4x4Wire

Salt Lake City, Utah (Oct 14, 2009) — The Bureau of Land Management Utah, West Desert District is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the party responsible for illegally dumping 18 television and computer monitors and large pieces of furniture on BLM-administered lands in Tooele County.

The dumping occurred approximately 1 ½ miles south of I-80, Exit 77 in the Timpie Point area of Skull Valley.  BLM Utah law enforcement officers believe the dumping occurred between Sept. 24 and Oct. 11, 2009.  Additionally, the quantity and size of the items dumped suggest that more than one vehicle was involved.

Due to the toxicity of leaded glass, the television and computer monitors pose serious health hazards to both humans and the environment.  The total clean-up costs for the illegal dumping could be as much as $5,000.

The BLM is urging anyone who might have witnessed the illegal dumping or who might have information on the identity of the responsible party to contact BLM Ranger Randy Griffin at (801) 977-4314.

CHALLIS, ID (Oct 23, 2009) – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Challis Field Office travel maps are available at BLM offices (Challis and Salmon), Eastern Idaho Visitor Center (Idaho Falls), Idaho Fish & Game Office (Idaho Falls), Rexburg Motor Sports, Action Motor Sports and various locations in Challis. These maps are free to the public and depict seasonal closures areas and approved motorized trails.

(Aug 20, 2009) - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Buffalo Field Office will reopen the Weston Hills recreation area on August 21 following an emergency closure on July 24 due to vandalism that destroyed a vaulted toilet.

The destroyed toilet remains on the site but has been welded shut for safety and law enforcement reasons and is no longer available for public use.

“I am pleased that we are able to open this popular recreation area in time for the antelope hunting season,” noted Buffalo Field Office Manager Duane Spencer. “We appreciate all the cooperation and support from the public.”

The Weston Hills recreation area consists of approximately 9,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands adjoining the Thunder Basin National Grassland. The area is jointly managed with the USDA Forest Service. Weston Hills is located 25 miles northeast of Gillette, Wyo. and is accessible via Wyoming Highway 59 North.

Cañon City, CO (Jul 27, 2009) – The BLM is advising off-highway vehicle (OHV) and other recreation users to avoid the Texas Creek recreation area due to washout conditions.   Flash floods from this past weekend’s storm activity washed out County Road 27 just north of the Texas Creek Bridge.  County Road 27 is the only access into the recreation area.  The parking area for the Texas Creek OHV recreation area was also damaged by the flooding but the boat ramp is still accessible.

The Fremont County road department will start work on the road tomorrow.  BLM anticipates flash floods may have caused major damage to trails in the recreation area and will go in as soon as the road is accessible to do an assessment of the area.

BLM is asking the public to completely avoid this area at this time.  The public can contact the BLM at 719-269-8500 for the latest update on the Texas Creek recreation area trails during and after normal business hours.

The BLM manages more land - 256 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.

--BLM--

Safford, Ariz.  Due, in part, to increasing use and the need to ensure visitor safety at the Hot Well Dunes (HWD) Recreation Area, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has some new rules for the 2000-acre recreation site southeast of Safford. 

The rules, called supplementary rules, relate to vehicle rider capacity, clinging to or being towed by a vehicle, safety flags, vehicle use, public nudity, firearms, pets, speed limit, camping, waste disposal and length of stay. Only the first three rules are new. The other eight incorporate existing BLM rules and regulations.  

The BLM Safford Field Office proposed the new rules in October 2008 and solicited comments during a 60-day public comment period that ended on December 15. After reviewing the comments received, the BLM concluded that the proposed rules should be adopted. The BLM anticipates that the new rules will be a positive step toward protecting the health and safety of visitors that enjoy the popular recreation area.