[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34663-34664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16832]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Availability of Director's Order Concerning National
Park Service Wildland Fire Management Activities
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) is converting and updating its
current system of internal instructions. When these documents contain
new policy or procedural requirements that may affect parties outside
the NPS, the information is made available for public review and
comment. Director's Order #18 establishes new policies and procedural
guidance concerning
[[Page 34664]]
wildland fire management activities for units of the National Park
System.
Copies of the proposed guidance document will be made available
upon request by writing: Fire Policy, National Park Service, National
Interagency Fire Center, 3833 So., Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho
83705, or on the Internet at: http;//www.nps.gov/fire/fmpc/policy.htm.
DATES: Written comments will be accepted until August 24, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Fire Policy, National Park
Service, National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 So. Development Avenue,
Boise, Idaho 83705.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Swain at the above address or by calling 208-376-5202.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NPS is revising the policies and procedures
that guide its fire management activities. To accomplish this,the fire
management policies included in ``National Park Service Management
Policies'' (1988), are being revised and the Wildland Fire Management
Guidelines (NPS-18, 1990) is being rescinded. The new policies will be
issued as Director's Order #18, in conformance with the NPS's new
system of internal guidance documents. Director's Order #18 will
contain: (1) new policy statements to replace those now contained in
the ``Management Policies'', and (2) new fire management procedures and
standards that will be adhered to.
The 1994 wildland fire season created a renewed awareness and
concern among Federal land management agencies and their constituents
about the impacts of wildland fire. A Federal Wildland Fire Management
Policy and Program Review was chartered by the Departments of Interior
and Agriculture to ensure that uniform Federal policies and cohesive
interagency and
Inter-governmental fire management programs existed.
Early in the review process, internal and external ideas were
sought and broad program management issues were identified. The review
was announced and input was requested in the Federal Register on
January 3, 1995 (60 FR 95). The input received was used to develop a
draft report. The draft report was published in its entirety in the
Federal Register on June 22,1995 (60 FR 32485), and a 30-day public
comment period was announced. The full report was also available on the
Internet. Because of numerous requests to extend the comment period,
the comment period did not end until September 25, 1995. A total of 308
comments were received on the draft report. The final report was
accepted by the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture on December 18,
1995. From this report, uniform policies and cohesive fire management
programs have been developed by the Federal land management agencies.
Director's Order #18 Wildlife Fire Management, will establish fire
management policy throughout the NPS in concert with cooperating
agencies. Director's Order #18 will be considered for adoption by the
NPS after the comment period closes.
Dated: June 15, 1998.
Chris Andress,
Chief, Ranger Activities Division.
[FR Doc. 98-16832 Filed 6-24-98; 8:45 am]
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