[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62075-62076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23743]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Fire Management Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, Bandelier 
National Monument, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental assessment for the 
Fire Management Plan at Bandelier National Monument.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In a Notice of Intent published August 6, 2003 (68 FR 46661), 
the National Park Service (NPS) announced its intent to prepare an EIS 
for the Fire Management Plan at Bandelier National Monument 
(Bandelier). The NPS has since determined that an environmental 
assessment (EA), rather than an EIS, is the appropriate environmental 
documentation for the Fire Management Plan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS had begun working on the EIS 
following publication of the Notice of Intent. However, internal 
discussions and meetings, and comments from public scoping sessions 
held in the New Mexico cities of Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Albuquerque 
in August of 2003 resulted in substantial changes to the fire 
management plan alternatives proposed under the EIS. Based on these

[[Page 62076]]

changes, the NPS determined that the appropriate National Environmental 
Policy Act documentation for the update and review of Bandelier's Fire 
Management Plan is an EA.
    Through the EA process, Bandelier will revise and update the Fire 
Management Plan to include the following goals: (1) Provide the means 
for staff and the public to preserve, protect, understand, and enjoy 
the natural and cultural resources of Bandelier National Monument 
through an integrated program where management activities support 
naturally functioning ecosystems consistent with cultural resource 
preservation needs. (2) Educate, inform, consult, collaborate, and 
maintain cooperative fire planning with other land agencies, 
landowners, and local communities. (3) Achieve ecologically sustainable 
vegetative conditions across broad vegetation communities by restoring 
a natural range of variability and bio-diversity. (4) Identify and 
mitigate hazards related to the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) through 
coordination and collaboration with neighboring agencies and landowners 
over time and across boundaries.
    The following fire management objectives support these goals: (1) 
Protect life, property, and Bandelier's natural and cultural resources 
from the effects of unwanted fire. (2) Prevent or mitigate impacts due 
to fire suppression activities. (3) Institute and maintain a 
comprehensive Fire Information and Education Program. (4) Restore and 
maintain fire-dependent ecosystems with the appropriate use of fire. 
(5) Use prescribed fire to meet fire and resource management goals and 
objectives. (6) Allow natural fires to function in fire dependent 
ecosystems. The new Fire Management Plan will emphasize the importance 
of mitigating measures to reduce effects in the Wildland/Urban 
Interface and maintaining a comprehensive Fire Information and 
Education Program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Whittington, Fire Information 
Officer, HCR 1, Box 1, Suite 15, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Telephone (505) 
672-3861 x512.

    Dated: August 20, 2004.
Stephen P. Martin,
Director, Intermountain Region.
[FR Doc. 04-23743 Filed 10-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-EW-P