News Release

Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve Seeks Comments on a Draft Fire Management Plan Update

Date: December 16, 2022
Contact: Jeremy Curtis, 541 592 2100 x2222

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on the release of the Oregon Caves Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment (FMP). The updated FMP final draft conforms with current NPS policy; prioritizes manual, mechanical and prescribed-fire fuels treatments; and promotes a fire management strategy based on natural ecological processes and conditions characteristic of park ecosystems.

To comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and NPS policy, the draft FMP is being presented for a final round of public comment. The plan presents issues and concerns identified during public scoping and a reasonable range of management alternatives for public review. The EA analyzes the environmental consequences of each of the alternatives, presents impact lowering mitigations, and identifies a preferred alternative. At the end of the EA process, the NPS anticipates issuing a “Finding of No Significant Impact” which is the document that finalizes the decision on the FMP-EA.The initial three alternatives considered in the EA include:

1. No action, fire management would include ongoing wildland fire suppression.
2. Fire management and forest resiliency treatments to include wildland fire suppression, manual fuels reduction, pile burning and broadcast prescribe fire.
3. (Preferred) Fire management and forest resiliency treatments to include wildland fire suppression, manual fuels reduction, pile burning and broadcast prescribe fire, and mechanical reduction (e.g., use of masticators, processors, forwarders, and feller bunchers skidders where appropriate). 

The civic engagement period is open now through January 16, 2023. Submitting comments through the project PEPC website is preferred: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ORCA_FMP2022_EA.

Comments may also be mailed to:
Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve
Attn: Fire Management Plan Update
19000 Caves HwyCave Junction, OR 97523

Comments submitted by mail should be postmarked no later than January 16, 2022.

The National Park Service values your interest and we look forward to your participation in this project. Should you require assistance to submit your comments, please reach out to park staff via email at [e-mail] or by calling [phone] ext. 2222.