[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69239-69240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29026]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Fire Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Carlsbad 
Caverns National Park, New Mexico

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for the Fire Management Plan for Carlsbad Caverns 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 the Fire Management Plan for Carlsbad Caverns 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. Development of 
a new fire plan is compatible with the broader goals and objectives 
derived from the park purpose that governs resources management. 
Alternatives to be considered include: (1) No-action, (2) a fully 
integrated fire management plan with all strategies available for use, 
and (3) a plan allowing limited prescribed burning and not allowing 
lightning-started fires (wildland fire use). The no-action alternative 
maintains the current 1995 fire management plan strategy of 
suppression, wildland fire use, and prescribed burning. The proposed 
fully integrated plan alternative defines a relatively small fire 
management unit (FMU) surrounding the visitor center area, facilities, 
residences, and the area of the park adjacent to Whites City. This FMU 
applies full suppression and prescribed burning. The rest of the park 
comprises the second FMU, in which wildland fire use, prescribed fire, 
and suppression are management options. This second FMU specifies 
protection measures for special features, such as habitat of threatened 
and endangered species and sensitive cultural resources. The limited 
prescribed burning alternative does not allow wildland fire use. 
Conservative use of prescribed fire for fuels management or research is 
an option.
    Major issues are environmental effects of the FMP that are 
potential problems. These include: protection of cultural resources, 
protection of plant and wildlife habitats, effects on non-native 
species, habitat protection for threatened and endangered species, 
protection of park neighbors' property, reducing impacts to park 
visitors, protection of life and property, effects on tourism, and 
changes in landscape-scale vegetation patterns.
    A scoping brochure has been prepared describing the issues 
identified to date. Copies of the brochure may be obtained from 
Superintendent, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 3225 National Parks 
Hwy., Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220.

DATES: The scoping period will be 30 days from the date this notice is 
published in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and comment 
in the office of the Superintendent, Mary Gibson Scott,

[[Page 69240]]

3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad, NM 88220, (505) 785-2232 ext. 
320.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Superintendent, Carlsbad 
Caverns National Park, (505) 785-2232 x320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you wish to comment on the scoping 
brochure or on any other issues associated with the plan, you may 
submit your comments by any one of several methods. You may mail 
comments to Superintendent, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 3225 
National Parks Hwy., Carlsbad, New Mexico 88220. 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: 
Carlsbad 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 Resources Stewardship and Science at (505) 785-2232 x380. Finally, 
you may hand-deliver comments to the above address or at public 
meetings that will be held in Carlsbad and Queen, New Mexico. The 
schedule for these public meetings is included in the scoping brochure.
    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: September 23, 2002.
Michael Snyder,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-29026 Filed 11-14-02; 8:45 am]
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