[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42207-42209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15899]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-025-1232-EA-NV06; Special Recreation Permit  NV-025-04-02]


Notice of Intent To Temporarily Close Public Lands: Pershing 
County and Washoe County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that certain lands will be temporarily 
closed or restricted, and certain activities will 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 25, 2004, to 2200 hours, 
September 6, 2004. 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 16, 2004, to 
2200 hours, September 20, 2004. A closure to all public uses will be in 
effect inside the perimeter fence surrounding the event from August 27, 
2004 to September 6, 2004. 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 30,000 
participants this year. The lands involved are located in northwestern 
Nevada partially within the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant 
Trails National Conservation Area.

DATES: August 16, 2004 to September 20, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Cooper, National Conservation 
Area Manager, Bureau of Land

[[Page 42208]]

Management, Winnemucca Field Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., 
Winnemucca, NV 89445, telephone: (775) 623-1500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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. The area within 50 yards of and on the 
outside of the perimeter fence will also be closed to camping. These 
areas are closed during the event period, August 30, 2004 to September 
6, 2004, 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 30, 2004 to September 6, 2004, 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 that are 
within the event boundary and 50 feet from the event boundary are 
closed during the Burning Man event, from August 30, 2004 to September 
6, 2004, with the following exceptions: the main playa road that 
provides access between 3-mile entrance and Trego playa entrance; 
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 midnight 
August 30, 2003 to 2200 hours September 6, 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 30th, 2004, Through September 6, 2004

    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 16, 2004, Through September 20, 2004

    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 16, 2004, Through September 20, 2004

    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 27, 2004, Through 
September 6, 2004 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.

Penalty

    Any person failing to comply with the closure orders may be subject 
to imprisonment for not more than 12

[[Page 42209]]

months, or a fine in accordance with the applicable provisions of 18 
U.S.C. 3571, or both.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1.

Vicki L. Wood,
Acting Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-15899 Filed 7-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P