Single Publication

From: Chris Christofferson, Forest Supervisor, Klamath National Forest

I am implementing a Forest Order closing the area and trails in the vicinity of the Shelly Fire on
the Salmon/Scott River Ranger District of the Klamath National Forest as described in Forest
Order No. 24-05-05-04, effective from July 25, 2024 – August 9, 2024. This Forest Order
supersedes Forest Order No. 24-05-05-03, signed on July 19, 2024.
This Forest Order is necessary to promote public safety within the area of the Shelly Fire.
Closing the areas, including the Forest roads, trails, and recreation sites within them, will keep
the public out of this area and reduce the risk of public injury or death. Additionally, burned
areas within the boundary of the Order present a substantial risk to the public until they are
assessed and mitigated. Hazards to the public in these burned areas are still being evaluated and
include: scorched and dead trees which could topple without warning, unpredictable debris flows
and landslides, and unstable soils causing increased road and trail erosion.

The Order will remain in effect until Friday August 9, 2024, or as conditions are reevaluated
and the Order is terminated or superseded.

This Forest Order includes an exemption for persons with a Forest Permit for Use of Roads,
Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order (Form FS-7700-48). Authorization under this
exemption will only be provided if I or my delegates determine that the risk to personal health
and safety is reasonable considering the circumstances of the request. I hereby delegate the
authority to sign Form FS-7700-48 granting an exemption to this Forest Order to the District
Rangers of the Klamath National Forest.

Scoping efforts have included discussions with our cooperators and Forest Service law
enforcement.

I have concluded that this decision may be categorically excluded from documentation in an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National
Environmental Policy Act. This action falls within the category identified in 36 C.F.R.
§ 220.6(d)(1) – prohibitions to provide short-term resource protection or to protect public health
and safety – and does not require documentation in a decision memo, decision notice, or record
of decision. I have determined that there are no extraordinary circumstances associated with this
temporary closure. Implementation of the decision may begin immediately.