81 FR 21898 - Notice of 2-year Extension of the Temporary Closure of the Ash Springs Recreation Site on Public Lands in Lincoln County, NV

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 71 (April 13, 2016)

This is to notify the public that a 2-year extension of the temporary closure is in effect on public lands at the Ash Springs Recreation Site administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District, Caliente Field Office as authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and pursuant to BLM regulations. The Ash Springs Recreation Site located in Lincoln County, Nevada, has been closed for public safety purposes and resource protection for federally listed endangered species and BLM sensitive species.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21898-21899]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08469]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL03000 L12320000.EA0000.LVRDNV130000.XXX; 13-08807; MO# 
4500089709; TAS: 16X1125]


Notice of 2-year Extension of the Temporary Closure of the Ash 
Springs Recreation Site on Public Lands in Lincoln County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is to notify the public that a 2-year extension of the 
temporary closure is in effect on public lands at the Ash Springs 
Recreation Site administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely 
District, Caliente Field Office as authorized under the provisions of 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and pursuant to BLM 
regulations.
    The Ash Springs Recreation Site located in Lincoln County, Nevada, 
has been closed for public safety purposes and resource protection for 
federally listed endangered species and BLM sensitive species.

DATES: This extension of the temporary closure is in effect on the date 
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register and expires on 
April 13, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Carlton, Caliente Field 
Manager, 775-726-8100, email [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for the above 
individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Ash Springs Recreation Site is located 
approximately 100 miles north of Las Vegas along U.S. Highway 93 in 
Pahranagat Valley in Lincoln County. The recreation site is defined by 
an existing fence and the closed lands are limited to the fenced area. 
The affected public lands are described as follows:

Mount Diablo Meridian

T. 6 S., R. 61 E., sec. 6, Lot 8.

    The lands described contain 1.18 acres, more or less, in Lincoln 
County.

    An extension of the temporary closure of the Ash Springs Recreation 
Site is necessary. The BLM currently is in the process of developing a 
management plan and environmental assessment (EA). The plan will 
determine the type and level of recreational uses suitable for the 
site, while protecting habitat for the endangered White River 
springfish and for three BLM Nevada sensitive species: Pahranagat 
naucorid bug, Grated tryonia, and Pahranagat pebblesnail. The BLM will 
analyze any actions for repairing, rehabilitating, and/or reopening the 
site through the EA in compliance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act, incorporating public comments.
    The BLM analyzed the original temporary closure through an EA #DOI-
BLM-NV-L030-0013-0032-EA. The document analyzed the action of 
temporarily closing the public lands of

[[Page 21899]]

the Ash Spring Recreation Site to public uses. BLM issued a decision to 
temporarily close the site on January 29, 2014. The impacts associated 
with this extension of the original temporary closure are the same as 
the impacts disclosed in the EA identified above.
    This extended temporary closure order is posted at the BLM Ely 
District Office, Ely, Nevada, and at the Caliente Field Office, 
Caliente, Nevada. This extended temporary closure applies to all 
members of the public except: (1) BLM personnel for administrative 
purposes; (2) Emergency and law enforcement personnel and vehicles 
while being used for emergency or administrative purposes; and (3) Any 
person authorized by the Ely District Manager or the Caliente Field 
Manager. If the BLM is unable to negate the risks to public safety and 
endangered species habitat, the BLM may consider other options for 
managing the site.
    Enforcement: 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 8364.1

Christopher Carlton,
 Manager, Caliente Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2016-08469 Filed 4-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P