[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27804-27805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12809]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[ID-036-1210-00]
Notice of Recreation Use Restrictions and Regulations for Egin
Lakes Access and Red Road Recreation Sites Adjacent and Within the Sand
Mountain Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Idaho
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of recreation use restrictions for Egin Lakes Access and
Red Road recreation sites adjacent and within the Sand Mountain WSA,
Idaho.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with Title 43 Group 8000-
Recreation Programs, and in accordance with the principles established
by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, that certain lands located in and
adjacent to the Sand Mountain WSA which includes the area known as the
St. Anthony Sand Dunes Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) in
Fremont and Jefferson Counties, Idaho have recreation use restrictions
placed upon them. Actions are implemented under the authority of 43 CFR
8364.
DATES: Effective date: May 26, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Bureau of Land Management, Upper Snake River District, Idaho
Falls Field Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401,
telephone (208) 524-7500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The WSA is 21,000 acres of public land that
has current vehicle and recreation use restrictions within it that were
established through the Federal Register on August 13, 1992. Both the
WSA and SRMA are within the Egin-Hamer Winter Seasonal Closure Area
established through the Federal Register on December 16, 1997.
Recreation use in the SRMA has increased nearly 1000% from an
estimated 14,000 visits in FY84 to over 136,000 visits in FY 98. The
Egin Lakes Access Site alone recorded over 72,000 visits in which over
20,000 visitors were campers using the undeveloped camping area or the
developed parking lot to camp. Use along the Red Road where there are
numerous undeveloped recreation sites recorded over 24,000 visits in
which over 2000 visitors were overnight campers.
Open campfire sites inside the Sand Mountain WSA but outside the
Red Road Open Sand Campfire Area have increased tremendously in the
last few years, especially around major access routes onto the open
sand and around Dry Lake Bed (Hidden Lake) causing degradation of the
natural values of the area. The last few years have also had non-
traditional dispersed recreation uses occur on Hidden Lake which is a
dry lake bed in the winter but has water throughout the spring, summer,
and fall seasons. Snowmobile and Personal Water Craft users have been
using the lake in the summer for water craft skimming. This activity
has created safety problems to other recreation users along the lake
shore and in the water. These uses were not present at the time the
roadless inventory for wilderness values was conducted by the BLM
during 1970s and are not considered a type of primitive and unconfined
recreation use for a wilderness characteristic.
To reduce the litter and debris left in open campfires causing
safety problems to recreation users, the degrading of natural values of
the area and prohibiting non-primitive type of recreation activities
inside the WSA, the following restrictions will be implemented and
apply to the Sand Mountain WSA: 1) Open campfires are prohibited inside
the Sand Mountain WSA except in the designated Red Road Open Sand
Campfire Area; 2) Use of personal water craft or any other motorized
vehicle or craft is prohibited on any body of water inside the WSA.
Use in the developed and undeveloped recreation sites and areas
surrounding and within the WSA have increased over 20% the last three
years. The use has created public safety and
[[Page 27805]]
natural environment concerns within these sites and areas.
To reduce these public safety and natural environment concerns in
these sites and areas, the following restrictions are to be
implemented: (1) Quiet hours within the Egin Lakes Access Site and Red
Road Recreation Area is from 11pm until 7am; (2) The burning of any
foreign material other than wood in all camp fires is prohibited
throughout the St. Anthony Sand Dunes SRMA. Prohibited material
includes but not limited to pallets, treated lumber, tires, glass,
aluminum, etc.; (3) Engaging in fighting; (4) Addressing any offensive,
derisive, or annoying communication that has a direct tendency to cause
acts of violence by the person to whom, individually, the remark is
addressed.
Maps of the areas where the restrictions and regulations apply will
be available at the Idaho Falls Field Office. Signs with the rules and
regulations will be posted at all entrances into the WSA as well as at
the recreation sites and areas. The new rules and regulations will
incorporated into the existing St. Anthony Sand Dunes and Sand Mountain
WSA information flyer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Boggs, Bureau of Land Management,
Upper Snake River District, Idaho Falls Field Office, 1405 Hollipark
Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401, (208) 524-7527.
Dated: May 13, 1999.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 99-12809 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P