2022-17124. Notice of Temporary Closure of Public Lands for the 2022 Rise Lantern Festival in Clark County, Nevada

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Temporary closure.

SUMMARY:

The Las Vegas Field Office announces the temporary closure of certain public lands under its administration in Clark County, NV. This temporary closure is being made in the interest of public safety in relation to the authorized 2022 Rise Lantern Festival. This closure controls access to multiple points of entry to the festival located on the Jean Dry Lake Bed in order to minimize the risk of vehicle collisions with festival participants and workers. The temporary closure also ensures adequate time to conduct clean-up of the festival location.

DATES:

The temporary closure will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on October 7, 2022, and will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on October 8, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

The temporary closure order and map of the closure area will be posted at the BLM Las Vegas Field Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130 and on the BLM website: www.blm.gov. These materials will also be posted at the access point of Jean Dry Lake Bed and the surrounding areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kenny Kendrick, Supervisory Resource Management Specialist, [phone], or [e-mail]. 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:

The Las Vegas Field Office announces the temporary closures of certain public lands under its administration. This action is being taken to help ensure public safety and prevent unnecessary environmental degradation during the official permitted running of the 2022 Rise Lantern Festival. The public lands affected by this closure are described as follows:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 24 S., R. 60 E.,

Secs. 20 and 21, those portions lying easterly and southerly of the easterly and southerly right-of-way boundary of State Route 604;

Secs. 22 and 27, those portions lying westerly and southerly of the westerly and southerly right-of-way boundary of the Southern Nevada Lightweight Road;

Sec. 28;

Sec. 29, those portions lying easterly and southerly of the easterly and southerly right-of-way boundary of the State Route 604;

Sec. 31, those portions of the E1/2 lying easterly and southerly of the easterly and southerly right-of-way boundary of the State Route 604, excepting NVCC-0000360;

Sec. 32, those portions lying easterly and southerly of the easterly and southerly right-of-way boundary of the State Route 604;

Secs. 33 and 34.

T. 25 S., R. 60 E.,

Sec. 2, W1/2;

Secs. 3 thru 5;

Sec. 6, those portions lying easterly and southerly of the easterly and southerly right-of-way boundary of the State Route 604, excepting NVCC-0000360;

Sec. 7, excepting NVCC-0000360;

Secs. 8 thru 10;

Sec. 11, W 1/2 ;

Sec. 14, W 1/2 ;

Secs. 15 thru 17.

The area described contains 12,030 acres, more or less, according to the BLM National PLSS CadNSDI and the official plats of the surveys of the said lands, on file with the BLM.

The temporary closures will be posted to roads leading into the public lands to notify the public of the closures for the event. The closure area includes the Jean Dry Lake Bed and is bordered by Hidden Valley to the east, Sheep Mountain to the southwest, and the right-of-way boundary of State Route 604. Under the authority of Section 303(a) of the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1733(a)), 43 CFR 8360.0-7 and 43 CFR 8364.1, the BLM will enforce the following rules in the area described above:

The entire area as listed in the legal description above is closed to all vehicles and personnel except law enforcement, emergency vehicles, event personnel, event participants, and spectators. Access routes leading to the closed area will be signed to indicate a closure ahead. No vehicle stopping or parking in the closed area except for designated parking areas will be permitted. Event participants and spectators are required to remain within designated areas only.

The following restrictions will be in effect for the duration of the closure to ensure public safety of participants and spectators. Unless otherwise authorized, the following activities within the closure area are prohibited:

• Camping.
• Possession and/or consuming any alcoholic beverage, unless the person has reached the age of 21 years.
• Discharging or use of firearms or other weapons.
• Possession and/or discharging of fireworks.
• Allowing any pet or other animal in a person's care to be unrestrained at any time. Animals must be on a leash or other restraint no longer than 3 feet.
• Operation of any vehicle including any off-highway vehicle (OHV) and golf carts within the closure area, except along designated event routes to and from entrance/exit points and parking areas, or designated event vehicles and official vehicles.
• Parking any vehicle in violation of posted restrictions, or in such a manner as to obstruct or impede normal or emergency traffic movement or the parking of other vehicles, create a safety hazard, or endanger any person, property, or feature. Vehicles so parked are subject to citation, removal, and impoundment at the owner's expense.
• Operating a vehicle through, around, or beyond a restrictive sign, recognizable barricade, fence, or traffic control barrier or device.

Signs and maps directing the public to designated spectator areas will be provided by the event sponsor.

Exceptions: Temporary closure restrictions do not apply to BLM employees, contractors, or agents engaged in official duties; any Federal, State, or local officer; member of an organized rescue or firefighting force engaged in fire, emergency, or law enforcement activities; public utility employees engaged in emergency repairs; or vehicles owned by or contracted by the United States, the State of Nevada, or Clark County. The closure restrictions also do not apply to vehicles under permit for operation by event staff, contractors, and festival participants. Authorized users must have in their possession a written permit or contract from the BLM, signed by the authorized officer.

Enforcement: Any person who violates this temporary 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 8360.0-7 and 8364.1)

Shonna Dooman,

Field Manager—Las Vegas Field Office.