the December 16, 1997, 
amendment of the Medicine Lodge Resource Management Plan. In addition 
to amending existing rights-of-way to Fremont and Jefferson Counties 
for the Egin-Hamer Road, the amendment establishes a permanent, 
seasonal closure to all-human-entry of certain public lands in Fremont, 
Jefferson, Madison, and Clark Counties. The closures do not apply to 
permittees controlling their livestock during periods of authorized use 
or while maintaining range improvements. Further, the closures do not 
apply to persons needing ingress and egress across public land while 
legally accessing their private lands. The usual, annual closure 
periods will be from January 1 through April 30 and January 1 through 
March 31, respectively, north and south of the Egin-Hamer Road. The 
lands affected are shown on Map 2 and Map 4 of the proposed amendment/
EA distributed on October 10, 1997, and on the map attached to the 
Decision Record. These maps are hereby incorporated by reference. 
Generally, the closure boundaries follow existing roads.

DATES: Effective date: January 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River Districts, 
Medicine Lodge Resource Area, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 
83401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Gardetto at the above address or 
at (208) 524-7545.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority for this closure is found in 
title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations at 8364.1. Approximately 10 
years ago, the Egin-Hamer Road, which runs through crucial, winter 
wildlife habitat, was closed in the winter to avoid disturbance to the 
wildlife'especially elk. The land use plan amendment process recently 
concluded was begun upon request by the Counties for BLM to consider 
removing the mandatory road closure and analyze alternative methods of 
protecting the elk and other big game while in their crucial winter 
habitat. The proposed amendment/environmental assessment contained the 
selected alternative which allows conditional removal of the automatic 
annual road closure. The conditions are that, (a) portions of the 
crucial habitat adjacent to the road are seasonally closed to all-
human-entry and, (b) certain climate and elk occupancy limitations are 
met. The proposed amendment/EA was not protested; it was subjected to a 
planning consistency review by Idaho's Office of the Governor; and it 
is supported by the IDF&G.

    Dated: December 16, 1997.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-105 Filed 1-2-98; 8:45 am]
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