Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands, roads and trails within the Stevensville Ranger District on the Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, Montana described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area” and “Described Trails”):

PROHIBITIONS

1.       Being on the Described Trails, 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a). It is prohibited to be on the roads and trails listed below.

2.       Being on the Described Roads, 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e). It is prohibited to be on the roads and trails listed below.

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to Title 36 C.F.R § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.       Persons with a special use authorization or other Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order. 36 CFR § 261.50(e)(1).

2.       Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in performance of an official duty. 36 CFR § 261.50(e)(4)

CLOSED TRAILS

1. Mill Creek, National Forest System Trail #364 from trailhead origin (T6N, R21W, Sect. 4) West to the intersection with Cow Creek Trail #3.

CLOSED ROADS

1. Mill Creek, National Forest System Road #1328, the road system starting at Forest Service Property Boundary, .34 miles from intersection of Bowman Rd, heading west to its end. (T6N, R21W, Sect. 3)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this order is for public health and safety due to fire activity from the Mill Lake Fire, Blodgett Lake Fire, Big Creek Fire, and Bear Creek Fire and related suppression activities.

IMPLEMENTATION

1.       This Order will be in effect from October 14, 2022, and will remain in effect, until fire conditions subside, and this order is rescinded, but no later than December 31st, 2022.

2.       A map identifying the closed road and trails is attached and made part of this Order.

3.       Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.

4.       A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

5.       Contact the Stevensville Ranger District, (406) 777-5461, and Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Hamilton, MT, (406) 363-7100, for more information about this Order.

6.       This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts on the same Described Road and Trails.

Signed and issued on October 14, 2022