[Federal Register: December 9, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 236)]
[Notices]
[Page 72971-72972]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de02-105]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-010-1220-AD]
Recreation Management Restrictions, etc: Yellowstone County, MT;
Firearms Target Shooting Emergency Closure
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Billings Field Office, Montana State
Office.
ACTION: Notice of emergency closure of firearms target shooting on
certain public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management in
Yellowstone County, Montana.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that certain areas are closed to
firearms target shooting from October 1, 2002, to September 30, 2003,
to protect public safety and natural resources. The closed areas are
Shepherd Ah-Nei, 21-Mile, and Acton Ah-Nei areas and are legally
described as:
That area of public lands commonly referred to the ``Shepherd
Area,'' or ``Shepherd Ah Nei'' located at:
T 4 N, R 27 E, Sec 24, NE\1/4\, S\1/2\; Sec 25, all. Sec 36, all.
T 3 N, R 27 E, Sec 1, all.
T 4 N, R 28 E, Sec 19, all. Sec 20, W\1/2\. Sec 30, Lots 1, 2, N\1/
2\NE\1/4\. Sec 31, all
T 3 N, R 28 E, Sec 6, Lots 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, E\1/2\,
Principal Montana Meridian, and
That area of public lands commonly referred to the ``21-Mile
Area '' located north of Billings and west of the Roundup Road,
Highway 87 North and the 21 Mile Road at:
T 4 N, R 25 E, Sec 24, all. Principal Montana Meridian, and
That area of public lands commonly referred to as the ``Acton
Area'' or ``Acton Ah-Nei'' located east of Broadview, Montana at:
T 4 N, R 25 E, Sec 31, E\1/2\.
T 3 N, R 25 E, Sec 5, all, Sec 6, Lots 1, 2, S\1/2\, NE\1/4\; Sec 7,
Lots 1, 2, E\1/2\ NW\1/4\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, E\1/2\; Sec 8, all. Sec
9, all. Sec 17, all.
[[Page 72972]]
Sec 20, N\1/2\ N\1/2\. Principal Montana Meridian, all in
Yellowstone County, in the State of Montana.
Closure signs will be posted at the major entry points to this
area. Maps of the closure and information may be obtained from the
Billings Field Office.
DATES: This closure will be in effect from October 1, 2002, to
September 30, 2003, unless superceded by permanent rulemaking action.
Discussion of the Emergency Closure: This emergency closure is
necessary for the management of actions, activities, and public use on
certain public lands which may have, or are having, adverse impacts on
persons using public lands, on property, and on resources located on
public lands until permanent management action can be taken. Increasing
levels of public use are creating conflicts between different user
groups. The subject lands are utilized for recreational hiking,
horseback riding, mountain biking, off-highway vehicle use, wildlife
observation, hunting, and target shooting.
While hikers, horseback riders, mountain bicyclists and other users
can schedule their use around published hunting seasons for safety
reasons, they are not able to avoid random target shooting. Local
conditions including heavy timber and rough terrain reduce visibility
and increase the hazard to other users from target shooters. Recent
incidents involving random target shooting have resulted in
endangerment and injury to other users. In addition, resource damage is
occurring from the accumulation of debris from target materials. To
reduce the incidence of future conflicts, three areas of public land
known as the Acton Area, 21-Mile Area, and Shepherd Ah-Nei, located
north of Billings, Montana are being closed to target shooting with
firearms. These areas will remain open to hunting by licensed hunters
during seasons administered by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife
and Parks.
This emergency closure does not apply to other lands, specifically
the ``17-Mile'' area located west of Highway 87, north of Billings,
Montana, on the Crooked Creek Road.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authority of 43 CFR
9268.3(d)(1)(i) and 43 CFR 8364.1(a) the Bureau of Land Management will
enforce the following emergency closure on public lands within the
closed area.
Emergency Closure
1.0 Emergency Closure of Certain Public Lands to Target Shooting.
The following is prohibited:
The discharge of firearms for the purpose of target shooting.
(2.0) Exceptions:
(a) This regulation does not apply to the hunting of lawful game by
licensed hunters during seasons administered by the Montana Department
of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
(b) This regulation does not apply to archery marksmanship at fixed
targets affixed to a backstop sufficient to stop and hold target or
broad-head arrows or the use of compressed gas paintball projectors.
(c) This regulation does not apply to special target shooting
events, which may be authorized by the authorized officer under special
permit.
Penalties: The authority for this closure is found under section
303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C
1733 (a) and 43 CFR 9268.3(e)(2), 43 CFR 8360.0-7, and 43 CFR 8365.1-6.
Violations of this regulation are punishable by a fine in accordance
with the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 (18 U.S.C. 3551 et seq.), and/or
imprisonment not to exceed 12 months for each offense.
Dated: September 10, 2002.
Sandra S. Brooks,
Field Office Manager, Billings Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra S. Brooks, Field Manager, BLM,
Billings Field Office, P.O. Box 36800, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings,
MT 50107-6800 or call 406-896-5013.
[FR Doc. 02-30993 Filed 12-6-02; 8:45 am]