[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 86 (Friday, May 5, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21260-21261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09152]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL00000 L12320000.DA0000.LVRDNV130000.16X; 13-08807; MO# 
4500096440; TAS: 16X1125]


Notice of Individual Special Recreation Permit Requirement and 
Cave Closures on Public Lands in Lincoln, Nye, and White Pine Counties, 
Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) Ely District Office is establishing a new Individual Special 
Recreation Permit (ISRP) requirement for recreational use in the Cave 
Valley Cave, Goshute Cave, and Whipple Cave. This Notice also announces 
seasonal or temporary cave closures within the Ely District.

DATES: This new ISRP requirement is effective on May 5, 2017. These 
cave closures will be in effect from June 5, 2017 and will remain in 
effect until June 5, 2019, unless otherwise rescinded or modified by 
the Authorized Officer or designated Federal Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael J. Herder, Ely District 
Manager,

[[Page 21261]]

702 N. Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301, 775-289-1800, email 
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS 
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or 
question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 
1988 (16 U.S.C. 4301) states that significant caves on Federal lands 
are an invaluable and irreplaceable part of the Nation's natural 
heritage. In some instances, these significant caves are threatened due 
to improper use, increased recreational demands, urban spread, and lack 
of specific statutory protection. As provided by the Act, it is also 
the policy of the United States that Federal lands be managed in a 
manner that protects and maintains, to the extent practical, 
significant caves.
    The Ely District encompasses 11.4 million acres of public land in 
east-central Nevada, on which there are about 40 known undeveloped 
caves. In addition to the known caves, it is possible that there are 
many caves left to be discovered. With increasing visitation and 
increased vandalism, additional measures are needed to effectively 
protect caves in the District. The Ely District Office has completed 
the Ely District Cave and Karst Management Plan (Plan) and 
Environmental Assessment. The Plan provides guidance for cave 
management and protection in accordance with the Federal Cave Resources 
Protection Act of 1988, while providing for recreation within caves 
across the District. The Plan also establishes direction for long-term 
management, planning, and oversight of the District's cave resources, 
while identifying site-specific management actions for recreational 
use, scientific research, and management of cave resources.
    The Ely District Office determined which caves to select for 
closure based on visitor use monitoring and identification of 
significant resource values. Monitoring of caves in the District has 
resulted in resource damage concerns resulting from recreational 
pressures. The new ISRP (referred to as a cave use permit system in the 
Ely District Plan) is being established to better manage recreational 
use while providing an opportunity to educate the public on the 
importance of protecting critical cave resources.
    Application procedures for ``private noncommercial individual use 
of special areas'' are established here in accordance with 43 CFR 
2932.22(b) and OMB control number 1004-0119. Visitors may obtain an 
office-issued permit in person at the Ely District Office. A permit may 
also be obtained by phone, or by downloading the application from the 
Ely District Office Web site and returning it by email, fax or U.S. 
mail. Self-issued permit stations will be established at Pescio Cave 
and Leviathan Cave. Each party is required to display the cave use 
permit on their vehicle's dashboard during their visit to the cave. A 
limit on the frequency of visitation is set for Cave Valley Cave, 
Goshute Cave, and Whipple Cave as determined in the site-specific 
management actions for those caves in the Plan. Based on our 
understanding of the carrying capacity of caves on the District, the 
Ely District Office will limit the number of visits and size of groups 
in the following caves: Cave Valley Cave, Goshute Cave, Leviathan Cave, 
Pescio Cave, and Whipple Cave.
    Notice is also given that the Rose Guano Bat Cave will be closed 
each year during the bat maternity and migratory season (April 1-
November 1); the Cave Valley Cave's side-passage will be closed to 
protect maternity colonies; and two significant caves on the District 
(NV-040-003 and NV-040-010) will be closed to protect cave integrity, 
cultural resources and Native American tribal concerns.
    These restrictions do not apply to:
    (1) Any Federal, State or local government officer or member of an 
organized rescue or fire fighting force while in the performance of an 
official duty.
    (2) Any Bureau of Land Management employee, agent, contractor, or 
cooperator while in the performance of an official duty.
    (3) Any Federal, State, local, or contract law enforcement officer, 
while in the performance of their official duties, or while enforcing 
this closure notice.
    Violation of the requirement to obtain a permit is punishable by a 
fine and/or imprisonment for a Class A misdemeanor in accordance with 
18 U.S.C. 3571 and 3581 et seq.
    Any person who violates this closure may be tried before a United 
States Magistrate and fined in accordance with 18 U.S.C. 3571, 
imprisoned no more than 12 months under 43 U.S.C. 1733(a) and 43 CFR 
8360.0-7, or both. In accordance with 43 CFR 8365.1-7, State or local 
officials may also impose penalties for violations of Nevada law.

    Authority:  43 CFR 2932.13, 2932.22, and 8364.1(a).

Michael J. Herder,
Ely District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2017-09152 Filed 5-4-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P