[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 157 (Monday, August 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49716-49717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20761]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-912-0777-HN-003E]


Notice of Implementation of Level 3 Fire Restrictions in Eastern 
Montana; Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Bureau of Land Management Montana State Director Mat 
Millenbach has initiated Level 3 fire restrictions, effective August 
11, 2000, on the BLM lands in the Montana counties listed below. These 
restrictions strengthen those initiated last week on BLM lands and are 
in response to the regions's increasing fire potentials, the current 
level of fire activity, and the current scarcity of fire suppression 
resources.
    The Level 3 fire restrictions apply to BLM lands in: Liberty, Hill, 
Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt, Choteau, Judith 
Basin, Fergus, Petroleum, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Dawson, Prairie, 
Wibaux, Wheatland, Golden Valley, Musselshell, Yellowstone, Big Horn, 
Treasure, Rosebud, Custer, Powder River, Fallon, and Carter counties.
    With Level 3 fire restrictions, the following activities are 
prohibited on BLM managed lands:
    Building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire or any open 
fire except at a developed, designated recreation site or campground is 
prohibited. On public lands in the Upper Missouri River Wild and Scenic 
River corridor campfires or charcoal fires will only be permitted in 
these three developed, designated sites: Coal Banks Landing, Judith 
Landing and Kipp Recreation Area (43 CFR 9212.1(h)). Gas-and liquid-
fueled stoves and lanterns are still permitted.
    Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or building; at an 
improved place of habitation; at a developed, designated recreation 
site or campground; or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in 
diameter that is cleared of all flammable material, is prohibited (43 
CFR 9212.1(h)).
    Use of chainsaws or other equipment with internal combustion 
engines for felling, bucking, skidding, wood cutting, road building, 
and other high fire risk operations between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. local 
time is prohibited. Exceptions are helicopter yarding and earth moving 
on areas of cleared and bare soil. Sawing incidental to loading 
operations on cleared landings is not necessarily restricted (43 CFR 
9212.1(h)).
    Using chainsaws or other equipment with internal combustion engines 
for felling, bucking, skidding, wood cutting or any other operation 
within areas having a significant accumulation of dead or down slash or 
timber is prohibited (43 CFR 9212.1(h)).
    Welding, blasting (except seismic operations confined by ten or 
more feet of soil, sand or cuttings), and other activities with a high 
potential for causing forest fires are prohibited (43 CFR 9212.1(h)).
    A patrol is required for a period of two hours after any woods 
operations including felling, bucking, skidding, wood cutting, or road 
building cease. A patrol is also required for one hour following the 
cessation of all work activity. The patrolperson's responsibilities 
include checking for compliance with required fire precautions.
    Possessing or using motorized vehicles such as, but not limited to 
cars, trucks, trail bikes, motorcycles and all terrain vehicles off 
cleared roads is prohibited except for persons engaged in a trade, 
business or occupation in the area. Cleared roads are defined as roads 
at least 12' wide and cleared of vegetation shoulder to shoulder (43 
CFR 9212.1(h)).
    Exemptions to the above prohibitions are allowed only for any 
Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or 
firefighting force in the performance of an official duty, or persons 
with a permit or written authorization allowing the otherwise 
prohibited act or omission.
    Authority for these prohibitions is pursuant to the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.), Sections 
302(b) and 301(a); and Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 
Part 9210 (Fire Management), Subpart 9212 (Wildfire Prevention). These 
restrictions will become effective at 1:00 a.m., Mountain

[[Page 49717]]

Daylight Time, August 11, 2000, and will remain in effect until 
rescinded or revoked.
    Violation of this prohibition is punishable by a fine of not more 
than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 12 months, or both.

DATES: Restrictions go into effect at 1 a.m. Friday, August 11, 2000, 
and will remain in effect until further notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to BLM Montana State Director, 
Attention: Pat Mullaney, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107-6800.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pat Mullaney, Fire Management 
Specialist, 406-896-2915.

    August 10, 2000.
Mat Millenbach,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-20761 Filed 8-11-00; 10:57 am]
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