Miles City Field Office
| Contacts: | Contact Mark Jacobsen 406-233-2831 |
BLM Encourages Responsible Use At Short Pine OHV Area
The BLM is encouraging recreationists to be mindful of rules and regulations and to act responsibly when using the Glendive Short Pine Off-Highway Vehicle Area located six miles south of Glendive.
The OHV area, situated just off Dawson County Road 335, consists of 3 1/2 sections or 2,240 acres of federal lands and is seeing an increase in use from both U.S. and international off-road enthusiasts.
Last year, the BLM had several requests to close the area due to off-road vehicles trespassing onto adjacent private property. Littering, dumping and sign vandalism are things that BLM staff have limited time and funding to address.
Short Pine is classified by the BLM as an "open" area; which means it is open for off-road and trail use by motorcycles, three wheelers, four wheelers and four-wheel drive trucks and sport-utility vehicles. Safety is of particular concern; both for the vehicle operator and for others in the area.
According to BLM Law Enforcement Ranger Lori Harbaugh, the tendency by some riders to ride up and down the county road is a serious safety issue. Vehicles need to be plated and street legal when operating on the county road and both motorists and recreational vehicle operators need to use caution when driving the county road where it bisects the OHV area, said Harbaugh.
“When recreating at Short Pine, please know where you’re at and be respectful of adjacent private lands and livestock grazing in the area,” said BLM Miles City Field Manager Debbie Johnson. “We want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience on your public lands.”
When using the Glendive Short Pine Recreation Area, recreationists are reminded that the following rules apply:
- All vehicles must be legally registered, either with a license plate or off-road sticker and properly equipped, including an unmodified spark arrester
- OHVs that are not street legal (license plated) are not allowed to travel on County Road #335 --also known as the Marsh Road
- All motorists and passengers 18 years-old or under must wear a helmet
- This is a “Pack in, Pack out” area; dumping is prohibited. Take your garbage with you
- Shooting is allowed in the designated shooting area only. Remove all target materials and shell casings
- Operate within OHV area boundary markers; do not trespass on private property
- Use or possession of fireworks is prohibited
- Punishment for those convicted of destruction of federal property may include fines of up to $100,000 and-or up to one year imprisonment
For more information or to report violations call the BLM Miles City Field Office at (406)233-2800. Violations may also be reported by calling 1-800-826-3023 or 1-800-TIP-MONT.
Additional information regarding OHV use on Montana public lands can be found on the web at: http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/prog/recreation/ohv.html.
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. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Miles City Field Office 111 Garryowen Road Miles City, MT 59301