Notes from the Restrictions Meeting
West Yellowstone, Montana
10/23-24/2007
The Coordinators need a list of agency administrators (including substitutes) that can
make decisions.
An effort needs to be made to educate County Attorneys and Sheriffs about their ability
to enact and enforce restrictions. Pat is meeting with the Sheriffs and Peace Officers
Association
Can we “make” Forest Service LEO types firewardens so they can enforce State of
Montana restrictions laws? Mark Phares says we can, but the Forest Service would have
to accept the appointment and the local county may have to swear the LEOs in as
deputies.
Need to find a map that is Gospel, this will allow the honest folks to continue being
honest.
Who has ownership? They need to be involved in the process.
Educate counties that are giving out burn permits about ramifications under Stage I and II
restrictions.
FAQ needs to be updated to be statewide and/or region wide.
Need to add local area contacts to the restrictions web page.
Most loggers are complying with the rules for fire fighting equipment in vehicles driving
off road, but others, ranching and industrial, must also comply. We need to get the word
out. State Extension Offices?
7-33-2212. Who has jurisdiction? There is some conflict in what is allowed during stage
two and what we allow only under emergency repair.
Who can write cross jurisdictional exemptions? Cross jurisdictional exemptions must be
signed by all jurisdictions that are affected.
MLA wants better language in the NRCG plan outlining loading and hauling, added to
the NRCG restrictions plan.
Processed logs can be loaded and hauled off the prism of the road…..
Helicopter logging
Work on existing roads
Definition of landing
Better definition of what a patrol is. There is a definition in the NRCG restrictions
plan, but it is not well publicized out side the plan. Prevention and Ed. Committee will
work on the definition and methods for getting out the definition/requirement during
stage II restrictions.
Two hour v one hour patrol, some areas (Idaho and the Gallatin NF) are at one hour,
others are at two.
Items to update/modernize the restrictions web page
A committee has been formed and will report to NRCG Prevention Committee in
November.
How do we get input from and messages to other entities?
DOT
Travel Montana/ Travel Idaho
Oil and Gas producers
Rural Electric
Builders
ETC
Propane fired campfires
Are they allowed/ Should they be?
Prison Call Center to handle restrictions questions. Pat is currently working with the
prison to explore the possibility and costs involved.
Is there a need or possibility of developing criteria for coming out of restrictions?
Jurisdiction v management agency
Who writes the proclamation? Who has a vote on restrictions?
FWS
FWP
DOR
Counties
USFS
BLM
Bureau of Reclamation
When it comes to citing violators of restrictions it will be up to either the county attorney
or the state attorney general to determine what violation to cite when prosecuting. Phares
says the State Atty. General or the State Fire Marshall may have input.
Exemptions need to be agreed upon by both the protection agency and the jurisdictional
agency
There will be some effort put into developing a blanket exemption for agricultural harvest
activities.
We should look into the Extension Service as well as other groups to help deliver harvest
fire prevention messages.
ATV use off road during stage II (during hoot owl) Ag use v recreational use.
What liability does a county face if they choose not to enact restrictions? Phares is of the
opinion that counties may be open to a law suit if they have not enacted restrictions when
there is an obvious need/fire danger.