Shutdown closes forest service

SUPERIOR – The Mineral County branch of the forest service in Superior is closed for the foreseeable future as a result of the federal government shutdown earlier this month.

Due to the lack of federal funding, the forest service was forced to close their doors along with all federally owned recreation sites. All employees have been put on furlough and the office closed until a new federal budget is established.

According to their website, the sale of recreation, firewood and other forest service permits has been suspended until the shutdown ends and new funds become available. Essential services involving law enforcement and fire suppression are expected to continue as normal. The forest service website is expected to continue posting public safety announcements about wildfires and floods over the course of the shutdown.

All federally funded agencies began to quickly burn through their reserve funds after the federal government shut down when disputes over President Obama’s Affordable Healthcare Act prevented a new federal budget from being passed. With no new budget in place, all national parks and federal agencies were instructed to close their doors until a new budget was approved.

Forest Service personnel could not be reached for comment.