Firewood Use and Possession Restrictions

Order Number 01-18-00-24-02 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE DAKOTA PRAIRIE GRASSLANDS 

Area Use Restriction 

PROHIBITIONS 

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) the following are prohibited on all National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands (North and South Dakota) described below and shown on the map attached and incorporated into this order as Attachment A (the “Restricted Area”): 

1. 36 CFR 261.58(t): Possessing, storing, or transporting any part of a tree or other plant, as specified below. 

A. Any firewood of any species originating from any state other than North Dakota is prohibited on National Forest System lands within the boundaries of the Little Missouri National Grassland, Cedar River National Grassland, or Sheyenne National Grassland. 

B. Any firewood of any species originating from any state other than South Dakota is prohibited on National Forest System lands within the boundaries of the Grand River National Grassland. 

C. Any firewood from a state-quarantined county for the emerald ash borer or other pests such as pine beetle. 

D. Any firewood that is offered for sale to the public by a vendor is prohibited for use on National Forest System lands unless it is certified heat-treated firewood by a State Department of Agriculture, or USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and accompanied by a receipt of purchase that includes name of vendor, date, and quantity of wood purchased. 

EXEMPTIONS 

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

1. 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).

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

3. Any USDA, APHIS Administrator, Inspector or its agents. 4. Persons using firewood that complies with at least one of the four conditions below: 

a. Firewood supplied or offered for sale by the USFS. 

b. Dead and downed trees on DPG administered lands to be used as firewood onsite and not taken home for personal use* 

c. State Department of Agriculture or USDA APHIS certified heat-treated firewood purchased from a vendor. 

d. Manufactured logs** (examples include logs made from extruded or pressed sawdust). 

*A forest products free use permit is required in order to take firewood off USFS lands for personal use. Use of firewood collected and burned onsite does not require a permit.

 **Please note that pallet boards are not considered approved firewood and are not allowed as such on land administered by the USFS for the purposes of this order.

RESTRICTED AREA 

All National Forest System lands administered by the Dakota Prairie Grasslands including the Cedar/Grand River National Grassland, Little Missouri National Grassland, and Sheyenne National Grassland (including Denbigh Experimental Forest), as further depicted on Attachment A. 

PURPOSE To protect national forest property and natural resources. 

IMPLEMENTATION 1. This Order shall be in effect from October 1, 2024, through October 1, 2026, unless rescinded. 

A map identifying the Restricted Area is attached and made part of this Order as Attachment A. 

For a digital version of this Order and Attachment A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/dpg/alerts-notices 

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 Medora Ranger District in Dickinson, ND @ (701) 227-7800, McKenzie Ranger District in Watford City, ND @ (701) 842-8500, Grand River Ranger District @ (605) 374-3592, Sheyenne Ranger District @ (701) 404-8950, and Dakota Prairie Grasslands Forest Supervisor’s Office in Bismarck ND (701) 227-7300 for more information about this Order. 

6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts on the same Restricted Area. Signed and issued on October 7, 2024.

(Digital signature) Bethany Ihle Grasslands Supervisor 

Attachment A (Dakota Prairie Grasslands Map)