Notice of Scoping for Fire Management Plan Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Tulare & Fresno Counties, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Notice of Scoping for Fire Management Plan Sequoia and Kings

Canyon National Parks Tulare & Fresno Counties, California

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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 fire management plan for

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. 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

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, units of the National Park

System, are managed as one administrative unit. Extensive research has

shown that fire is a significant natural process across a large portion

of the 864,000 acres of the parks. An extensive fire management program

was begun in 1968 and has continued to the present time. All forms of

fire management, from aggressive suppression to managing natural

(lightning) ignitions, have been used to achieve natural and cultural

resource management and hazard fuel reduction goals. The parks fire

management program also has a significant fire prevention and

suppression function.

The last revision of the fire management plan culminated in a

Finding Of No Significant Impact, dated November 1, 1989. Since that

time, a range 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 parks. Some of

these issues include but are not limited to: a continued decline in

ecosystem health due to fire suppression, increased hazards and costs

associated with fire suppression, and more stringent air quality

regulations.

Comment and Approval

As noted, the National Park Service will undertake an environmental

analysis effort to address issues and alternatives for fire management

in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. 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 the preparation of either document.

As the first step in this undertaking, a series of five public

scoping meetings will be conducted during March, 1999. California

cities where scoping meetings will be held are:

Wednesday March 3, 7:00 pm at Fort Miller Middle School

Cafeteria, 1302 E. Dakota, Fresno;

Wednesday March 10, 7:00 pm at the Tulare County Education

Center (Education Building Corner of Burrel Ave. near the County Civic

Center), Visalia;

Monday March 15, 7:00 pm at the Visitor Center Auditorium

at Griffith Park, Los Angeles;

Monday March 22, 7:00 pm at the Presidio Visitor Center,

1st floor conference room, Building 102 on Montgomery St., San

Francisco (adjacent parking available on parade grounds);

Tuesday March 23, 7:30 pm at Three Rivers Union School

gym.

For those unable to attend meetings, a scoping document will be

available through the park. The main topics 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 alternatives related to the

fire management in the parks.

Interested individuals, organizations, and agencies are invited to

provide comments or suggestions. Written comments regarding the fire

management program must be postmarked no later than June 7, 1999. For

additional information on the scoping meetings, or to request a copy of

the scoping background material and provide comments, please contact:

Superintendent, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; Attn: Fire

Management Plan; Three Rivers, California 93271 (telephone (559) 565-

3164 or email [email protected].).

The official responsible for approval is the Regional Director,

Pacific West Region, National Park Service. The official responsible

for implementation is Michael J. Tollefson, Superintendent, Sequoia and

Kings Canyon National Parks. The draft fire management plan and

environmental document are expected to be available for public review

in January, 2000. At this time it is anticipated that the final plan

and environmental document are to be completed in June, 2000.

Dated: February 16, 1999.

John J. Reynolds,

Regional Director, Pacific West.

[FR Doc. 99-4484 Filed 2-23-99; 8:45 am]

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