[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 155 (Thursday, August 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49008-49010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20231]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-023-1232-EA-NV06; Special Recreation Permit # NV-023-00-03]


Closure of Certain Public Land, and Prohibition of Certain 
Activities, in the Winnemucca District for the Management of Lands and 
Activities Located in and Around the Burning Man Event Site, Pershing 
County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management Department of the Interior (Interior)

ACTION: Closures and restrictions of public lands in Washoe and 
Pershing Counties.

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SUMMARY: Certain lands would be temporarily closed or restricted, and 
certain activities would be temporarily prohibited, in the Winnemucca 
District, Pershing and Washoe Counties, Nevada, for camping, vehicle 
use, fire use, fireworks use, firearms use and aircraft landing from 6 
a.m., August 28 to 12:00 pm, September 6, 2000. These closures, 
restrictions and prohibitions are being

[[Page 49009]]

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 at least 28,000 participants this year. The lands 
involved are located in the Mount Diablo Meridian and located northeast 
of Gerlach, Nevada.
    Public Camping Is Prohibited in a Nine Square Mile Area 
Encompassing the Event, during the event period, August 28, 2000 to 
September 5, 2000, 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 The 
following public lands in and surrounding the Burning Man site are 
affected:

T33N, R24E,
    Sec. 2; Sec. 3; Sec. 4; Sec. 9; Sec. 10; Sec. 11.
T33\1/2\N, R24E,
    Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35.

    Operation of Motorized Vehicles Within the Event Boundary Area Is 
Prohibited, during the Burning Man event period, August 28, 2000 to 
September 4, 2000, 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, and firefighting 
vehicles. ``Art Cars'' must register with Burning Man/Black Rock City 
LLC and must provide evidence of registration at all times. The 
following areas in and around the Burning Man event site are affected:

T33\1/2\N, R24E,
    Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35.
T33N, R24E,
    Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 9, Sec. 10, Sec. 11.

    The ``West Track'' from The ``First Exit/Entrance'' (``3-Mile'') to 
the ``Second Exit/Entrance'' (``12-Mile'') Will Be Closed during the 
Burning Man event period, August 28, 2000 to September 4, 2000, with 
the exception of BLM personnel, law enforcement and emergency medical 
services, and authorized Burning Man staff. The ``West Track'' is that 
roadway or trackway on the Black Rock Desert playa that parallels the 
northwestern playa margin/shore of ancient Lake Lahontan. The ``Middle 
Track'' and ``East Track'' that lead out from the ``First Exit/
Entrance'' (``3-Mile'') will remain open. The affected lands through 
which the ``West Track'' passes from southwest to northeast are:

T33N, R23E,
    Sec. 25; Sec. 35;Sec. 36.
T33N, R24E,
    Sec. 4; Sec. 5; Sec 8; Sec. 9; Sec. 17; Sec. 18; Sec 19.
T33\1/2\N, R24E,
    Sec. 27; Sec. 33; Sec. 34.

    Fire Restriction Orders Are in Effect: No Open Flames Are Permitted 
Within 1,000 Feet of Black Rock Desert Playa Edge Areas That Contain 
Vegetation. 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 pans and fire barrels.
    The Use, Sale or Possession of Personal Fireworks Within the 
Burning Man Event/Black Rock City Boundary Fence Is Prohibited, 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. The 
following areas in and around the Burning Man event site are affected:

T33\1/2\N, R24E,
    Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35.
T33N, R24E,
    Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 9, Sec. 10, Sec. 11.

    Possession of Firearms Is Prohibited during the event 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. (NRS 202.253). 
The following areas in and around the Burning Man event site are 
affected:

T33\1/2\N, R24E,
    Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35.
T33N, R24E,
    Sec. 2, Sec. 3, Sec. 4, Sec. 9, Sec. 10, Sec. 11.

    Discharge of Firearms Is Prohibited for two miles in all directions 
from the event boundary, with the exception of law enforcement officers 
under color of law. The following areas in and around the Burning Man 
event site are affected:

T33N, R24E,
    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\ ; Sec. 13: SW\1/
4\; Sec. 14; Sec. 15; Sec. 16; Sec. 17: N\1/2\ ; Sec. 17: SE\1/4\; 
Sec. 21: NE\1/4\; Sec. 22: N\1/2\, Sec. 23: NW\1/4\.
T33\1/2\N, R24E,
    Sec. 25; Sec. 26; Sec. 27 Sec. 28; Sec. 29; Sec. 32; Sec. 33; 
Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36.
T34N, R24E,
    Sec. 33: NE\1/4\; 33: S\1/2\; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36: S\1/2\.
T34N, R25E,
    Sec. 33.
T33N, R25E,
    Sec. 4; Sec. 9: W\1/2\ ; Sec. 9: NW\1/4\ of the NE\1/4\.

    Aircraft Are Prohibited from Landing on the Playa for Five Miles in 
All Directions from the Event Boundary During the Event, with the 
exception of an authorized Burning Man landing strip for Burning Man 
clientele, law enforcement and emergency medical services. The 
following public lands are Temporarily Closed to Aircraft Landing, 
Taking Off, and Taxiing, Except for Those Authorized (by Burning Man/
Black Rock City LLC) and Emergency Aircraft:

T33N, R23E,
    Sec. 25: E\1/2\.
T33N, R24E,
    Sec. 1; Sec. 2; Sec. 3; Sec. 4; Sec. 5: SE\1/4\; Sec. 8: NE\1/
4\; Sec. 8: 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\; Sec. 18: 
W\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\.
T33\1/2\N, R24E,
    Sec. 25; Sec. 26; Sec. 27; Sec. 28; Sec. 33: N\1/2\; Sec. 33: 
SE\1/4\; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36.
    T34N, R24E,
    Sec. 23: NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 23: NE\1/4\; Sec. 23: S\1/2\; Sec. 24; Sec. 25; Sec. 26; 
Sec. 27; Sec. 33: E\1/2\.
T33N, R25E.
    Sec. 2: N\1/2\; Sec. 3: N\1/2\; Sec. 4.
    T34N, R25E,
    Sec.16; Sec. 21; Sec. 22: S\1/2\; Sec. 26 SW\1/4\; Sec. 33; Sec. 
34; Sec. 35.

    A map showing these temporary closure, restrictions and 
prohibitions is available from the following BLM office: BLM-Winnemucca 
Field Office 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.
    After this information is published in the Federal Register, the 
map will be published on the Winnemucca Field Office website at: 
www.nv.blm.gov/winnemucca.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Bilbo, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, or Les Boni, Assistant manager, Non-Renewable Resources, at 
(775) 623-1500, or write to: BLM-Winnemucca Field Office, 5100 East 
Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.
    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 USC 3571, or both.


[[Page 49010]]


    Dated: July 31, 2000.
Terry Reed,
Field Manager, Winnemucca Field Office.
[FR Doc. 00-20231 Filed 8-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1310-HC-P