[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15739-15740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6853]


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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 
[email protected] (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