Jemez Cave Closure

Associated Documents

Forest Order

PROHIBITIONS 

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a), the following is prohibited within the area described in this Order and as depicted on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map, hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Area”): 

1. Going into or being upon the Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(c); 36 C.F.R. 261.53(e). 

EXEMPTIONS 

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

1. Persons with a written Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from the effect of this Order. 

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 

The Described Area is within Township 18N, Range 2E, Section 14, specifically all lands within the boundary starting at 50 feet upslope from the roof of Jemez cave, then extending 50 feet on either side of the mouth of the cave, then including the interior and exterior of the cave, then extending down slope to the New Mexico Highway 4 right-of-way, as depicted in Exhibit A of this Order. The Described Area does not include the unimproved parking area immediately adjacent to the highway right-of-way. 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Order is to provide natural and cultural resource protection for the Jemez Cave and for public safety and safety until the current damage to natural and cultural resources can be assessed and a long-term management strategy developed. 

IMPLEMENTATION 

1. This Order shall be in effect from May 1, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. through April 30, 2027, unless rescinded. 

2. A map identifying the Described Area is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to https://fs.usda.gov/r03/santafe 

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 Jemez Ranger District in Jemez Springs, NM, (575) 829-3535, and at the Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Santa Fe, NM (505) 438-5300, for more information about this Order. 

6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

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