[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57499-57500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23467]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLMTL06000.L12200000.DD0000.252X]


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

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of temporary area closure.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a temporary closure of public land 
to motorized vehicles, hiking, or other recreational uses is in effect 
on 660 acres of public lands administered by the Lewistown Field 
Office, Bureau of Land Management, within the Limekiln Canyon/Ruby 
Gulch area. This notice also applies to a BLM-held easement over 80 
acres of private land.

DATES: This temporary closure will be in effect for 2 years from the 
date this notice is published in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Willy Frank, Field Manager, 920 NE 
Main St., Lewistown, Montana 59457; (406) 538-1918. 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 temporary closure is in response to a 
severe wind event that heavily damaged most of the timber within this 
660-acre block of BLM-managed lands in the Judith Mountains Recreation 
Management Area in Fergus County, Montana. The downed timber is 
blocking a portion of a popular loop hiking trail and, if left in 
place, will also

[[Page 57500]]

contribute to the potential for catastrophic wildland fire. The BLM has 
contracted for road construction into the damaged area, salvage 
logging, and reclamation of the road once salvage logging is completed 
and administrative access is no longer needed. In the interim, the 
mixture of heavy equipment, a narrow temporary road, logging 
operations, steep slopes, tumbling rocks, and other debris in the 
construction/logging area make the area unsafe for public use, 
including motorized vehicles, hiking, or other recreational uses.
    Approximately two-thirds of the loop hiking trail within the 
Limekiln Canyon/Ruby Gulch area will remain available for public use.
    The area closure (including about one-third of the hiking trail) is 
necessary to protect the public health and safety and to enhance 
efficient contract administration.
    The legal description of the affected lands is:

Montana Principal Meridian

T. 16 N., R. 19 E.,
    Sec. 17, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 20, N\1/2\ NE\1/4\; SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\; N\1/2\ NE\1/4\ SE\1/
4\; N\1/2\ NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 21, NW\1/4\ SW\1/4\; W\1/2\ NW\1/4\.

    The area described aggregates 660 acres.

    The BLM will post closure signs at main entry points to the roads 
and trails in the immediate vicinity of the logging operations. 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 on the BLM Montana 
Web site (http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en.html). Maps of the affected areas 
and other documents associated with this closure are available on site 
and at the BLM Lewistown Field Office at 920 NE Main, Lewistown, 
Montana 59457.
    Further information may be found in the Limekiln Canyon/Ruby Gulch 
Temporary Closure Environmental Assessment (EA <greek-i>MT-060-2010-
0029) and in the case file for EA <greek-i>MT060-2009-001, the 
Limekiln/Ruby Timber Salvage and Thinning Project.
    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 within the Upper 
Limekiln Canyon in Fergus County, Montana:
    You must not use motorized vehicles, hike, or otherwise enter the 
public land within the closed area.
    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 their official duties; and persons with written 
authorization from the Bureau of Land Management.
    Penalties: Any person who violates the above restriction may be 
tried before a United States Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000, 
imprisoned for no more than 12 months, or both. Such violations may 
also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571.

Gary L. ``Stan'' Benes,
Lewistown District Manager.

    Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1.
[FR Doc. 2010-23467 Filed 9-20-10; 8:45 am]
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