[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74111-74112]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29277]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[14XL 1109AF LLUTW01100 L12200000.AL0000 24 1A]
Notice of Closure: Target Shooting Public Safety Closure on the
Lake Mountains in Utah County, UT
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), pursuant to its
regulations, is maintaining an existing closure of approximately 900
acres of public land on the Lake Mountains in Utah County, Utah, to the
discharge or use of firearms or dangerous weapons
[[Page 74112]]
for the purposes of recreational target shooting to protect public
safety, property and resources. This closure does not restrict other
public activities or access to the Lake Mountains area.
DATES: This notice reestablishes the temporary target shooting closure
order within the described area for no longer than two years from
December 15, 2014, or earlier if a land use planning decision is
completed.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Hotze, Field Manager; Phone:
801-977-4300; Salt Lake Field Office; 2370 South Decker Lake Boulevard,
West Valley City, Utah 84119; email: [email protected].
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This temporary closure affects public lands
on the Lake Mountains, Utah County, Utah. The legal description of the
affected public lands is:
Salt Lake Meridian, Utah
T. 7 S., R. 1 E.
Sec. 6, lot 1, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
Sec. 7, lot 1.
T. 7 S., R. 1 W.
Sec. 13, lots 2, 11, 12 and portions of lots 3, 4, 9, and 10,
and the SE\1/4\SW\1/4\ lying east of the 345 KV power line*;
Sec. 24, portions of lots 1-3, 10, 13, 17, 18, and portions of
lots 11 and 12, and the NW\1/4\ lying east of the 345 KV power
line*;
Sec. 26, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, and portions of the
N\1/2\NW\1/4\ lying east of the 345 KV power line*;
*BLM right-of-way UTU 0115794.
The area described contains approximately 900 acres more or
less.
The Salt Lake Field Office hereby closes a portion of the Lake
Mountains, Utah County, Utah, to all target shooting for public safety
reasons. The area will be closed under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1--
Closures and Restrictions and in conformance with BLM Washington Office
Instruction Memorandum 2013-035, Requirements for Processing and
Approving Temporary Public Land Closure and Restriction Orders. Due to
unsafe conditions and danger to the public, it is imperative for the
BLM to reestablish the closure on the area.
The Lake Mountains are a small mountain range located on the west
side of Utah Lake. The range is only about 8 miles wide and 12 miles
long. The city of Saratoga Springs borders the north side of the
mountains and Eagle Mountain City is along the west side. State Highway
68 runs along the eastern bench of the Lake Mountains; it is a main
arterial road and is used by residential, agricultural and recreational
traffic. There are a number of communication sites on the top of the
mountain, as well as a major power line that runs along a lower
elevation ridge. Across Highway 68, there are private residences along
the lake shore. Utah Lake is a popular area for recreationists,
boaters, and anglers. A lake access point known as ``the Knolls'' is
one of the few public access points on the western shoreline and is
located just off Highway 68. The Lake Mountains are comprised of a
mixed ownership pattern of lands managed by the BLM, Utah School and
Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), and several private
property owners. The area encompassed by the closure is primarily used
by residents of Utah County and southern Salt Lake County for target
shooting.
Prior to the 2012 closure, the Lake Mountains received about 4,000
target shooters each month; and on weekends, as many as 400 shooters
concentrated into 5 areas, and other dispersed locations. The slopes of
the Lake Mountains provide a natural backstop ideal for target
shooting; however, some shooters chose to target practice in the
relatively flat terrain on the lower slopes. Given the topography of
the area and the number of people who visit it, the area subject to
this Order is not conducive to safe target shooting. Target shooting in
the area has resulted in nearby private residences being shot and near-
misses of automobiles and people. An additional danger is the annual
threat from target shooting-related wildfires adjacent to private
residences, a major power line located on the eastern bench,
communication towers on the ridge top, and public land resources.
The previous two-year closure proved effective in redirecting
target shooting to safer locations, allowing cleanup of the area,
eliminating illegal dumping and significantly reducing target shooting-
related wildfires. Since the implementation of the closure in August
2012, no near-misses from errant gunfire have been reported to law
enforcement.
Since the implementation of the original 2012 target shooting
safety closure, several additional actions have been taken by private
landowners, other agency partners and the BLM to augment the closure.
Regular patrols have been conducted by the Utah County Sheriff's
Office, BLM law enforcement rangers and private property owners.
Barricades have been installed to identify the closure boundary,
especially along private property and in areas receiving recurring
violations, such as the Little Cove area. Utah County is completing the
construction of a fence along the west side of Highway 68 with gates to
allow public access on a few controlled routes. Utah County also has
started planning for development of a nearby managed target shooting
range. In April 2014, SITLA closed approximately 1,500 acres of state
lands adjacent to and near the BLM closure to recreational access.
Additionally, the BLM is initiating an amendment to its land use plan
to develop a more permanent solution for the target shooting issues in
this area. With the closure and these subsequent actions, volunteers
have been able to clean up the large amounts of trash and household
appliances in these areas.
This closure is made under the authority of the regulations in 43
CFR 8364.1--Closures and Restrictions, and is in conformance with BLM
Washington Office Instruction Memorandum 2013-035, Requirements for
Processing and Approving Temporary Public Land Closure and Restriction
Orders. 43 CFR 8364.1(a) states: ``To protect persons, property, and
public lands and resources, the authorized officer may issue an order
to close or restrict use of designated public lands.'' The closure only
applies to the discharge or use of firearms or dangerous weapons for
the purposes of recreational target shooting and does not affect legal
hunting. Any person who violates the above restriction may be tried
before a United States Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000,
imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Such violations also
may be subject to the enhanced fines provided for in 18 U.S.C. 3571.
Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1
Jenna Whitlock,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-29277 Filed 12-12-14; 8:45 am]
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