[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16869-16870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-8865]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NV-010-2811-01]


Carson City District Fire Management Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a plan amendment and environmental 
analysis and invitation for public participation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Carson City field office of the Bureau of Land Management 
proposes to amend the Lahontan and Walker Resource Management Plans to 
address the management of fire within the Carson City District. Fire is 
an integral part of the ecosystem of the Carson City District. The 
Federal Wildland Fire Policy states that wildland fire, as a critical 
natural process, must be reintroduced into the ecosystem. The RMP's do 
not address fire management and its role in the natural ecosystem. The 
resource management plan amendment process will serve as the basis for 
decisions on the management of fire in the Carson City District.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Written comments on the plan amendment and 
environmental analysis are welcomed until May 6, 1997. Comments should 
be sent to Rosemary Thomas, Fire Management Officer, U.S. Bureau of 
Land Management, 1535 Hot Springs Road, Carson City, NV 89706.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public is invited to participate in the 
identification of issues related to the management of fire in the 
Carson City District, located in western Nevada and northeastern 
California. Anticipated issues for the plan amendment are:

     Protection of human life
     Protection of Property
     Protection of natural/cultural resources
     Safe reintroduction of fire into natural ecosystems
     Reducing the cost of fire suppression
     Integration of fire and resource management strategies
     Air quality
     Recreation
     Watershed management
     Livestock grazing
     Visual resources
     Wildlife habitat

    The plan amendment will focus on the following questions:

     Where is wildland fire not desired at all?
     Where is unplanned wildland fire likely to cause 
negative effects, but these effects may be mitigated or avoided 
through fuels management, prescribed fire, or other strategies?
     Where is fire desired to manage ecosystems, but there 
are constraints because of the existing vegetation condition?
     Where is fire desired, and there are no constraints 
associated with resource conditions or social and economic 
considerations?

    A previous Federal Register Notice (Vol. 60, No. 57, page 15580, 
March 24, 1995) announced the District's intent to amend the Walker 
Resource Management Plan to address motorized vehicle designations and 
fire/woodland management for the Pine Nut Mountains. The fire/woodlands 
management issue will be incorporated into the District-wide fire 
management amendment. All public comments on the fire/woodland issue 
for the Pine Nut Mountains will be included as part of this scoping 
process for the District-wide fire management amendment. The Pine Nut 
Mountains Amendment will focus on the motorized vehicle management 
issue.
    Planning documents and other pertinent materials may be examined at 
the Bureau of Land Management office in Carson City between 7:30 a.m. 
and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.


[[Page 16870]]


    Dated this 28th day of March, 1997.
John Singlaub,
District Manager, Carson City District.
[FR Doc. 97-8865 Filed 4-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-M