[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR212.52]

[Page 25-26]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
          CHAPTER II--FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 212_TRAVEL MANAGEMENT--Table of Contents
 
 Subpart B_Designation of Roads, Trails, and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use
 
Sec.  212.52  Public involvement.

    (a) General. The public shall be allowed to participate in the 
designation of National Forest System roads, National Forest System 
trails, and areas on National Forest System lands and revising those 
designations pursuant to this subpart. Advance notice shall be given to 
allow for public comment, consistent with agency procedures under the 
National Environmental Policy Act, on proposed designations and 
revisions. Public notice with no further public involvement is 
sufficient if a National Forest or Ranger District has made previous 
administrative decisions, under other authorities and including public 
involvement, which restrict motor vehicle use over the entire National 
Forest or Ranger District to designated routes and areas, and no change 
is proposed to these previous decisions and designations.
    (b) Absence of public involvement in temporary, emergency closures--
(1) General. Nothing in this section shall alter or limit the authority 
to implement temporary, emergency closures pursuant to 36 CFR part 261, 
subpart B, without advance public notice to provide short-term resource 
protection or to protect public health and safety.
    (2) Temporary, emergency closures based on a determination of 
considerable adverse effects. If the responsible official determines 
that motor vehicle use on a National Forest System road or National 
Forest System trail or in an area on National Forest System lands is 
directly causing or will directly cause considerable adverse effects on 
public safety or soil, vegetation, wildlife, wildlife habitat, or 
cultural resources associated with that road, trail, or area, the 
responsible official shall immediately close that road, trail, or area 
to motor vehicle use until the official determines that such adverse 
effects have been mitigated or eliminated and that measures have been 
implemented to prevent future recurrence. The responsible official shall 
provide public notice of the closure pursuant to 36 CFR 261.51, 
including

[[Page 26]]

reasons for the closure and the estimated duration of the closure, as 
soon as practicable following the closure.