Timber Creek Road Closure

Order Number: # 01020624-23

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Madison Ranger District

Timber Creek Roads Closure

Click here to view a map of the closure order area.

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(b) the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) trails in the Madison Ranger District, Beaverhead- Deerlodge National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Roads”):

36 C.F.R. § 261.(b) 54(e) – Being on the road, and 53(e) – Public health & safety

EXEMPTIONS

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

Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).

Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREA/ROADS/TRAILS

Forest Service road #8325 in its entirety from the junction with Forest Service road #100 in T9S R3W NE ¼ S20 to the end of the road in T8S R3W NE ¼ S23. Forest Service road #8325A from the junction with Forest Service road #8325 in T9S R3W SE ¼ S9 to it’s terminus in T9S R3W SE ¼ S4. Forest Service Road #8325B from the junction with Forest Service road #8325 in T9S R3W center of S3 to the junction with Forest Service road #8325 in T8S R3W NE 1/4 S34.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to close the road temporarily to facilitate travel by large equipment and support vehicles to complete contracted road work in preparation for a

future timber sale and avoid equipment / public interactions that may result in personal injury. Road work entailed a large funding investment. The additional purpose of the closure will be to keep the road closed to prevent damage to the road during wetter months and loss of that investment.

IMPLEMENTATION

This Order shall be in effect from Oct. 28, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. through June 30, 2025 at 12:01 a.m., unless rescinded.

A map identifying the Described Roads is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Attachment A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices.

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 Madison Ranger District. 5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT or at (406) 682-4253, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 420 Barrett St, Dillon, MT, (406) 683-3900, for more information about this Order.

This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts on the same Described Roads.

Signed and issued on 10/28/24 by         

Alfred Watson

Forest Supervisor

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest