[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4871-4872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01263]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMTL00100 L12200000 PM0000]


Notice of Temporary Closure of Public Lands in Fergus County, MT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a temporary closure of public 
lands to motorized vehicles and other recreational uses is in effect on 
public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Lewistown Field Office within the Judith Mountains, northeast of 
Lewistown, Montana.

DATES: The area closure will remain in effect 2 years from the date 
this notice is published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoff Beyersdorf, Field Manager, 920 
NE. Main Street, Lewistown, Montana 59457; 406-538-1900. 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 with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This closure affects public lands along the 
Maiden Canyon Road in Fergus County, Montana. The closed section 
extends from the intersection of Maiden Canyon Road and Judith Peak 
Road to 4 miles west of Gilt Edge. This temporary closure responds to 
public safety needs during a project to repair severe road damage that 
resulted from near record runoff and flooding in the spring of 2011, 
combined with extreme icing conditions that exist through the winter 
months. The flooding created extensive damage on a 2-mile portion of 
the Maiden Canyon Road.
    The most heavily used portion of the Maiden Canyon Road remains 
open for public use. However, driving and other recreational uses on 
the damaged portion of the Maiden Canyon Road are extremely unsafe due 
to a number of issues including: Steep, eroded banks; areas where the 
road is now in the active creek channel; falling trees where the 
flooding removed material around the root systems; seasonal snow or ice 
covering on the surface making extremely slick conditions; road 
shoulder damage with a vertical bank now encroaching in the driving 
lane; impassible road for towed or recreational vehicles; dangerous 
night driving conditions; and inclement weather further damaging this 
road section. Each of these factors increases the risk of an accident 
or incident and until these factors are repaired the area closure is 
necessary to protect the public health and safety and to enhance 
efficient project completion.
    The BLM prepared an environmental assessment analyzing the 
potential environmental impacts of road repairs and a Categorical 
Exclusion Review for the temporary closure. The contracting and road 
repair work will be the responsibility of the Montana Department of 
Highways.
    Construction activities will include surveying, staking out the 
work to be done, and the actual construction work. Stakes and other 
markings will need to be preserved for directing the work to be 
completed. For public safety reasons, vehicle traffic, pedestrian 
traffic and visitor use will be precluded during all of these 
activities.
    The BLM will post closure signs at the main entry points to the 
road. The BLM will also post the closure order in the Lewistown Field 
Office and will keep the public informed as this project progresses via 
local and regional press releases and posting those releases online at: 
http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en.html. Maps of the affected areas and other 
documents associated with this closure are available online and at the 
BLM Lewistown Field Office at 920 NE. Main Street, Lewistown, MT 59457.
    Under the authority of Section 303(a) of the Federal land 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 rule on the damaged 
portion of the Maiden Canyon Road in Fergus County, Montana: Visitors 
must not use motorized vehicles, hike or otherwise enter the public 
land within the closed area.
    Exceptions: The following persons are exempt from this order: 
Federal, State and local officers and employees in the performance of 
their official duties; members of organized rescue or fire-fighting 
forces in the performance of

[[Page 4872]]

their official duties; those who own private property within the 
closure and persons with written authorization from the BLM.
    Penalties: Any person who violates the above restriction may be 
tried before a United States Magistrate and fined no more than $1000, 
imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Such violations may 
also be subject to the enhanced fines provided by 18 U.S.C. 3571.

Gary L. ``Stan'' Benes,
Central Montana District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2013-01263 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
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