Discovering Montana

Background Information for Executive Orders 21-00, 22-00, 23-00



August 23, 2000

BACKGROUND

By Executive Order 21-00 and Executive Order 22-00, lands administered by the State of Montana and private lands defined herein within the interagency Northern Rockies Coordinating Group Central Zone and Northwest Zone will be placed under level 5 restrictions due to the high threat of fire. The Central Zone and Northwest Zone have been under Level 4 restrictions since August 4, 2000 and August 9, 2000 respectively. Federal lands within these zones are placed under Level 5 restrictions by the Federal agencies.

The executive orders, which go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, August 25, 2000, apply to lands administered by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and private lands defined herein in the following counties:

Executive Order 21-00, Central Zone: Jefferson, Broadwater, Meagher, Cascade, Lewis and Clark, Teton, Pondera, Toole, Glacier, Gallatin, Park, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Carbon, Madison and Beaverhead. Executive Order 22-00, Northwest Zone: Lake, Lincoln and Flathead.

The acres for state and federal public lands within the impacted counties are listed below. Also acres for the Southwest Zone, which have been under Level 5 restrictions since August 9, 2000, are included. These figures do not include private lands which are affected.

ZoneFederalState
Central8,528,0141,417,063
Northwest3,652,039268,594
Southwest5,222,334433,743
Total17,402,3872,119,400 = 19,521,787 Total Public Lands closed

EXECUTIVE ORDER 21-00, CENTRAL ZONE

Executive Order 21-00 states:

No person may enter or be upon any forestland or rangeland without a written permit except as provided in this proclamation. Permits may be issued upon a showing of demonstrated need. No permit shall be required of those persons having an actual residence as a permanent or principal place of abode in the closed lands for the sole purpose of ingress and egress to their actual residence. No permit shall be required of any persons engaged in firefighting, fire prevention, or law enforcement when engaged in official business. All recreational activities, including, but not limited to, hunting and fishing on state and private forest lands, rangelands and state waters is prohibited.

Range lands and forest lands are defined as follows:

76-14-103. Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply: (8) "Rangeland" means land on which the native vegetation (climax or natural potential) is predominantly grasses, grasslike plants, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing use.

76-14-104. Types of land included as rangeland. The term "rangeland" includes lands revegetated naturally or artificially to provide a forage cover that is managed like native vegetation. Rangelands include natural grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, most deserts, tundra, alpine communities, coastal marshes, and wet meadows.

76-13-102. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in part 2 and this part, the following definitions apply: (8) "Forest land" means land that has enough timber, standing or down, slash, or brush to constitute in the judgment of the department a fire menace to life or property. Grassland and agricultural areas are included when those areas are intermingled with or contiguous to and no further than one-half mile from areas of forest land.

General Permits: General Permits may be granted through public notice by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. Executive Order 21-00 states:

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, as the designated agency for issuance of written permits on state and private lands, may issue general permits for ingress and egress to and from the designated portions of the areas of dangerous fire hazard, which will be published in a manner deemed appropriate by the Department. At the issuance of this executive order the attached general permits have been designated and approved by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation.

The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation hereby grants the following General Permits for the following locations or activities:

Level 4 restrictions remain in effect on all of these generally permitted sites.

Individual Permits: The executive order allows for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to issue other permits on a case by case basis. This is for lands administered by the State of Montana and private lands. It does NOT apply to Federal lands. Individuals interested in obtaining a permit for this zone for state and private lands should contact the DNRC at 406-444-1603.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 22-00, NORTHWEST ZONE

Executive Order 22-00 states:

No person may enter or be upon any forestland without a written permit except as provided in this proclamation. Permits may be issued upon a showing of demonstrated need. No permit shall be required of those persons having an actual residence as a permanent or principal place of abode in the closed lands for the sole purpose of ingress and egress to their actual residence. No permit shall be required of any persons engaged in firefighting, fire prevention, or law enforcement when engaged in official business. All recreational activities, including, but not limited to, hunting and fishing on state and private forest lands is prohibited.

Definition of forest lands is as follows:

76-13-102. Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in part 2 and this part, the following definitions apply: (8) "Forest land" means land that has enough timber, standing or down, slash, or brush to constitute in the judgment of the department a fire menace to life or property. Grassland and agricultural areas are included when those areas are intermingled with or contiguous to and no further than one-half mile from areas of forest land.

General Permits: The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation hereby grants the following General Permits for the following locations or activities:

Level 4 restrictions remain in effect on all of these generally permitted sites.

Individual Permits: The executive order allows for the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to issue other permits on a case by case basis. This is for lands administered by the State of Montana and private lands. It does NOT apply to Federal lands. Individuals interested in obtaining a permit for this zone for state and private lands should contact the DNRC at 800-545-7376 or 406-752-7376.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 23-00, SOUTHWEST ZONE

This Executive Order clarifies Executive Order 19-00, which implemented Level 5 restrictions in the Southwest Zone. The amendment adds language dealing with closure of the state waters in this zone.

GENERAL

Neither these executive orders, nor the coordinated federal actions, affect Yellowstone National Park or Glacier National Park.

The Central Zone Level 5 restrictions, Executive Order 22-00, does not include the Blackfoot Reservation lands however these lands have been closed by the Tribal authority.

For those businesses that have an economic impact due to these or previous closures, please contact the Montana Department of Commerce website at http://commerce.state.mt.us/fireimpact.html. If you do not have web access, please call the Department of Commerce Economic Development Division at 406-444-3814. The Montana Department of Commerce, in conjunction with state Disaster and Emergency Services, is working to identify potential federal sources of funding that may assist Montana businesses facing economic losses as a result of the wildfires. We are calling on the Montana business community to help us gather the data necessary to establish a compelling case. Agricultural businesses should contact their local Farm Services Agency office.

Individuals interested in Federal land management closures and possible permits should call the following numbers:

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT:

For a central number for fire closure questions, call 896-5004. For local contacts on the Central Zone fire closure, use the following:

Butte Field Office - 406-494-5059
Counties: Jefferson, Broadwater, Meagher, Lewis & Clark, and Gallatin

Dillon Field Office - 406-683-2337
Counties: Beaverhead and Madison

Lewistown Field Office - 406-538-7461
Counties: Glacier, Toole, Pondera, Teton and Cascade

Billings Field Office - 406-896-5013
Counties: Park, Sweet Grass, and Stillwater

FOREST SERVICE

Central Zone:
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF:(406) 683-3892
Custer NF (Red Lodge Dist.)(406) 446-2103
Gallatin National Forest:(406) 587-6958 or 587-6793
Helena National Forest:(406) 449-5201
Lewis & Clark NF:(406) 791-7726
 
 
NW Montana Zone:
Flathead National Forest:(406) 758-5200
Kootenai National Forest:(406) 293-6211
SW Montana Zone:(877) 563-2876
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF:(406) 683-3892
Bitterroot NF:(406) 375-8807

OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

The Montana Fire Donation Hotline at 1-800-505-7751, is ready to take calls Monday through Friday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. Hotline representatives will explain to callers how to send their donations. Callers from the Helena area may dial 444-0400.

Citizens may call the State Fire Assistance Hotline at 1-800-237-5079 Monday - Friday from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. Hotline representatives are available to refer callers to the appropriate agencies which can answer questions regarding recovery-related issues and available assistance.

Montana citizens may also access similar information on the Montana Fire Recovery Information Website at newslinks.state.mt.us/recovery.shtml.


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