[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 175 (Friday, September 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54542-54543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23197]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

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


Notice of Special Fire Restrictions--Restrictions and Conditions 
of Use in the Missoula and Butte Field Offices, Montana.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 9212.2, the 
following acts are prohibited on all Bureau of Land Management lands 
administered by the Missoula Field Office in Missoula, Granite, and 
Powell counties and all lands administered by the Butte Field Office in 
Deer Lodge, west Silver Bow, and west Lewis and Clark counties. These 
restrictions are in addition to those enumerated in 43 CFR 9212.1 and 
become effective as of 12 p.m. (noon), Mountain Daylight Time on 
September 5, 2000. They will remain in effect until rescinded or 
revoked. They replace the restrictions enacted on August 11, 2000, 
which are hereby terminated.
    Building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire or any open 
fire except at a developed, designated recreation site or campground 
(43 CFR 9212.1(h)).
    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 (43 CFR 9212.1(h)).
    Use of chainsaws or other equipment with internal combustion 
engines for

[[Page 54543]]

felling, bucking, skidding, wood cutting, road building, and other high 
fire risk operations between 1 p.m. and 1 a.m. local time. 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 (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 (43 CFR 9212.1(h)).
    A patrol is required for a period of two hours after any woods 
operations including felling, bucking, skidding, woodcutting, 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 of 
cleared roads is prohibited except for persons engaged in a trade, 
business or occupation in the area. Cleared roads are defined as roads 
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 or Law Enforcement in the performance of an official 
duty, or persons with a permit or written authorization allowing the 
otherwise prohibited act or omission.
    Violation of this order is prohibited by the provisions of the 
regulations cited. Under 43 CFR 9212.4, any violation is subject to 
punishment by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not 
more than 12 months, or both.

DATES: Restrictions go into effect at 12:01 pm (noon) on Tuesday, 
September 5, 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.

    Dated: September 5, 2000.
Roberta A. Moltzen,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-23197 Filed 9-6-00; 12:37 pm]
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