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Environmental Impact Statement for Fire Management Plan, Yosemite National Park, Counties of Madera, Mariposa and Tuolumne, California; Notice of Intent

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: March 20, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 54)]
[Notices]
[Page 15739-15740]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20mr01-87]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Environmental Impact Statement for Fire Management Plan, Yosemite
National Park, Counties of Madera, Mariposa and Tuolumne, California;
Notice of Intent

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in accord with provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), that public
scoping has been initiated for a conservation planning and
environmental impact analysis effort intended to update the Fire
Management Plan (FMP) for Yosemite National Park. The purpose of the
scoping process is to elicit early public comment regarding current
issues and concerns, the suitable range of alternatives and appropriate
mitigating measures, and the nature and extent of potential
environmental impacts to be addressed in the draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).

Background

    Yosemite National Park is a unit of the National Park System.
Research has shown that fire is a significant natural process across a
large portion of the 760,918 acres within the authorized boundaries of
the park. Following several decades of total fire suppression, a fire
management program was begun in 1970 and has continued to the present
time. Four forms of wildland fire management have been used to achieve
natural and cultural resource management and hazard fuel reduction
goals: aggressive suppression of unwanted wildfires; wildland fire use
for resource benefits (formerly called Prescribed Natural Fire);
prescribed burning; and mechanical fuel reduction.
    The last revision of the FMP was based upon the completion of an
Environmental Assessment and culminated in a Finding Of No Significant
Impact, dated May 2, 1990. However, since that time a broad range of
new issues, improved information and technology, and unforeseeable
limitations have emerged which have the potential to affect the future
direction of the fire management program within the park. Some of these
issues include but are not limited to: a continued decline in ecosystem
health due to fire suppression; increased hazards, risks and costs
associated with fire suppression; increased interest in mechanical
manipulation, especially in the wildland urban interface areas; and
more stringent air quality regulations.

[[Page 15740]]

Comment Process

    As noted, the National Park Service will undertake an environmental
impact analysis effort to identify issues and alternatives for fire
management on land administered by Yosemite National Park. The subject-
scoping phase will build upon preliminary outreach made for public
comments on fire management planning conducted in April 1999. The park
seeks to elicit a wide range of comments from organizations,
individuals, agencies, Tribes, and other entities to fully inform the
preparation of the draft EIS. The scoping period for the FMP EIS will
conclude 30 calendar days after the date of publication of this Notice
of Intent in the Federal Register. As soon as this date has been
determined, a notice will be posted on the park's website at
www.nps.gov.yose/planning.
    During the scoping period a public meeting will held to present
information developed to date, to answer questions about the plan and
planning process, and to solicit and accept comments from the public.
This meeting will be held March 29 in Yosemite National Park at the
Yosemite Valley Visitor Center (from 2 pm to 4 pm). All interested
individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to attend this
meeting, or provide written comments or suggestions during the scoping
period. Please submit written comments to: Superintendent, Yosemite
National Park, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite NP, CA 95389 (Attn: Fire
Management Plan). Electronic comments may be transmitted to
yose_planning@nps.gov (in the subject line type: Fire Management Plan
Scoping).
    If individuals submitting comments request that their name or/and
address be withheld from public disclosure, it will be honored to the
extent allowable by law. Such requests must be stated prominently in
the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances wherein
the NPS will withhold a respondent's identity as allowable by law. As
always: NPS will make available to public inspection all submissions
from organizations or businesses and from persons identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and
businesses; and, anonymous comments may not be considered.

Decision

    The official responsible for a final decision regarding the Fire
Management Plan is the Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National
Park Service. The official responsible for implementation is the
Superintendent, Yosemite National Park. The draft EIS and fire
management plan are expected to be available for public review and
comment in the summer of 2001. At this time it is anticipated that the
final EIS and plan are to be completed during the fall-winter 2001, or
winter 2002. Distribution of the draft and final EIS's will be duly
noticed in the Federal Register, as well as in local and regional press
media.

    Dated: February 26, 2001.
John J. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 01-6853 Filed 3-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P

 
 

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