[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47566-47567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17975]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-025-1232-EA-NV06; Special Recreation Permit # NV-023-02-11]


Notice of Temporary Closure to Public Lands; Pershing County and 
Washoe County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca Field Office, Nevada, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice to the public of temporary public lands closures and 
prohibition of certain activities on public lands administered by the 
Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca Field Office, Nevada.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that certain lands will be temporarily 
closed or restricted, and certain activities would be temporarily 
prohibited, in and around the Burning Man event site, Pershing and 
Washoe counties, Nevada, for camping, vehicle use, fire use, and 
aircraft landing from 0600 hours, August 23, 2002, to 2200 hours, 
September 2, 2002. Certain lands will be temporarily closed or 
restricted, and certain activities will be temporarily prohibited, in 
the Winnemucca District in Pershing and Washoe Counties, Nevada, for 
fireworks use and firearms use from 0600 hours, August 12, 2002, to 
2200 hours, September 16, 2002. These closures, restrictions and 
prohibitions are being made in the interest of public safety at and 
around the public lands location of an event known as the Burning Man 
Festival. This event is expected to attract approximately 28,000 
participants this year. The lands involved are located in the Mount 
Diablo Meridian and located northeast of Gerlach, Nevada.
    Public Camping Within One Mile of the Fence is Prohibited in the 
Following Areas: T. 33 N., R. 24 E, Sec. 1: W\1/2\; Sec. 2; Sec. 3; 
Sec. 4; Sec. 9; Sec. 10; Sec. 11; Sec. 12: W\1/2\ ; Sec. 15: N\1/2\ of 
the NW\1/4\; Sec. 16: N\1/2\ and T. 33\1/2\ N., R. 24 E., Sec. 33; Sec. 
34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36: W\1/2\ . These areas are closed during the event 
period, August 23, 2002 to September 2, 2002, with the exception of 
defined camping areas designated and provided by the Black Rock City 
LLC, an authorized ``pilot camp'' and BLM-authorized event management-
related camps.
    Operation of Motorized Vehicles, within One Mile of the Fence, at 
Such a Rate of Speed that it Causes a Dust Plume higher than the Roof 
of the Vehicle, is Prohibited in the Following Areas: T. 33 N., R. 24 
E, Sec. 1: W\1/2\ ; Sec. 2; Sec. 3; Sec. 4; Sec. 9; Sec. 10; Sec. 11; 
Sec. 12: W\1/2\ ; Sec. 15: N\1/2\ of the NW\1/4\; Sec. 16: N\1/2\ and 
T. 33\1/2\ N., R. 24 E., Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36: W\1/2\ . 
These areas are closed during the event period, August 23, 2002 to 
September 2, 2002, with the exception of BLM, medical, law enforcement, 
firefighting vehicles and Burning Man staff as designated by the BLM 
Authorized Officer.
    Operation of Motorized Vehicles Is Prohibited on the Following 
Public Lands: T. 33 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 9, Sec. 
10, Sec. 11 and T. 33\1/2\ N., R. 24 E, Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35. 
These areas within the event boundary are closed during the Burning Man 
event, from August 23, 2002 to September 2, 2002, with the following 
exceptions: participant arrival at the event and departure following 
event completion on designated routes, art vehicles registered with 
Burning Man; Black Rock City LLC staff and support, BLM, medical, law 
enforcement, firefighting vehicles and motorized skateboards with/
without handlebars. ``Art Cars'' must register with Burning Man/Black 
Rock City LLC and must provide evidence of registration at all times.
    The Following Public Lands are Closed to Public Use: T. 33 N., R. 
24 E., Sec. 4: NE\1/4\, S\1/2\; Sec. 5: SE\1/4\; Sec 8: NE\1/4\, S\1/2\ 
; Sec. 9; Sec. 10: W\1/2\; Sec. 15: N\1/2\ of the NW\1/4\; Sec 16: N\1/
2\ and T33\1/2\ N, R24E, Sec. 33: SE\1/4\; Sec. 34: SW\1/4\. For event 
safety near the entrance road and airstrip, playa areas southwest, west 
and northwest of the event are closed during the Burning Man event 
period, from 0001 hours August 26, 2002 to 2200 hours September 2, 
2002, with the exception of BLM personnel, law enforcement, emergency 
medical services, Burning Man staff as designated by the BLM authorized 
officer.
    Black Rock City LLC/Burning Man will abide by fire restriction 
orders, except for the following as officially approved by Black Rock 
City LLC in coordination with BLM: Official art burns, authorized event 
fireworks, and other authorized fires only in Black Rock City LLC/
Burning Man-supplied fire barrels and approved platforms. Fire 
Restriction Orders may be in effect pursuant to 43 CFR 9212.2, 36 CFR 
261.50(a)(b) for all lands managed by the BLM, Winnemucca Field Office.
    The use, sale or possession of personal fireworks within the 
Burning Man Event/Black Rock City boundary fence is prohibited on the 
following public lands from August 26, 2002, through September 2, 2002: 
T. 33 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 2; Sec. 3; Sec. 4; Sec. 9; Sec. 10; Sec. 11 
and T. 33\1/2\ N., R. 24 E., Sec.

[[Page 47567]]

33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35, with the exception of those fireworks that have 
been approved by Black Rock City LLC as part of an official Burning Man 
art burn event.
    Possession of Firearms Is Prohibited on the Following Public Lands 
from August 12, 2002, through September 16, 2002: T. 33 N., R. 24 E., 
Sec. 2; Sec. 3; Sec. 4; Sec. 9; Sec. 10; Sec. 11 and T. 33\1/2\ N., R. 
24 E., Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35. This closure is in effect inside the 
Burning Man event/Black Rock City boundary fence, with the exception of 
county, state and federal certified law enforcement personnel under the 
color of law. ``Firearm'' means any device designed to be used as a 
weapon from which a projectile may be expelled through the barrel by 
the force of any explosion or other form of combustion (Nevada Revised 
Statute 202.253).
    Discharge of Firearms is Prohibited on the Following Public Lands 
from August 12, 2002, through September 16, 2002: T. 33 N., R. 24 E., 
Sec. 1; Sec. 2; Sec. 3; Sec. 4; Sec. 5; Sec 6: E\1/2\; Sec 8; Sec. 9; 
Sec. 10; Sec. 11; Sec. 12; Sec. 13: N\1/2\; SW\1/4\; Sec. 14; Sec. 15; 
Sec. 16; Sec. 17: E\1/2\, NW\1/4\; Sec. 21: NE\1/4\; Sec. 22: N\1/2\, 
Sec. 23: NW\1/4\ and T. 33 N., R. 25 E., Sec. 4; Sec. 9: W\1/2\ , NW\1/
4\ of the NE\1/4\ and T. 33\1/2\ N., R. 24 E., Sec. 25; Sec. 26; Sec. 
27; Sec. 28; Sec. 29; Sec. 32; Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36; T. 
34 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 33: NE\1/4\, S\1/2\; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36: 
S\1/2\; T. 34 N., R. 25 E., Sec. 33. This closure description applies 
for two miles in all directions from the event boundary, with the 
exception of law enforcement officers under color of law.
    Aircraft are prohibited from landing, taking off, and taxiing on 
the following public lands from 0600 hours on August 26, 2002, through 
September 2, 2002 at 2200 hours: T. 33 N., R. 23 E., Sec. 25: E\1/2\; 
T. 33 N., R. 24 E., Sec. 1; Sec. 2; Sec. 3; Sec. 4; Sec. 5: SE\1/4\; 
Sec. 8: NE\1/4\, S\1/2\; Sec. 9; Sec. 10; Sec. 11; Sec.12; Sec. 13: 
W\1/2\;. Sec. 14; Sec. 15; Sec. 16; Sec. 17; Sec. 18: NE\1/4\, S\1/2\; 
Sec 19; Sec. 20; Sec. 21; Sec. 22: N\1/2\; Sec. 28: NW\1/4\; Sec. 29; 
Sec. 30: NE\1/4\ and T. 33 N., R. 25 E., Sec. 2: N\1/2\; Sec. 3: N\1/
2\; Sec. 4 and T33\1/2\N, R24E, Sec. 25; Sec. 26; Sec. 27; Sec. 28; 
Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36 and T34N, R24E, Sec. 23: NE\1/4\, 
S\1/2\; Sec. 24; Sec. 25; Sec. 26; Sec. 27: SE\1/4\; Sec. 33: E\1/2\; 
Sec. 34; Sec. 35: Sec. 36 and T. 34 N., R. 25 E., Sec. 16; Sec. 21; 
Sec. 22: S\1/2\; Sec 26: SW\1/4\; Sec 27; Sec. 28; Sec. 33; Sec. 34; 
Sec. 35. This closure description applies to the playa for five miles 
in all directions from the event boundary during the event, with the 
exception of an authorized Burning Man event landing strip for Burning 
Man staff and participants, law enforcement and emergency medical 
services. This airstrip is the only location Burning Man-related 
aircraft may land, with the exception of emergency aircraft such as 
Care Flight, Sheriff's Office or Medical Ambulance Transport System 
helicopters.
    A map showing these temporary closures, restrictions and 
prohibitions is available from the following BLM office: BLM-Winnemucca 
Field Office, 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.
    The map may also be viewed on the Field Office website at: 
www.nv.blm.gov/winnemucca.

DATES: Closure to Possesion and Discharge of Firearms August 12, 2002, 
to September 16, 2002; Closure to Camping, Vehicle Use and Aircraft 
Landing August 23, 2002 to September 2, 2002; and Closure to Possession 
of Fireworks and Public Use August 26, 2002 to September 2, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Cooper, National Conservation 
Area Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca Field Office, 5100 
E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445, telephone: (775) 623-1500.


    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1

    Penalty: Any person failing to comply with the closure orders may 
be subject to imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or a fine in 
accordance with the applicable provisions of 18 U.S.C. 3571, or both.

Terry Reed,
Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 02-17975 Filed 7-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P