[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 101 (Thursday, May 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28759-28760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13120]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-14000-01-1610-DU]


Resource Management Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Glenwood Springs Field Office, 
Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Fire Management Plan and 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Amend the Glenwood Springs Field 
Office Resource Management Plan (RMP).

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[[Page 28760]]

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Glenwood Springs Field 
Office (GSFO) has fire protection responsibility on more than 550,000 
acres of public land in Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin, Routt, Mesa and Rio 
Blanco Counties in Colorado. A fire management plan (FMP) plan will 
provide managers and the public a framework for managing wildland fire 
and prescribing vegetation treatments. The Environmental Assessment 
(EA) will serve as the analysis for implementing wildland fire 
management. Public lands will be managed under one of four management 
catagories for purposes of wildland fire management. The description of 
these categories follows:
    A. The values in these areas are threatened by all types of fire. 
Fires will be aggressively suppressed and no prescribed fire management 
would be planned. Mechanical and/or chemical fuel treatments would be 
utilized to reduce hazard fuel loadings in this zone.
    B. These areas also have values that are threatened by wildfires, 
but might benefit from the careful application of fire. Wildfires will 
be aggressively suppressed, but prescribed fire with other fuel 
treatment reduction methods (mechanical or chemical) will be considered 
as a management alternative in certain situations.
    C. The natural resource values in these areas are not significantly 
threatened or benefitted by wildfires. Wildfires will be managed by an 
appropriate management response (AMR) as provided for in the FMP. 
Suppression options will range from aggressive suppression, to a 
nonaggressive containment action that considers least cost as a primary 
consideration. Predetermined constraints (ecological, air quality, 
political, fire load, time of year, etc.) will be included in a 
wildfire situation analysis (WFSA) to help the line officer in decision 
making. These areas do contain values that may benefit from the 
application of fire, so prescribed fires will be an option for natural 
resource management. Mechanical and/or chemical fuel treatments could 
also be utilized to reduce hazard fuel loadings in this zone.
    D. These areas have no natural resource values that are threatened 
by wildfires, and contain some natural resources that would benefit 
from fire, both wildfire and prescribed fire. If pre-existing 
conditions are met (ecological, air quality, political, fire load, time 
of year, etc.) wildfires may be allowed to burn without suppression 
actions to benefit natural resources. Fires that are suppressed will be 
managed with the AMR range of alternatives. A WFSA will be conducted on 
all fires where aggressive suppression does not take place, the line 
officer's decision will be documented. Prescribed fire will also be a 
management alternative to meet resource objectives. Mechanical and/or 
chemical fuel treatments could also be utilized to reduce hazard fuel 
loadings.

DATES: The BLM can best utilize your input if you submit comments 
pertaining to important values, wildland fire management and prescribed 
(fire, mechanical and chemical) vegetation treatments before June 30, 
2001. Public meetings (dates to be announced) are tentatively planned 
for Eagle, Glenwood Springs and Rifle, Colorado.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the Field Manager--Fire 
Management Plan, Glenwood Springs Field Office, Bureau of Land 
Management, 50629 Highway 6 & 24, P.O. Box 1009, Glenwood Springs, CO 
81602.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests to be placed on a mailing 
list and notified of public meetings should be mailed to the address 
above. You can also telephone Brian Hopkins at (970) 947-2840 or e-mail 
him at [email protected]. Documents and maps relevant to the planning 
process will be available for public review at the Glenwood Springs 
Field Office and, as feasible, available on the Glenwood Springs Field 
Office website at http://www.co.blm.gov/gsra/gshome.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FMPs are being updated to comply with the 
1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and the 2001 Review and 
Update of the 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy. The Policy 
directs Field Offices to have an approved FMP for every area with 
burnable vegetation. In addition, land uses, land issues and vegetation 
(fuels) have changed since the completion of the 1984 RMP, especially 
along the private land--public land interface. The GSFO FMP will update 
fire and vegetation management in light of these changes.
    The goals of the FMP are to address issues including: (1) Human 
safety; (2) Protection of improvements, property, cultural resources, 
threatened or endangered species and high value resources; (3) Return 
fire to its natural role in the ecosystem; (4) Protection and 
enhancement of other natural resources; (5) Hazardous fuel reduction; 
and (6) Fiscal efficiency of fire management operations.
    We will provide opportunities for local governments, state agencies 
and the public to participate in the planning process. Individuals will 
have the opportunity to attend public meetings, write letters, 
telephone and meet directly with the interdisciplinary planning team.

Anne Huebner,
Glenwood Springs Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-13120 Filed 5-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P