[Federal Register: August 8, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 153)]
[Notices]
[Page 41606-41607]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08au01-91]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, Whiskeytown
Unit, Shasta County, CA Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for Fire Management Plan
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 the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area. The
purpose of the scoping process is to elicit early public comment
regarding current issues and concerns, a suitable range of
alternatives, the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts,
appropriate mitigating measures, and other matters which should to be
addressed in the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Background: The Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area
was created by Congress in 1965. The Whiskeytown Unit is administered
as a unit of the National Park Service (NPS), with the Shasta and
Trinity units of the National Recreation Area administered by the USDA
Forest Service. Research has shown that fire is a significant natural
process across a large portion of the 42,500 acres within the
authorized boundaries of the park. Following several decades of total
fire suppression, a fire management program was begun in the 1970s and
has continued to the present time. Three 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; prescribed burning; and mechanical fuel reduction.
The last revision of the FMP was based upon completion of an
Environmental Assessment process, which culminated in a Finding Of No
Significant Impact approval of the program in 1993. 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
hazardous fuels buildup; expanding uses and development at the
wildland-urban interface; increased risks and costs
[[Page 41607]]
associated with fire suppression; increased interest in mechanical
manipulation, especially in accessible areas; and more stringent air
quality regulations.
Comment Process: As noted, the NPS will undertake a conservation
planning and environmental impact analysis effort to identify issues
and alternatives for fire management on land administered by the
Whiskeytown Unit. The FMP scoping phase will build upon preliminary
outreach made for public comments on fire management planning conducted
during this past winter (2000-2001), as well as relevant information
from the General Management Plan (approved in 2000). Public concerns
expressed recently with regard to the Whiskeytown Unit's FMP address
air quality, the wildland/urban interface zone, public safety, and the
ecological role of fire. A summary of public concerns compiled to date
is available at the address below. 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.
All scoping comments must be received by September 15, 2001. Periodic
updates and other information will be announced via local and regional
media, as well as posted on the parks website at www.nps.gov/whis/exp/
newslinks.htm.
During the scoping period a public meeting will held to: present
information developed to date; to answer questions about the existing
FMP, pending update, and planning process; and to solicit and accept
comments from the public. This meeting will be held in the Redding area
in a public hall. The location, date and time of this meeting will be
announced on the above website, and via local and regional media. All
interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to
attend this meeting or\and provide written comments or suggestions
during the scoping period.
All scoping comments should be submitted in writing, and must be
postmarked or transmitted not later than September 15, 2001. Please
send all comments to: Superintendent, Whiskeytown National Recreation
Area, P. O. Box 188, Whiskeytown, CA 96095 (Attn: Fire Management
Plan). Electronic comments may be transmitted to whis_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 respondents 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 Process: 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, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity
National Recreation Area, Whiskeytown Unit. The draft EIS and fire
management plan are expected to be available for public review and
comment in the fall of 2001. At this time it is anticipated that the
final EIS and fire management plan are to be completed during the
winter 2001-spring 2002. Distribution of both the draft and final EIS
documents will be duly noticed in the Federal Register, as well as via
local and regional media.
Dated: July 13, 2001.
Patricia L. Neubacher,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific West Region.
[FR Doc. 01-19810 Filed 8-7-01; 8:45 am]
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