News Release

Public Invited to Provide Input on Draft Alternatives for Olympic National Park Fire Management Plan

Date: January 31, 2018
Contact: Penny Wagner, 360-565-3005

Public Meetings Scheduled; Comments Accepted Through March 2^nd

The National Park Service invites the public to review and provide input in developing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a revised Wildland Fire Management Plan (FMP) for Olympic National Park.

The preliminary alternatives can be reviewed at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/FMPscoping. The park’s purpose in taking action is to update the FMP in order to meet the most current NPS and federal policies. The need for taking action is to have a plan that provides park managers the most current direction and guidance to assist when making decisions related to wildland fire activities.

The NPS proposes two alternatives for examination in the EA. The no action alternative would maintain the current strategy as outlined in the 2005 FMP. Alternative B would provide updates to the FMP that would:

• bring the FMP into conformance with current NPS wildland fire policy directives and standards;
• provide the park with the flexibility to manage fire in accordance with current federal wildland fire management policies and guidance adopted since the publication of the 2005 FMP;
• improve overall management of planned and unplanned ignitions, and non-fire fuel treatments to reflect wildfire experiences of the past decade; and
• fully acknowledge wildfire as an ecological process within the park.

A series of public meetings are scheduled for mid-February and the public is invited to participate.

 

QUILCENE

Thursday, February 15, 2018

5:30 pm- 7:30 pm

Quilcene Community Center

294952 US Highway 101

Quilcene, WA 98376

Phone: [phone]

AMANDA PARK

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Timberland Regional Library

6118 US Highway 101

Amanda Park, WA 98526

Phone: [phone]

PORT ANGELES

Thursday, February 22, 2018

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Port Angeles Senior Center

328 E 7th Street

Port Angeles, WA 98362

Phone: [phone]

At each meeting, there will be a short presentation followed by an open house where staff will be present to answer questions.

The preliminary alternatives are available for review and comment at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/FMPscoping. Comments will also be accepted during scheduled public meetings or can be mailed or hand-delivered to: Superintendent, Olympic National Park – FMP Scoping, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, WA 98362.

Comments submitted by phone or email will not be accepted. Comments submitted by individuals or organizations on behalf of other individuals or organizations also will not be accepted.

You should be aware that your entire comment – including personal identifying information such as your address, phone number, and email address – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

www.nps.gov

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