[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59537-59538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24069]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Wildland Fire Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, 
Mesa Verde National Park, CO

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for the Wildland Fire Management Plan, Mesa Verde National Park.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, the National Park Service is preparing an environmental impact 
statement for a wildland fire management plan for Mesa Verde National 
Park. This effort will result in a new wildland fire management plan 
that meets current policies, provides a framework for making fire-
related decisions, and serves as an operational manual. Much has 
changed in the park and within the agency since the park's current fire 
management plan was adopted in 1996. Since that time, Mesa Verde was 
subjected to three large catastrophic fires that have physically 
altered over 60% of the landscape. In addition, recent policy changes 
resulting from the 2000 National Fire Plan indicate that a new plan is 
necessary. The plan will be developed in consultation with local 
communities, other federal and state agencies, the 24 tribes legally 
associated with the park, including the neighboring Ute Mountain Ute 
Tribe, and all other interested and affected organizations and 
individuals. A range of alternatives will be developed through this 
planning process and will include a no-action alternative and all other 
reasonable alternatives. The alternatives will consider fuel condition, 
weather, air quality, natural and cultural resources, safety, and 
structure protection, and include a range of appropriate strategies 
including full fire suppression, fire use such as through prescribed 
fire, and mechanical fuels treatment such as removal of hazardous 
fuels. The plan will identify the agencies preferred alternative and 
the environmentally preferred alternative.
    Issues to be addressed include the safety of the public, employees 
and firefighters; protection of natural and

[[Page 59538]]

cultural resources; and the protection of rare, threatened and 
endangered species. Other issues include: allowing for natural 
processes in ecosystems and varied habitats; maintaining park values 
including protection of air quality, water quality, existing wilderness 
and visitor enjoyment; protecting structures and facilities within the 
park and on neighboring lands; addressing concerns of the 24 tribes 
associated with the park; addressing economic and other concerns of the 
park concessionaire, neighboring communities including local business 
and the Ute Mountain Ute tribe; and developing partnerships with other 
agencies, organizations, and local interests. The plan will also 
address the effects of emergency actions taken in response to recent 
fires and extreme lightning and weather conditions.
    The scoping process will include public meetings to explain the 
planning process, solicit alternative ideas, and identify issues to be 
addressed in the plan. Specific dates, times and locations of the 
meetings will be announced in the local media and will also be 
available by contacting the Superintendent of Mesa Verde National Park. 
Information about the planning process as well as copies of the draft 
and final plans will be posted on the park's Web site at www.nps.gov/meve.

DATES: The public scoping process will be initiated from the date this 
notice is published in the Federal Register and will extend a minimum 
of 60 days.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
in the Mesa Verde Park Headquarters (970) 529-4465.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Wiese, Superintendent, Mesa 
Verde National Park, P.O. Box 8, Mesa Verde, CO 81330, (970) 529-4465.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you wish to provide input, you may submit 
your comments or questions by any one of several methods. Comments will 
be collected during the public meetings, or can be sent or hand 
delivered to: Larry Wiese, Superintendent, Mesa Verde National Park, 
P.O. Box 8, Mesa Verde, CO 81321. You may also comment via the Internet 
to [email protected]. Please submit Internet comments as an ASCII 
file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. 
Please also include ``Attn: Fire Management Plan'' and your name and 
return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a 
confirmation from the system that we have received your Internet 
message, contact us directly at (970) 529-4465. Our practice is to make 
comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available 
for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents 
may request that we withhold their home address from the record, which 
we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There also may be 
circumstances in which we would withhold from the record a respondent's 
identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name 
and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: May 15, 2002.
R. Everhart,
Deputy Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-24069 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P