News Release

Completion of Updated 2019 Fire Management Plan and FONSI

Date: February 25, 2019

Devils Postpile National Monument News Release

Date: 02/25/2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Deanna Dulen, Superintendent / [phone], or [e-mail]

The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to announce the completion of the updated 2019 Fire Management Plan (FMP) for Devils Postpile National Monument. An update to the 2005 FMP was needed to not only conform to current federal policy but importantly, to reduce the risk of a high severity fire reoccurring in the monument and allow for the restoration of a more natural fire regime. This will promote a more fire resilient ecosystem while protecting visitors and facilities in the monument, the adjacent National Forest lands, and the communities and resorts to the east. The revised FMP will help guide fire and fuel management activities within the monument over the next 20 years.

The NPS completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the new FMP in October 2018. The NPS selected a modified Alternative B: Targeted Suppression with Limited Managed Wildfire and Monument-wide Fuels Treatments for implementation, which conforms to federal and NPS wildland fire management policy allowing the full range of strategic and tactical options to be available and considered in the response to every wildland fire. This alternative allows for wildfire and fuels management throughout the monument, including the 85% of the monument designated as wilderness. The Selected Alternative includes strategies for the suppression of unwanted wildfires, the management of some wildfires for multiple objectives, including resource benefit, and the implementation of prescribed fire and manual treatment projects to achieve protection and resource objectives. With these strategies, the NPS will reduce hazardous fuels, restore fire in fire-adapted ecosystems, improve wildlife habitat, and restore native vegetation when appropriate conditions exist. All human-caused wildfires will be suppressed.

The NPS encouraged public participation throughout the National Environmental Policy Act process during which the public had two opportunities to formally comment on the project. After the public review period for the EA, NPS staff carefully considered each comment received. Several small changes were made to the EA, and these are recorded in an Errata Sheet and are a permanent part of the decision record. NPS Pacific West Regional Director Stan Austin signed a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the updated FMP on February 14, 2019. The FONSI records the decision to implement the new FMP and explains why implementation will not result in significant environmental impacts. It also includes the park's responses to comments received and the Errata Sheet documenting the EA changes.

Copies of the new Fire Management Plan, FONSI and Environmental Assessment may be accessed at the PEPC website http://parkplanning.nps.gov/depo and select “Fire Management Plan”.