Black Queen Area Temporary Closure Extension

Associated Documents

Forest Order

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following are prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands and roads in the Mesa Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, 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 Described Area. 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e).
2. Being on the Described Roads. 36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).

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. Forest Service volunteers and partners under a signed volunteer agreement or partnership performing official project work (i.e. sign installation, trash pickup) in the Described Area.

DESCRIBED AREA AND ROADS

The Described Area is within Township 2 North Range 8 East Section 36 and Township 2 North Range 9 East Section 31. It consists of all National Forest System lands, roads, and trails within the Boundary starting at the intersection of State Road (SR) 88 and the National Forest Service Boundary, then following West along the National Forest Boundary approximately 0.35 miles to the intersection of the National Forest Boundary and National Forest System Road (NFSR) 1868, then following Northeast along NFSR 1868 approximately 0.25 miles to the intersection of NFSR 1868 and the Non-Forest Service Ownership, then following South, East, and North around the Non-Forest Service Ownership approximately 0.4 miles to the intersection of the Non-Forest Service Ownership and NFSR 1891, then following Northeast along NFSR 1891 approximately 0.5 miles to the intersection of NFSR 1891 and SR-88, then following South along SR-88 approximately 0.75 miles to the beginning point at the intersection of SR-88 and the National Forest Boundary. Described Area boundary roads NFSR 1868 and NFSR 1891 are closed. SR-88 will remain open.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect the health and safety of National Forest visitors, employees and cooperators, and to promote regenerative restoration of natural resources damage from recreational erosion, abandoned property, camp trash, and wastewater dump sites.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from August 1, 2024, at 6 a.m. through August 1, 2029, at 8 p.m., 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://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/tonto/alerts.
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 Mesa Ranger District in Mesa, AZ, (480) 610-3300, and Tonto National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Phoenix, AZ, (602) 225-5200, 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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