[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41606-41607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19810]


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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 [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 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]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P