[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11263-11264]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4422]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-030-05-1232-EA-NV15]


Temporary Closure of Public Lands During Competitive Special 
Recreation Permitted Events: Nevada, Carson City Field Office

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Temporary closure of affected public lands in Lyon, Storey, 
Churchill, Carson, Douglas, Mineral, Washoe, Nye, and Esmeralda 
Counties.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City Field Office, 
announces the temporary closure of selected public lands under its 
administration in Lyon, Storey, Churchill, Carson, Douglas, Mineral, 
Washoe and Nye Counties. By agreement with the Las Vegas and Battle 
Mountain Field Offices and the Tonopah Field Station, those lands 
affected by the Vegas to Reno and Nevada 1000 OHV Races in Nye and 
Esmeralda Counties are included in this closure. This action is taken 
to provide for public and participant safety and to protect adjacent 
natural and cultural resources during the conduct of permitted special 
recreation events.

EFFECTIVE DATES: March through November 2005. Events may be canceled or 
rescheduled with short notice due to weather, sudden change in resource 
conditions, emergency actions, or at the discretion of the authorizing 
officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fran Hull, Outdoor Recreation Planner, 
Carson City Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 5665 Morgan Mill 
Road, Carson City, Nevada 89701, Telephone: (775) 885-6161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice applies to public lands directly 
affected by and adjacent to competitive special events for which a BLM 
Special Recreation Permit (SRP) has been authorized. Examples of events 
include: motorized Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) races, mountain bike 
races; horse endurance rides and dog trials. Race and ride events are 
conducted along dirt roads, trails, and washes approved for such use. 
One or more events occur monthly from March through November. Unless 
otherwise posted, race closure periods are from 6 a.m. race day until 
race finish or until the event has cleared between affected check point 
locations. Closures may occupy 2 to 24 hour periods. The general public 
will be advised of event and closure specifics via on-the-ground 
signage, public letters, e-mail, or local newspaper notices. The public 
may call to confirm or discuss closures at anytime prior to an 
announced event date. Locations commonly used for permitted events 
include, but are not limited to:
    1. Lemmon Valley MX Area--Washoe Co., T.21N R.19E Sec. 8.
    2. Hungry Valley Recreation Area--Washoe Co., T.21-23N R.20E.
    3. Pine Nut Mountains--Carson, Douglas & Lyon Counties: T.11--16N 
R.20-24E.
    4. Virginia City/Jumbo Areas--Storey and Washoe Counties: T.16-17N 
R.20--21E.

[[Page 11264]]

    5. Yerington/Weeks Areas--Lyon Co.: T.12-16N R.23-27E.
    6. Fallon Area (Including Sand Mtn.)--Churchill Co.: T.14-18N R.27-
32E.
    7. Hawthorne Area--Mineral County: T.5-14N R.31\1/2\--36E.
    8. Vegas to Reno OHV Race Route: Nye, Esmeralda, Mineral, 
Churchill, and Lyon Counties: From Johnny to Dayton, Nevada--
approximately 510 miles in the vicinity of Highway 95.
    9. Nevada 1000 OHV Race: Nye, Esmeralda and Mineral Counties from 
Tonopah, Nevada. Approximately 250-300 miles per day.
    Marking and effect of closure: BLM lands to be temporarily closed 
to public use include the width and length of those roads and trails 
identified as the race route or event area by colorful flagging, chalk 
arrows in the dirt and directional arrows attached to wooden stakes. 
The authorized applicants or their representatives are required to post 
warning signs, control access to, and clearly mark the event routes, 
common access roads and crossings during closure periods.
    Recreational and other permitted use generally affected by a 
Temporary Closure include: road and trail uses, camping, shooting of 
any kind of weapon including paint ball, and public land exploration.
    Spectator and support vehicles may be driven on open roads only. 
Spectators may observe the races from specified locations (such as 
designated pit and check point areas) as directed by event and agency 
officials.
    Exceptions. Closure restrictions do not apply to race officials, 
medical/rescue, law enforcement, and agency personnel monitoring the 
events.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1 and 43 CFR, part 2930.

    Penalties. 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.

    Dated: January 25, 2005.
Donald T. Hicks,
Manager, Carson City Field Office.
[FR Doc. 05-4422 Filed 3-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P