Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
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3804 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The recreation area offers a natural Current Motor Vehicle Use in the diversity of rugged water- and wind- Recreation Area National Park Service carved canyons, buttes, mesas, and Off-Road Motor Vehicles other outstanding physiographic 36 CFR Part 7 features. The recreation area allows for The use of motor vehicles to reach off- a variety of recreational opportunities, road destinations in Glen Canyon [Docket ID: NPS–2018–0001; NPS–GLCA– predates the establishment of the 27587; PPIMGLCAS1; PPMPSAS1Z.YP0000] including on- and off-road motor vehicle use and contains Lake Powell, recreation area in 1972. After Lake RIN 1024–AD93 the second-largest human-made lake in Powell began to fill behind the Glen North America, which provides the Canyon Dam in 1963, the public began Glen Canyon National Recreation Area; driving off road to access the new lake Motor Vehicles opportunity to recreate in a natural environment and access remote for recreational activities. ORV use AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. backcountry areas. Evidence of 11,000 continued following the establishment of the recreation area in 1972. ORV use ACTION: Final rule. years of human occupation and use of resources in the recreation area provides is currently occurring in four general SUMMARY: The National Park Service a continuing story of the prehistoric, locations within the recreation area: • Lone Rock Beach is open to amends its special regulations for Glen historic, and present-day affiliation of conventional motor vehicles, off- Canyon National Recreation Area to humans and their environment. manage the use of motor vehicles on highway vehicles, and street-legal all- and off park roads. The rule requires a Authority To Promulgate Regulations terrain vehicles. The speed limit at Lone permit to operate a motor vehicle off Rock Beach is 15 mph. • roads in selected locations, designates The National Park Service (NPS) Lone Rock Beach Play Area is routes and areas where motor vehicles manages the recreation area under the located on a hill above and to the may be used off roads, and allows the NPS Organic Act (54 U.S.C. 100101 et southwest of Lone Rock Beach. This superintendent to establish closures and seq.), which gives the NPS broad 180-acre area is enclosed by a fence and restrictions based upon specific criteria. authority to regulate the use of the park open to unrestricted, high-intensity The rule also allows certain types of off- areas under its jurisdiction. The Organic ORV use. This area is a place where road vehicles on some paved and Act authorizes the Secretary of the ORV operators can challenge unpaved roads in the recreation area. Interior, acting through the NPS, to themselves, develop riding skills, Unless provided for by special ‘‘prescribe such regulations as the operate at high speeds, and perform regulation, operating a motor vehicle off Secretary considers necessary or proper jumps and hill climbs. There is no for the use and management of [National speed limit in the play area. roads within areas of the National Park • System is prohibited. Park] System units.’’ 54 U.S.C. Accessible Shoreline Areas provide public access by conventional motor DATES: This rule is effective on February 100751(a). In the recreation area’s vehicles to the Lake Powell shoreline for 16, 2021 except for the provisions in enabling act, Congress directed the the purposes of recreation (fishing, § 7.70(f)(2) and the permit requirements Secretary of the Interior to ‘‘administer, swimming, boating, etc.). The public is in Table 1 to § 7.70(f)(3)(ii) which are protect, and develop the recreation area allowed to depart the road and drive to effective April 15, 2021. in accordance with the [Organic Act], and with any other statutory authority the shoreline and park in designated ADDRESSES: The comments received on available to him for the conservation ORV areas. There are 13 accessible the proposed rule and an economic and management of natural resources.’’ shoreline areas (Blue Notch, Bullfrog analysis are available on 16 U.S.C. 460dd-3. North and South, Copper Canyon, www.regulations.gov in Docket ID: NPS– Crosby Canyon, Dirty Devil, Farley Executive Order 11644, Use of Off- 2018–0001. Canyon, Neskahi, Paiute Canyon, Red Road Vehicles on the Public Lands, was FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Canyon, Stanton Creek, Warm Creek, issued in 1972 and amended by William Shott, Superintendent, Glen White Canyon, and Hite Boat Ramp). Executive Order 11989 in 1977. Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Three shoreline areas (Bullfrog North Box 1507, Page, Arizona 86040, by Executive Order 11644 required federal and South, Crosby Canyon, and Warm phone at 928–608–6205, or by email at agencies to issue regulations designating Creek) are closed to ORVs in the _ GLCA [email protected]. specific areas and routes on public superintendent’s compendium. ORVs SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: lands where the use of off-road vehicles are not allowed at Nokai Canyon and (ORVs) may be allowed. The NPS Paiute Farms, but these areas are Purpose and Significance of Glen implemented these Executive Orders by Canyon National Recreation Area accessed occasionally by ORVs. promulgating a regulation at 36 CFR • Ferry Swale is an area in the Congress established Glen Canyon 4.10 (Travel on park roads and Arizona portion of the recreation area National Recreation Area (the recreation designated routes). Under 36 CFR 4.10, with approximately 54 miles of area) in 1972 ‘‘to provide for the public the use of motor vehicles off established unauthorized routes that have been outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of roads is not permitted unless routes and created by users over time. Lake Powell and lands adjacent thereto areas are designated for off-road motor in the states of Arizona and Utah and to vehicle use by special regulation. Under On-Road Motor Vehicle Use preserve the scenic, scientific, and 36 CFR 4.10(b), such routes and areas A comprehensive planning process historic features contributing to the ‘‘may be designated only in national begun by the NPS after the public enjoyment of the area.’’ 16 U.S.C. recreation areas, national seashores, establishment of the recreation area 460dd. national lakeshores and national resulted in a General Management Plan The recreation area encompasses preserves.’’ This final rule designates (GMP) that was published in 1979. The 1,254,117 acres in northern Arizona and routes where motor vehicles may be GMP designated a system of paved and southeastern Utah and constitutes a used off roads in the recreation area in unpaved roads open to vehicle travel substantial part of the outstanding compliance with 36 CFR 4.10 and and closed several existing unpaved public lands of the Colorado Plateau. Executive Orders 11644 and 11989. roads in the backcountry. The paved VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:59 Jan 14, 2021 Jkt 253001 PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\15JAR1.SGM 15JAR1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 3805 and unpaved network of roads Management Plan/Draft Environmental (ATV), a sedan, a dirt bike, or any other identified in the GMP is open to motor Impact Statement (DEIS). In compliance motor vehicle that is capable of off-road vehicle travel, subject to restrictions on with the settlement agreement, the NPS travel. Among ORVs, the rule the types of vehicles that are allowed on also developed interim ORV plans for distinguishes between conventional specific roads. These roads are referred the accessible shoreline areas, Lone motor vehicles, off-highway vehicles to in the rule as ‘‘GMP roads.’’ Driving Rock Beach, and Lone Rock Play Area. (OHVs), and street-legal ATVs, as a motor vehicle off any paved or In January 2017, the NPS completed an follows: unpaved GMP road is considered off- Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan/ • Conventional motor vehicle means road motor vehicle use and is prohibited Final Environmental Impact Statement any motor vehicle that is designed except on designated routes and in (FEIS). On August 15, 2018, the primarily for operation on streets and designated areas. All other user-created Regional Director for the Intermountain highways, and that is licensed and routes and linear disturbances within Region signed a Record of Decision registered for interstate travel. the recreation area are closed to public (ROD) identifying the preferred motor vehicle travel. alternative in the FEIS (Alternative E: Automobiles, vans, highway The Orange Cliffs Special Mixed Use) as the selected alternative. motorcycles (including a dual-sports Management Unit is located in the The FEIS and the ROD have superseded motorcycle licensed for use on a northeast portion of the recreation area. all previous ORV management plans for highway), sport utility vehicles (SUVs), This Unit adjoins Canyonlands National the recreation area. recreational vehicles (RVs), pickup Park, is similar in physiography, and A detailed history of prior NPS trucks, and buses are examples of has many of the same management management of on- and off-road vehicle conventional motor vehicles. issues as the Canyonlands Maze District. use can be found in the FEIS, which can • OHV means any motor vehicle— The Canyonlands National Park and be viewed together with the ROD at excluding snowmobiles and Orange Cliffs Unit of Glen Canyon https://parkplanning.nps.gov/glca- hovercraft—that is designed primarily National Recreation Area Backcountry orvplan by clicking on the link entitled for off-road travel and is not licensed Management Plan (NPS 1995) and the ‘‘Document List’’. The FEIS analyzes the and registered for interstate travel. ATVs accompanying environmental issues and environmental impacts of (excluding street legal ATVs, as defined assessment (NPS 1993) consist of an five alternatives for the management of below), dirt bikes, sand rails, side-by- inter-park management plan developed on- and off-road motor vehicle use in sides, and dune buggies are examples of to increase consistency and protection the recreation area.