[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39528-39529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19035]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-025-1220-EA; Special Recreation Permit #NV-023-01-12]


Public Land Closures; Prohibition of Certain Activities; Nevada

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

ACTION: Notice to the public of public lands closure, 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 would be temporarily 
closed or restricted, and certain activities would be temporarily 
prohibited, in and around the Burning Man Festival event site, Pershing 
and Washoe counties, Nevada, for camping, vehicle use, fire use, and 
aircraft landing from 6 a.m., August 27, 2001, to 12:00 pm, September 
3, 2001. 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 fireworks use and 
firearms use from 6 a.m., August 10, 2001, to 12:00 pm, September 10, 
2001. 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 at approximately 30,000 participants this year. The lands 
involved are located in the Mount Diablo Meridian and located northeast 
of Gerlach, Nevada.
    Public Camping Is Prohibited in the Following Areas: T33N, R24E, 
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\; T33\1/
2\N, R24E, Sec. 33; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36: W\1/2\ . These areas are 
closed during the event period, August 27, 2000 to September 3, 2001, 
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 Is Prohibited on the Following 
Public Lands: 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. These areas within the 
event boundary are closed during the Burning Man event period, August 
27, 2001 to September 3, 2001, 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 Public Lands are Closed: T33N, R24E, Sec. 4: NW\1/4\; 
Sec. 4: S\1/2\; Sec. 5: SE\1/4\; Sec 8: NE\1/4\; Sec 8: 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\ . 
T33\1/2\N, R24E, Sec. 33: NE\1/4\; Sec. 34: NW\1/4\. For event safety 
during entry, exit and airstrip operations, Playa areas southwest, west 
and northwest of the event are closed during the Burning Man event 
period, August 27, 2001 to September 3, 2001, with the exception of BLM 
personnel, law enforcement, emergency medical services, Burning Man 
staff as designated by the BLM authorized officer, entrance road and 
the airstrip.
    Fire Restriction Orders are in effect pursuant to 43 CFR 9212.2, 36 
CFR 261.50(a)(b) for all lands managed by the BLM, Winnemucca Field 
Office. 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 on the 
following public lands from August 10, 2001, through September 10, 
2001: 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, 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 10, 2001, through September 10, 2001: 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. 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 (NRS 202.253).
    Discharge of Firearms Is Prohibited on the Following Public Lands 
from August 10, 2001, through September 10, 2001: 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: E\1/2\; Sec. 17: NW\1/4\; Sec. 21: NE\1/4\; Sec. 22: 
N\1/2\, Sec. 23: NW\1/4\; T33N, R25E, Sec. 4; Sec. 9: W\1/2\ ; Sec. 9: 
NW\1/4\ of the NE\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\; Sec. 33: S\1/2\; Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36: S\1/2\; 
T34N, R25E, Sec. 33. This closure 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 August 27, 2001, through September 3, 
2001: T33N, R23E, Sec. 25: E\1/2\; T33N, R24E, Sec. 1; Sec. 2; Sec. 3; 
Sec. 4; Sec. 5: SE\1/4\; Sec.

[[Page 39529]]

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: 
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\; T33N, R25E, Sec. 2: N\1/2\; Sec. 3: N\1/2\; 
Sec. 4; T33\1/2\N, R24E, Sec. 25; Sec. 26; Sec. 27; Sec. 28; Sec. 33; 
Sec. 34; Sec. 35; Sec. 36; T34N, R24E, Sec. 23: NE\1/4\; Sec. 23: 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; T34N, R25E, 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 
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 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 or MAST helicopters.
    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.
    The map may also be viewed on the Winnemucca Field Office website 
at: www.nv.blm.gov/winnemucca.

DATES: August 1, 2001 to September 20, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Bilbo, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, at the Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca Field Office, 
5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445, (775) 623-1500.

    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.

    Dated: June 29, 2001.
Les Boni,
Acting Field Manager, Winnemucca Field Office.
[FR Doc. 01-19035 Filed 7-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P