[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41656-41657]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17806]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-025-1232-EA-NV06; Special Recreation Permit NV-025-03-01]


Notice of Intent to Temporarily Close 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 would 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 22, 2003, to 2200 hours, 
September 1, 2003. Certain lands would be temporarily closed or 
restricted, and certain activities would be temporarily prohibited, in 
the Winnemucca District in Pershing and Washoe Counties, Nevada, for 
fireworks use and firearms use from 0600 hours, August 11, 2003, to 
2200 hours, September 15, 2003. A closure to all public uses would be 
in effect inside and within 50 yards outside the perimeter fence 
surrounding the event from August 22, 2003 to September 1, 2003. These 
closures, restrictions and prohibitions are in the interest of public 
safety on public lands at and around the location of an event known as 
Burning Man; a Special Recreation Permit (SRP) event authorized by the 
Bureau of Land Management in the same vicinity every year but one since 
1990. This event is expected to attract approximately 29,000 
participants this year. The lands involved are located in northwestern 
Nevada partly within the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant 
Trails National Conservation Area.
    Public Camping Surrounding the Event is Prohibited in the Following 
Areas: T33N, R24E: W\1/2\Sec1; Sec2; Sec3; Sec4; Sec9; Sec10; Sec11; 
W\1/2\Sec12; N\1/2\NW\1/4\Sec15; N\1/2\Sec16; and T33\1/2\N, R24E: 
Sec33; Sec34; Sec35; W\1/2\Sec36. These areas are closed during the 
event period, August 22, 2003 to September 1, 2003, 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 at a Rate of Speed that Causes a 
Dust Plume higher than the Roof of the Vehicle, is Prohibited in the 
Following Areas: T33N, R24E: W\1/2\Sec1; Sec2; Sec3; Sec4; Sec9; Sec10; 
Sec11; W\1/2\Sec12; N\1/2\NW\1/4\Sec15; N\1/2\Sec16; and T33\1/2\N, 
R24E: Sec33; Sec34; Sec35; W\1/2\Sec36. These areas are closed during 
the event period, August 22, 2003 to September 1, 2003, 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: T33N, R24E: Sec2; Sec3; Sec4; Sec9; Sec10; Sec11; and 
T33\1/2\N, R24E: Sec33; Sec34; Sec35. These legally described areas 
within the event boundary are closed during the Burning

[[Page 41657]]

Man event, from August 25, 2003 to September 1, 2003, with the 
following exceptions: participant arrival and departure on designated 
routes; art vehicles registered with Burning Man; Black Rock City LLC 
staff and support; BLM, medical, law enforcement, and firefighting 
vehicles and motorized skateboards with or without handlebars. Art 
vehicles 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: T33N, R24E: 
NE\1/4\S\1/2\Sec4; SE\1/4\Sec5; NE\1/4\S\1/2\Sec8; Sec9; W\1/2\Sec10; 
N\1/2\NW\1/4\Sec15; N\1/2\Sec16; and T33\1/2\N, R24E: SE\1/4\Sec33; 
SW\1/4\Sec34. 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 25, 2003 to 
2200 hours September 1, 2003. The area surrounding the event within 
fifty yards immediately outside the perimeter fence, with exception of 
the event entrance, is closed to all public uses from 0001 hours August 
22, 2003 to 2200 September 1, 2003. These areas are closed to all uses 
except those performed by BLM personnel, law enforcement, emergency 
medical services, and Burning Man staff as designated by the authorized 
BLM officer.
    Black Rock City LLC/Burning Man will abide by fire restriction 
orders, except for the following when officially approved by Black Rock 
City LLC in coordination with BLM: Official art burns, authorized event 
fireworks, and other authorized fires using Black Rock City LLC/Burning 
Man-supplied fire barrels or 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 perimeter fence is prohibited on the following public 
lands from August 25th, 2003, through September 1, 2003: T33N, R24E: 
Sec2; Sec3; Sec4; Sec9; Sec10; Sec11; and T33\1/2\N, R24E: Sec33; 
Sec34; Sec35, with the exception of fireworks approved by Black Rock 
City LLC and used as part of an official Burning Man art burn event.
    Possession of Firearms Is Prohibited on the Following Public Lands 
from August 11, 2003, through September 15, 2003: T33N, R24E: Sec2; 
Sec3; Sec4; Sec9; Sec10; Sec11; and T33\1/2\N, R24E: Sec33; Sec34; 
Sec35. This closure is in effect inside the Burning Man event perimeter 
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 11, 2003, through September 15, 2003: T33N, R24E: Sec1; 
Sec2; Sec3; Sec4; Sec 5; E\1/2\Sec6; Sec8; Sec9; Sec10; Sec11; Sec12; 
N\1/2\SW\1/4\Sec13; Sec14; Sec15; Sec16; E\1/2\NW\1/4\Sec17; NE\1/
4\Sec21; N\1/2\Sec22; NW\1/4\Sec23; and T33N, R25E: Sec4; W\1/2\NW\1/
4\NE\1/4\Sec9; and T33\1/2\N, R24E: Sec25; Sec26; Sec27; Sec28; Sec29; 
Sec32; Sec33; Sec34; Sec35; Sec36; T34N, R24E: NE\1/4\S\1/2\Sec33; 
Sec34; Sec35; S\1/2\Sec36; T34N, R25E: Sec33. This closure description 
applies 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 22, 2003, through 
September 1, 2003 at 2200 hours: T33N, R23E: E\1/2\Sec25; and T33N, 
R24E: Sec1; Sec2; Sec3; Sec4; SE\1/4\Sec5; NE\1/4\S\1/2\Sec8; Sec9; 
Sec10; Sec11; Sec12; W\1/2\Sec13; Sec14; Sec15; Sec16; Sec17; NE\1/
4\S\1/2\Sec18; Sec19; Sec20; Sec21; N\1/2\Sec22; NW\1/4\Sec28; Sec29; 
NE\1/4\Sec30; and T33N, R25E: N\1/2\Sec2; N\1/2\Sec3; Sec4; and T33\1/
2\N, R24E: Sec25; Sec26; Sec27; Sec28; Sec33; Sec34; Sec35; Sec36; and 
T34N, R24E: NE\1/4\S\1/2\Sec23; Sec24; Sec25; Sec26; SE\1/4\Sec27; E\1/
2\Sec33; Sec34; Sec35; Sec36; and T34N, R25E: Sec16; Sec21; S\1/
2\Sec22; SW\1/4\Sec26; Sec27; Sec28; Sec33; Sec34; Sec35. This closure 
applies to the playa for approximately five miles in all directions 
from the event boundary during the event, with the exception of an 
authorized event landing strip for Burning Man staff and participants, 
law enforcement and emergency medical services. This airstrip is the 
only location where Burning Man staff and participant aircraft may 
land. Emergency aircraft such as Care Flight, Sheriff's Office or 
Medical Ambulance Transport System helicopters engaged in official 
business may land in other locations when circumstances require it.
    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 Web site at: http://www.nv.blm.gov/winnemucca.

EFFECTIVE DATES: August 11, 2003 to September 15, 2003.

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 A. Reed,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-17806 Filed 7-10-03; 11:23 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P