[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 23854-23855] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-11102] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [NM-030-1310-01] Emergency Closure of the Bennett Ranch 3-d Seismic Project Area To Off-road Travel, Otero County, New Mexico
Agency
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Interior.
Action
Emergency Closure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary
Notice is hereby given that effective immediately, the Las Cruces Field Office is implementing emergency closure of the area that was recently the site of the Bennett Ranch 3-d Seismic Project. Off- road vehicle use is limited to designated roads and trails except for administrative purposes. This closure extends to both motorized and non-
motorized vehicles. This action is taken to aid in the recovery of vegetation from the impacts of a recently completed 3-d Seismic Project which left many tracks of mashed vegetation in the grassland. There is concern that future traffic could follow these tracks, damaging the grassland and creating undesired new roads. The authority for this emergency closure is 43 CFR 8364.1: Closure and Restriction Orders. The following public land is affected by the closure:
T. 25 S., R. 12 E., Secs. 33 through 36. T. 25 S., R. 13 E., Sec. 31. T. 26 S., R. 12 E., Secs. 1, 3, 4, 9 through 15, 21 through 28 and 33 through 35. T. 26 S., R. 13 E., Secs. 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31.
Dates
This closure is effective April 9, 1999 and shall remain in effect until rescinded or modified by the authorized officer. This closure will be rescinded once the vegetation has substantially recovered from the impacts of the seismic project.
Addresses
Copies of this closure order and maps showing the location of the area are available from the Las Cruces Field Office, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88005 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For Further Information Contact
Russell Jentgen, Geologist, at the address above or call (505) 525-4351.
Supplementary Information
Violations of this closure are punishable by fines not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 1 year. The Bennett Ranch 3-d Seismic Project was conducted by Geco-Prakla between March 20 and April 8, 1999. The project included a limited amount of off-road travel by large vibrator buggies and support vehicles along designated lines of travel. This off-road travel was restricted to only that which was absolutely necessary to meet the objectives of normal 3-d seismic exploration for oil and gas. The off- road vehicles used on this project were all equipped with oversize low pressure tires to minimize impacts to soil and vegetation. This off-road travel has left linear tracks of mashed vegetation which are expected to recover completely after seasonal summer rainfall. However, these tracks are attractive pathways for additional traffic in an area where few roads exist. To prevent the creation of new and undesired roads on these tracks and to prevent long-term damage to the vegetation, it is essential that no additional off-road traffic follow these tracks giving the vegetation an opportunity to recover. Geco-Prakla will post signs along all roads entering the closure to inform drivers of this restriction. The tracks will be monitored by the BLM to determine when recovery is sufficient to rescind this closure.
Dated: April 28, 1999. Linda S. C. Rundell, Field Manager, Las Cruces. [FR Doc. 99-11102 Filed 5-3-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P