Single Publication

PROHIBITIONS
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 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”).
1. Going into or being upon the area described in the Order. 36 CFR 261.53(e)
2. Being on the trail. 36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

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).

DESCRIBED AREA (Exhibit A)
All NFS Lands on the Stevensville Ranger District of the Bitterroot National Forest in the area bounded by NFS road #738 at its junction with the Forest Boundary; West along NFS road #738 to NFS trail #11; continue West along NFS trail #11; then North following the ridge to Stormy Pass; then North following the Forest Boundary to the head of Kootenai Creek; then North and East along Kootenai Creek to the Forest Boundary; then South following the Forest Boundary to its junction with NFS road #738.

CLOSED TRAILS (Exhibit A)
1. St. Mary Peak, National Forest System Trail #116 from milepost 0.00 at its junction with NFSR #739 to its terminus.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this order is for public health and safety due to fire activity and related suppression activities on the Sharrott Creek fire.

IMPLEMENTATION:
This Order shall be in effect from September 18, 2024 at 0600 until rescinded or until October 31, 2024 at 0001, whichever occurs first.
A map identifying the Described Roads and Trails is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot.
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.
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.
Contact the Stevensville Ranger District in Stevensville, MT, (406) 777-5461, or Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Hamilton, MT, (406) 363-7100, for more information about this Order.
This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in/on the same Described Area/Roads/Trails.
Done at Stevensville, Montana this 18th day of September 2024.

LEANNE M. MARTEN
Regional Forester