Proposed Rules. Notice is hereby given that all motorized use within the Badlands Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Crook and Deschutes County, Oregon, is restricted to designated routes only

Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Prineville District, Deschutes Resource Area/Field Office
Action: Notice is hereby given that all motorized use within the Badlands Wilderness Study Area (WSA), Crook and Deschutes County, Oregon, is restricted to designated routes only. The Badlands WSA is located approximately 15 miles east of Bend, Oregon, in Crook and Deschutes Counties. Specifically, this closure order applies to all public lands within the following perimeter description described below. Perimeter Description: Beginning at the intersection of Alfalfa Market and Dodds County Roads, then south on Dodds Road to State Highway 20, then southwesterly on Highway 20, to its intersection with BLM Road #6521 then north easterly on road #6521, to its intersection with BLM road #6520-B, then continuing northeasterly on road #6520-B, to its intersection with a high voltage electrical transmission line with steel support towers, then north along this power line to its intersection with another power line supported by double wood poles, then northwesterly along this power line to its intersection with Alfalfa Market Road, then west on Alfalfa Market Road to point of beginning
Citation: FR Doc. 02-12917 · OR-056-1220-DG; GP-02-0088

Summary

The BLM is required to restrict motorized use to designated routes on public lands within the Badlands Wilderness Study Area. This restriction is necessary for BLM to comply with a federal consent judgment between the Central Oregon Forest Issues Committee et al . v. James Kenna, Deschutes Area Manager, Bureau of Land Management et al. , Civil Action No. 98-29-ST (D. OR.), that was lodged with the United States District Court for the District of Oregon on November 23, 1999. This 1999 federal consent judgement resulted from a settlement of a lawsuit between the Central Oregon Forest Issues Committee and other environmental organizations who took BLM to federal court in 1998, regarding its environmental assessment/management plan for the Millican Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Trail System. In December, 1999, the federal court requested BLM obtain public comments regarding the proposed federal court consent judgement, which included specific motorized vehicle restrictions within the Badlands Wilderness Study Area. Public comments were considered and reviewed by the federal court judge before the consent judgement was finalized. Routes 4,5,6,7 and 8 were specifically identified by the plaintiffs and approved by the federal court in the consent judgement. This judgement stated that motorized use in the Badlands WSA was limited to routes 4,5,6, and 7, from May 1st through November 30th, annually. Route 8 was open to motorized use year-round.

Dates

This closure will take effect on the date this notice is published in the Federal Register . The closure will remain in effect until BLM modifies or rescinds this order.