[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 160 (Thursday, August 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 50216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21046]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

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


Notice of Implementation of Level 4 Fire Restrictions in Western 
and Central 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 4 fire restrictions, effective August 
15, 2000, on the BLM lands in the Montana counties listed below. These 
restrictions strengthen and encompass 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 4 fire restrictions apply to BLM lands in: Lincoln, 
Sanders, Flathead, Lake, Glacier, Toole, Pondera, Teton, east Lewis and 
Clark, Cascade, Meagher, Broadwater, Jefferson, Beaverhead, Madison, 
Gallatin, Park, Sweetgrass, Stillwater, and Carbon counties.
    With Level 4 fire restrictions, the following activities are 
prohibited on BLM managed lands:
    Building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire or any open 
fire is prohibited (43 CFR 9212.1(h)). Petroleum fueled stoves and 
lanterns or heating devices are not considered fires, provided such 
devices meet Fire Underwriters' specifications for safety.
    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 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)).
    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 wildland fires are prohibited (43 CFR 9212.1(h)).
    A patrol is required for a period of 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 of 
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)).
    These restrictions are in addition to the following area closures 
which became effective August 5, 2000. Specific closures include: 
Departure Point Campground at Holter Lake T 14 N, R 3 W, Sec 23, NE\1/
4\; Sleeping Giant Area including BLM lands along the west shore of 
Holter Lake from Jackson Peak to the southern boundary across from Mann 
Gulch and east to I-15; Galena Gulch T6N, R5W, Sec 23, SE\1/4\ and Crow 
Creek Campgrounds T6N, R1W, Sec 25, N\1/2\; and Spokane Hills including 
BLM lands on the west side of Canyon Ferry Reservoir from Canyon Ferry 
Dam south to the White Earth Recreation site and west to Highway 287.
    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 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time, 
Tuesday, August 15, 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 Tuesday, August 15, 2000, and 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.

    Dated: August 14, 2000.
Mat Millenbach,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-21046 Filed 8-15-00; 11:28 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P