Subject: Lincoln Nat'l Forest closure

From: gillespi@galileo.apo.nmsu.edu

Submitted: Mon, 20 May 1996 14:04:09 -0600

Message number: 65 (previous: 64, next: 66 up: Index)

To all APO users, particularly those who plan a site visit during the next
two months:

First, apologies to those of you receiving multiple copies of this (ah, the
joys of overlapping list servers).

Due to the extraordinary high risk of forest fire, the US Forest Service
today imposed an indefinite closure of most of the Lincoln National Forest,
including the Sunspot/APO region.  What this means is that access to the
forest by the general public is prohibited except on public roads, most
recreational activities are curtailed, and no open fires are allowed.
Smoking is allowed only in closed vehicles and buildings (and not in any of
the buildings at APO).

The observatory remains open under these strictures, and visitors and users
who plan to come to the site should be prepared to observe the travel, open
fires, and smoking restrictions.  If you are stopped by the authorities
while coming to or commuting to and from APO, just tell them that you are
working at APO and that you're aware of the restrictions.  I advise you to
call the site if you are unsure about conditions or need clarification
about forest closure policy.

Also, if a forest fire happens near the observatory and creates a threat to
life and property, we have plans for the evacuation of visitors and staff
to a safe location.  These high-risk conditions are likely to persist until
the summer monsoon rains, probably through mid-July.

Bruce Gillespie
APO Site Manager



APO APO APO APO APO  Apache Point Observatory 3.5m  APO APO APO
APO
APO  This is message 65 in the apo35-general archive. You can find
APO  the archive on http://astro.princeton.edu:82/apo35-general/INDEX.html
APO  To join/leave the list, send mail to apo35-request@astro.princeton.edu
APO  To post a message, mail it to apo35-general@astro.princeton.edu
APO
APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO APO