Pine Ridge Fire burn area to remain closed
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management plans to extend closure of the area burned by the Pine Ridge Fire to all public use due to potentially dangerous conditions and to reduce the potential of erosion.
All motorized vehicle, mechanized vehicle and foot travel entry will be restricted during the temporary closure, which will run until July 11, 2014. The BLM will post closure signs at main entry points to this area. Maps of the closure area and information are available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html or from the BLM Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506. A closure notice will be posted in the Federal Registry Notice once complete.
“We have been monitoring environmental conditions and based on what we're seeing in the field, particularly with plant growth after our seeding, the site needs some additional time to rehab before it will be able to handle traffic,” said Grand Junction Field Manager Katie Stevens. “Although we have good germination, the soils are not yet stabilized, and there have been some big dust events this spring that have affected DeBeque.”
The burn area closure began on July 12, 2012, in response to erosion concerns from the intensely-burned range. Any foot or vehicle traffic poses a serious risk for increased erosion in areas reseeded to stabilize soils.
Any person who violates the closure may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both.
Exceptions to this closure include any federal, state or local officer or employee in the scope of their duties; members of any organized rescue or fire-fighting force in performance of an official duty; and any person authorized in writing by the BLM.
The lightning-ignited Pine Ridge Fire burned 13,920 acres northeast of Grand Junction between June 27 and July 4, 2012.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.