TITLE Publication: Federal Register Agency: Bureau of Land Management Byline: Lance Porter Date: 6 April 2023 Subject: American Government Topics: Easter Jeep Safari, The Environment

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20549-20550]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07228]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_UT_FRN_MO4500169560]


Notice of Temporary Restrictions on Motorized Vehicle Use for 
Specified Routes on Public Lands in Grand County, Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

[[Page 20550]]


ACTION: Notice of temporary restrictions.

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SUMMARY: As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) is giving notice that temporary restrictions will be in effect on 
approximately 77 miles of routes crossing public lands administered by 
the Moab Field Office, to protect public land resources, reduce user 
conflicts, and minimize health and safety concerns during the Red Rock 
4-Wheelers Incorporated's annual Easter Jeep Safari, approved under a 
10-year Special Recreation Permit (SRP).

DATES: This action is in effect for the nine-day period prior to and 
including Easter each year from 2023 through 2032 for the Easter Jeep 
Safari. The Easter Jeep Safari route restrictions will take place April 
1 through April 9, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Prior to the event every year, the BLM will post the dates 
for the Easter Jeep Safari, the dates of the temporary restrictions, 
and a map of the affected area at route trailheads at the Moab Field 
Office, 82 East Dogwood Avenue, Moab, Utah 84532, and the Moab Field 
Office's website: www.blm.gov/office/moab-field-office. The dates are 
also available upon request. Signs will also be placed along entrance 
roads for these routes (State Route 279 and Kane Creek Road) to inform 
users of the route restrictions prior to the event.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Jones, Assistant Field 
Manager, Recreation, Moab Field Office, at email: 
blm_ut_mb_mail@blm.gov, the address above, or by telephone (435) 259-
2100. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Dec. 23, 2022, the BLM issued a decision 
record to renew Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc.'s, SRP for its annual Easter 
Jeep Safari organized event for a period of 10 years. This decision 
record also granted to Red Rock 4-Wheelers, Inc., exclusive motorized 
use of seven routes on public lands administered by the Moab Field 
Office during the event. Finally, the decision record limited two 
additional routes in this area to one-way travel during the event.
    Based on an environmental assessment (DOI-BLM-UT-Y010-2022-0042-
EA), the BLM concluded that limiting use of these seven routes 
exclusively to permitted motorized users and allowing only one-way 
travel on two additional routes for the nine-day period of the annual 
Easter Jeep Safari would prevent potential damage to wilderness 
characteristics, water quality, soils, visual resources, and vegetation 
by decreasing the amount of traffic concentrated on these narrow dirt 
routes. Additionally, it would decrease user conflict, while providing 
for a more-enjoyable experience during the annual Easter Jeep Safari 
for those motorized users holding an SRP. Similarly, one-way travel of 
two additional routes would reduce impacts to water quality, soils, 
visual resources, and vegetation by eliminating passing, which results 
in road widening. In addition, one-way travel would mitigate crowding 
along these two narrow routes, lessen user conflicts, and provide for a 
better experience for those motorized users holding an SRP.

Exclusive Use

    During the nine-day restriction period, the Behind the Rocks, Cliff 
Hanger, Gold Bar Rim, Golden Spike, Moab Rim, Poison Spider Mesa, and 
Pritchett Canyon routes will be for the exclusive motorized use of 
Easter Jeep Safari participants and other commercial users with 
authorized SRPs valid for activities on these routes while official, 
scheduled event rides are occurring. When these routes are not in use 
for such rides, they will be open for public motorized use. Non-
motorized uses on these routes will not be restricted.
    One-Way Travel: During the nine-day restriction period, the Kane 
Creek Canyon and Steelbender routes will be restricted to one-way 
travel. On Kane Creek Canyon, motorized use must occur one-way from 
north to south (i.e., from the Hurrah Pass/Kane Creek Canyon junction 
south to the end of the route at U.S. Highway 191). For the Steelbender 
route, motorized use must occur one-way from north to south (i.e., from 
the Moab Golf Club area entry south to the southern end of the route 
near Flat Pass and Ken's Lake). This restriction applies to all 
motorized users for the entirety of the event.

Exceptions

    Restrictions do not apply to motorized vehicle use by medical and 
rescue personnel in the performance of their official duties; official 
United States military and Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
purposes; Federal, State, and local officers and employees in the 
performance of their official duties; vendors with a valid BLM SRP; or 
as otherwise authorized by the BLM. Use of electric wheelchairs is also 
exempt.

Enforcement

    Any person who violates the temporary restrictions may be tried 
before a United States Magistrate and fined in accordance with 18 
U.S.C. 3571, imprisoned no more than 12 months under 43 U.S.C. 1733(a) 
and 43 CFR 8360.0-7, or both. In accordance with 43 CFR 8365.1-7, State 
or local officials may also impose penalties for violations of Utah 
law.

(Authority: 43 CFR 8360.0-7 and 43 CFR 8364.1)

Lance Porter,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023-07228 Filed 4-5-23; 8:45 am]
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