[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 35789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12719]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Clarification of Direction on Safety Priorities During Wildland 
Firefighting Activities and Procedures for Emergency Consultation under 
the Endangered Species Act

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of agency interim directives.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service is issuing two interim directives to 
provide internal administrative direction to guide its employees during 
wildland firefighting activities. The interim directive issued to 
Forest Service Manual chapter FSM 5130, Wildland Fire Suppression, as 
ID number 5130-2002-1, clarifies existing direction to 
ensure that the safety of firefighters, other personnel, and the public 
is always the first priority in fire suppression. While this is already 
the current agency policy, the agency believes that the direction 
should be clarified and better stated. The interim directive issued to 
Forest Service Manual chapter FSM 2670, Threatened, Endangered, and 
Sensitive Plants and Animals, as ID number 2670-2002-1, 
clarifies and expands existing direction to facilitate emergency 
consultation under the Endangered Species Act. This interim directive 
makes clear that human safety is the highest priority for every 
emergency response action, and under no circumstances should an 
emergency response action be delayed in order to contact the Fish and 
Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service for 
initiating emergency consultation or during an ongoing consultation. 
The agency will consider any comments received in the development of 
final directives.

DATES: The interim directives are effective May 21, 2002.

ADDRESSES: The interim directives are available electronically from the 
Forest Service via the World Wide Web/Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives. Single paper copies of the interim directives also are 
available for ID 5130-2002-1 by contacting Shelly Steen, 
National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 South Development Avenue, Boise, 
Idaho 83705 (telephone 208-387-5100), and for ID 
2670-2002-1 by contacting Tina Kingsberry, Forest Service, 
USDA, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air, and Rare Plants Staff, Stop Code 
1121, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1121 
(telephone 202-205-1205). Members of the public who wish to 
comment on the interim directives may mail their written comments in 
paper format to these addresses or send them electronically to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shelly Steen 
(208-387-5100) or Tina Kingsberry 
(202-205-1205).

    Dated: May 14, 2002.
Sally Collins,
Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 02-12719 Filed 5-20-02; 8:45 am]
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