Idaho Falls BLM
| Contacts: | Sarah Wheeler (208) 524-7550 |
Citations to be issued for Illegal Burning in Sand Dune Area
REXBURG, ID – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will no longer issue warnings for illegal campfires and pallet burning in the St. Anthony Sand Dune area. Continual violations make tougher enforcement necessary to prevent further resource damage (see attached photo). Individuals found violating regulations will be issued a citation, punishable by a maximum fine of 1,000 dollars and/or up to one year in jail.
“We are becoming increasingly concerned with the mess left behind when people burn pallets, plastics and other inappropriate materials,” said Jeff Long, Idaho Falls District Law Enforcement Ranger. “I am troubled that people don’t recognize the damage they cause when they continually violate these rules.” Over the past three weeks, law enforcement has written over 20 citations for illegal activities on the dunes. This weekend, law enforcement discovered visitors burning old fence posts, which left behind six-inch metal spikes. Those shards of metal pose a serious health and safety risk to those recreating on the dunes.
The BLM is dedicated to the preservation of the St. Anthony Sand Dunes, the largest set of sand dunes in Idaho covering 175 square miles. The dunes are approximately 35 miles long, five miles wide and range from 50 to 400 feet tall consisting of sand made up mostly of white quartz peppered with black basalt. These unique structures are called Barchan Dunes because they form sharp crescents that resemble ram’s horns.
The BLM does allow campfires in designated areas that are fueled with clean materials within a campfire ring. Materials such as pallets (which leave behind nails), plastics, rubber, treated timber, railroad ties or household furniture are not appropriate campfire materials. In addition, Long says it is imperative that people remember to put their campfire out before leaving. “Covering the area with sand and walking away while you still have hot embers is not appropriate,” said Long. “We want people to appreciate these amazing structures but also respect them.”
See a map of the designated campfire area
See a picture of the campfire debris
Contact your local BLM office with any questions at 208-524-7500.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.