[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 69300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25169]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD01000.223L1109AF.L12200000.FH0000.LXSSB0280000; MO#4500164048]


Notice of Temporary Annual Closure on Public Lands for the King 
of the Hammers Race, San Bernardino County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of temporary closure.

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SUMMARY: As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) is giving notice that certain public lands located near Johnson 
Valley, California, within the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle 
Recreation Area, will be temporarily closed to all public use to 
enhance public safety during Hammerking Productions' annual King of the 
Hammers desert race authorized under a 5-year Special Recreation Permit 
(SRP).

DATES: This action is in effect for a 10-day period in January and 
February each year from 2023 through 2027 for the King of the Hammers 
race. The race takes place annually from approximately the end of 
January through mid-February. The next King of the Hammers closure will 
take place February 2-12, 2023. The week prior to the race will be 
dedicated to set up and the building of the short course. The BLM will 
post the dates for King of the Hammers, the dates of the temporary 
closures, and a map of the closure area at the main entry points into 
the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area, the California 
Desert District Office, the Barstow Field Office, and on the BLM 
website at the addresses provided below every year at least 30 days 
prior to the events.

ADDRESSES: California Desert District, 1201 Bird Springs Drive, Palm 
Springs CA, 92262; Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow CA, 
92311; BLM website: www.blm.gov/california.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Stephenson, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, 300 South Richmond Rd, Ridgecrest, CA 93555, telephone: (760) 
384-5429, email: [email protected]. Individuals in the United States 
who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability 
may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications 
relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the 
relay services offered within their country to make international calls 
to the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This closure applies to all public use, 
including pedestrian use and vehicles. Over the 5-year SRP (beginning 
in 2023 and ending in 2027), the annual 10-day closure will comply with 
the management plan for the area, ensuring that a minimum of three 
staging areas within the Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation 
Area remain open to the public every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) 
throughout the closure period.
    Exclusive Use: During the 10-day closure period, the closure area 
will be for the exclusive use of King of the Hammers participants, 
registered spectators for the King of the Hammers, and other authorized 
users with an authorized SRP valid for activities within the closure 
area.
    Exceptions: Closure restrictions do not apply to medical and rescue 
personnel in the performance of their official duties; official United 
States military and Federal, State, and local law enforcement; Federal, 
State, and local officers and employees in the performance of their 
official duties; King of the Hammers event officials and race 
participants; vendors with a valid BLM SRP; and registered event 
spectators.
    Enforcement: Any person who violates the temporary closure order 
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 
California law.

(Authority: 43 CFR 8360.0-7 and 8364.1).

Michelle Lynch,
BLM California Desert District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2022-25169 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P