[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13801-13802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7249]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Fire Management Plan; Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation 
Area Lost Angeles and Ventura Counties, California; Notice of Scoping 
to Prepare Environmental Document

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, in accordance with the 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 
impact analysis process for updating the current fire management plan 
at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The purpose of the 
scoping process is to elicit early public comment regarding issues and 
concerns, a suitable range of alternatives and appropriate mitigating 
measures, and the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts 
which should be addressed.
    Background: The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is 
a 150,000 acre unit of the National Park System. Naturally occurring 
fire is an

[[Page 13802]]

important ecological process in maintaining the native plant 
communities of the park, but wildfire poses a hazard to life and 
property at the urban/wildland interface areas. The park has had a fire 
management program since 1986; the plan was updated in 1994. The park 
utilizes a limited number of forms of fire management to achieve 
natural and cultural resource management and hazard fuel reduction 
goals including complete suppression, prescribed burning and mechanical 
fuel reduction.
    The current environmental impact analysis of the park's fire 
management program was initiated in 1986 and culminated in a Finding Of 
No Significant Impact. Since that time, a spectrum of new issues, 
improved information, and unforeseeable constraints have emerged which 
have the potential to affect the future direction of the fire 
management program within the park. Some of these factors include but 
are not limited to: a potential decline in ecosystem health due to 
anthropogenically increased fire frequency, increased hazards and costs 
associated with fire suppression at the urban/wildland interface, and 
more stringent air quality regulations.
    Information and Comment: As noted, the National Park Service will 
undertake a conservation planning and environmental impact analysis 
effort to address issues and concerns regarding any update in the 
current fire management program, and identify new alternatives for fire 
management in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. At 
this time, it has not been determined whether an Environmental 
Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared, however, 
this scoping process will aid in this determination.
    As an early step in this undertaking, a series of four public 
scoping meetings will be conducted in April, 2002. California cities 
where scoping meetings will be held are: Calabasas/Agoura Hills, 
Malibu, Beverly Hills, and Thousand Oaks. For those unable to attend 
meetings, a scoping document will be available upon request. The main 
topics to be addressed in the scoping document and meetings are: 
background information on the fire management program; a review of 
relevant policy and law affecting the fire management program; an 
assessment of current fire management needs; and the identification of 
issues and potential alternatives related to future fire management in 
the park. All interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are 
encouraged to provide comments or suggestions. Written comments 
regarding the fire management program update must be postmarked no 
later than August 31, 2002.
    For confirmed details about the scoping meetings, or to request a 
copy of the scoping background material and provide comments, please 
contact: Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation 
Area; Attn: Corrina Marote B--Fire Management Plan; 401 West Hillcrest 
Drive, Thousand Oaks, California 91360 or via telephone at (805) 370-
1845.
    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 final approval is the 
Regional Director, Pacific West Region, National Park Service. 
Subsequently, the official responsible for implementation would be the 
Superintendent, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The 
draft fire management plan and environmental document are expected to 
be available for public review in June, 2002. At this time it is 
anticipated that the final plan and environmental document are to be 
completed in October, 2002.

    Dated: February 8, 2002.
John J. Reynolds,
Regional Director, Pacific West.
[FR Doc. 02-7249 Filed 3-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P